Malcolm Knapp
Research Forest renewal project

Nestled under towering trees, the sounds of native woodpeckers, owls and eagles echoing in the distance, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) is a unique hub for community exploration, outdoor learning and forestry research and teaching. Visitors here have access to over 5,000 hectares of forest near Maple Ridge and Golden Ears Provincial Park, including access roads and walking and hiking trails.

As a community classroom for outdoor learning, MKRF boasts several amenities that attract over 50,000 visitors to the forest each year. For example, the Wild & Immersive outdoor educational program at MKRF teaches children and youth about the natural world. The Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Centre hosts conferences and retreats year-round. Additionally, an independent sawmill and harvesting operations underscore why MKRF is also a working forest.

MKRF has been operated by UBC Forestry on a self-funding model since 1949. After many years making the best of current and sometimes crumbling or absent infrastructure, UBC Forestry has initiated a renewal project to replace and expand MKRF’s facilities. This project responds to growing demand for MKRF’s exceptional research, educational and public outreach opportunities, which have stretched current facilities beyond their limits.

Your support can help establish:

• a Welcome & Education Centre featuring 10,000 square feet of community programming, on-site equipment, research archives, offices and meeting rooms that support public engagement and patronage, such as the ability to host larger school groups and public facilities for all those that visit the forest every year
• an Outdoor Learning Lab facility and wildfire response hub, an indoor flex classroom area, an outdoor teaching area and a wood and tool shop
• access to essential municipal services at MKRF, including potable water and sewage systems, ensuring clean drinking water and higher sanitation standards for all visitors
• the expansion of on-site accommodations by renovating the historic Marc House to host more faculty members and researchers from other institutions to conduct leading forestry research at MKRF

These critical updates are transforming MKRF into a leading hub for community engagement and knowledge mobilization, deepening visitors’ understanding of forest ecosystems and shaping decision-making to advance sustainable forest management, innovation and conservation. Help us build this new hub at MKRF for nature-based research, education, and community outreach by giving today.