Bryophytes are moss or ground vegetation that grows in our forests. Growth of bryophytes in the forest is evidence of a healthy and growing forest. J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) is teamed up with Université de Quebec en Abitibi Témiscamingue to sample and monitor the growth of bryophytes on JDI's freehold land. The study involves sampling every bryophyte species that are found within a designated area, which will determine favorable stands for bryophyte growth. 

“We’re using management tools like LiDAR, which describes the landscape in detail, to determine where across the landscape you’ll find a higher richness of mosses. And that can be looked at for conservation in long-term and short-term management goals” says Dr. Nicole Fenton, professor at Université de Quebec en Abitibi Témiscamingue. Dr. Fenton completed her training at Hayward Brook, another JDI owned land in Southern New Brunswick, in works with Dr. Kate Frego of the University of New Brunswick. 

This summer over 18 graduate students and 25 professors and scientists are conducting 12 research projects on land owned or managed by JDI. The initial studies on bryophytes started in the 1990s with the University of New Brunswick - Saint John. This is the first time JDI has teamed up with Université de Quebec en Abitibi Témiscamingue.

Every year JDI is investing $1.5 million in forest research, studying wildlife and plant habitat, forest health and biodiversity.

Interested in learning more about our research efforts?
http://irvingwoodlands.com/jdi-woodlands-research-page.aspx