The FIA-FSP structure consists of the following organizational units, reporting to the Chief Forester:

• Chief Forester's Forest Science Advisory Committee (CF-FSAC)
   
• Council Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC)
   
• MFR Implementation Team and MFR Internal Advisory Group
   
• Provincial Forest Extension Provider (FORREX)

Chief Forester's Forest Science Advisory Council

Mandate

The CF-FSAC is a volunteer body comprised of both users (practitioners and policy-makers) and providers (researchers) of scientific knowledge. The CF-FSAC advises the Chief Forester on strategic direction, management issues, annual research priorities, research solicitation and review processes, potential collaborators, and continuous improvement of the FIA-FSP.

The CF-FSAC is governed by terms of reference that define how it carries out its responsibilities, interacts with its committees, and prevents conflicts of interest. It is chaired by one MFR staff member (currently the Deputy Chief Forester).

Membership

The Chief Forester invites individuals to participate in the CF-FSAC. CF-FSAC voting members include the forest sector, Aboriginal communities or organizations, provincial government agencies (MFR Research Branch, MFR Operations, Ministry of Environment), the federal government (Canadian Forestry Service), and forest science provider agencies and organizations. Ex-officio members include the Chair, MFR Program Administrator, Secretariat, and Provincial Forest Extension Provider.

Meetings

The CF-FSAC meets quarterly and as needed to guide program development.

Council Technical Advisory Committee

The Council Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) is a volunteer body that advises the CF-FSAC on key management issues, research priorities, and the solicitation and evaluation of research. It is composed of users and providers of scientific knowledge related to forest and range management in BC.

The CF-FSAC develops selection criteria and terms of reference for the CTAC. MFR staff recommends potential CTAC members to the CF-FSAC, who invites members to participate.

MFR Implementation Team

The MFR Implementation Team is the FIA-FSP Program Administrator, responsible for implementing the Call for Proposals process, managing research projects, maintaining program databases, overseeing the Provincial Forest Extension Program, working with the CF-FSAC and its committees, liaising with collaborators, and handling external FIA-FSP communications.

MFR Internal Advisory Group

The MFR Internal Advisory Group includes MFR research and operations staff that provides advice on FIA-FSP research priorities to the MFR Implementation Team and Chief Forester.

Provincial Forest Extension Provider

The Provincial Forest Extension Provider (FORREX) is contracted by the MFR to deliver new and existing knowledge from the FIA-FSP and other sources to practitioners, policy makers, and the research community. The FORREX structure (e.g., FORREX Working Groups) will be capitalized upon to provide information on priority management issues and research topics for consideration by the CTAC in developing annual research priorities.