Welcome to the Columbia Mountains Institute
The Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI) is a non-profit society based in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. We are a regional group that connects people working in the various fields of applied ecology – natural resource practitioners, managers, researchers, educators, academics, and others with an interest in the ecology of southeastern British Columbia. The CMI is known for hosting balanced, science-driven conferences, and specialized courses, that keep members and non-members up-to-date on the newest information and methodologies. Our website offers many resources, including conference summaries for all of our past events.
The purpose of the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology |
Join our network
Join CMI's network of 400+ people in British Columbia and Alberta. Receive e-newsletters with regional content and enjoy discounted registration fees at our events.
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Resources on this web site
This web site offers resources to support ecologists in southeastern British Columbia and beyond, including: conference summaries for all of our past events; an archive of CMI members’ email updates; national park feature articles about species and ecological issues in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks; the Mountain Caribou Compendium; information about some of the research projects our members have done; and more. Click here to see the table of contents for resources on this web site.
Looking for a conference summary?
Summaries of CMI events are available as free downloads from the Past Events page. A link to the download appears in the write-up for each event.
Upcoming CMI Events
Aboriginal Cultural Awareness for Natural Resource Managers
- April 20-21, 2010
United Church Hall, Revelstoke BC - Course will be repeated in October 2010
- This two day interactive workshop will provide participants with the practical tools for engaging Aboriginal peoples, communities, organizations, and institutions in resource management discussions and decisions. The nature of culture and the role that cultural differences can play in interpersonal interactions are examined.
Public Participation Skills for Natural Resource Managers
- April 28-29, 2010
United Church Hall, Revelstoke BC - Course will be repeated in October 2010.
- Although participation is widely recognized as a critical aspect of natural resource management, and is a regulatory requirement for a variety of environmental and natural resource management processes, few resource managers have had formal training or professional development opportunities in this field. This course will introduce the basic concepts and skills for planning and implementing a public participation process.
- This two-day course will introduce users to R software, so that they are able to begin performing statistical analyses and plotting graphs on their own. The course is suitable for individuals who have never used R before as well R-users looking to consolidate their understanding of the basics.
August 24-25, 2010
Coast Hillcrest Hotel, Revelstoke BC
Ecological Approaches to Invasive Plant Management
- September 13-14, 2010
Coast Hillcrest Hotel, Revelstoke, BC - This two day course will present an ecological approach to invasive plant management, where vegetation management systems are designed to work with natural successional processes. The first day is a classroom session, and the second is a field day with the participants evaluating sites.
- September 15-16, 2010
Coast Hillcrest Hotel, Revelstoke BC - Soil bioengineering is an applied science that uses live plant materials to perform an engineering function such as slope stabilization, soil erosion control, or seepage control. This two day course will focus on soil bioengineering techniques and options involved in restoration and reclamation of damaged ecosystems using a combination of structural materials, vegetative cuttings and other specialized methods.
Call for Papers open until May 31, 2010
Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Managment conference
- October 6-7, 2010
Revelstoke Community Centre, Revelstoke BC - Natural resource practitioners are accustomed to integrating biological and other natural science and technical factors into their decision-making. At this conference, we will demonstrate how how addressing human dimensions can make decisions more robust and plans more likely to be implemented successfully.
- CMI Annual Researchers' Meeting and AGM; May 12 in Castlegar
- Course on using on-line mapping resources; May 13 iin Castlegar, partnered with Selkirk College
- Course on making your own maps with a GPS and programs such as Google Earth; May 14 in Castlegar, partnered with Selkirk College
- Statistics refresher course for biologists - date TBA
- Statistics course on trend analysis and EIA - date TBA
Planning is in progress for the following 2010 events. Contact the office for current information.