Program Overview

Introduction to the Forest Health Management Micro-Certificate

The Faculty of Forestry’s Forest Health Micro-Certificate (FHM) is a flexible 8-week online program that provides professionals with the basic knowledge on how to detect and diagnose forest health issues, and how to mitigate their impact. The course covers forest health issues caused by biotic agents such as insects and pathogens.

Program Overview

By the end of the program, participants are expected to be able to recognize the most important biotic agents causing outbreaks in BC and to be able to prescribe mitigation solutions. The Forest Health Management Micro-Certificate offers a unique opportunity for professionals working for governments, companies, and NGOs to learn the latest approaches in forest health.

Target Audience

Professional foresters and forest practitioners who want to improve their skills in recognizing and mitigating forest health challenges will benefit from taking this course. The program is also open to those considering new careers in forest management and seeking to develop core competencies in this field.

Course Structure

The program consists of four courses:

• Course 1: Forest Insect Biology, Ecology and Population Dynamics
  • Basic entomology: feeding, development, reproduction, dispersal
  • Insect-tree interactions
  • Population dynamics: changes in insect abundance in space and time
  • Forest insect disturbances in changing environments: influence of environmental variables on insect populations with emphasis on climate change
• Course 2: Forest Disease Biology, Ecology and Epidemiology
  • Basic biology of pathogens, host-pathogen interactions, reproduction, spread
  • Pathogen dissemination, hosts and tree parts impacted by pathogens
  • Epidemiology of tree diseases, outbreak prediction
  • Forest disease disturbances in changing environments: influence of environmental variables on disease outbreaks with emphasis on climate change
• Course 3: Forest Insect Identification and Management
  • Insect taxonomy and diversity
  • Identification of the insects that are important in BC
  • Recognition and identification of impacts caused by forest insect species at the tree, stand, and landscape scale
  • Integrated pest management strategies and tactics to mitigate impacts of the most important forest insect pests in BC
• Course 4: Forest Disease Identification and Management
  • Pathogen taxonomy, diversity, classification
  • Identification of the most important tree diseases in BC
  • Recognition and identification of impacts caused by forest diseases at the tree, stand, and landscape scale
  • Integrated pest management strategies and tactics to mitigate impacts of the most important forest diseases in BC

Applicable Certification Standards

The program aligns with the Forest Professional Regulators of Canada 2021 standards, specifically Standard 5: Forested Landscapes, which requires applying knowledge of the influences and interactions of agents of change in the management of forested landscapes.

Employment Opportunities

The micro-certificate will be of interest to professionals in the private, public, or non-profit sectors whose job entails working on sustainable forest management. Potential career paths include:

• Government (professional foresters)
• Private sector (forest managers)
• Consulting (sustainability consultant, sustainability project manager)
• Non-profit
• Academia

Program Details

• Duration: 8 weeks of learning
• Location: Online
• Commitment: 7-8 hours per week
• Completion Requirements: View full requirements
• Start date:
  • 2025 Fall: October 6, 2025
  • 2026 Spring: February 2, 2026
• Price:
  • $2400 (Full Certificate)
  • $650 (Individual Courses)