Acadian Timber invests $2.5 million in UNB's digital forestry future
Author: Kayla Cormier
Posted on Oct 1, 2025
Category: Announcements
The University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) faculty of forestry and environmental management is poised to lead the next generation of sustainable forest management, with the help of a transformative $2.5 million investment from Acadian Timber Corp. and its largest shareholder, Macer Forest Holdings Inc. The investment is being made as part of the McKenna Institute’s support of the digital transformation of New Brunswick’s economy.
Announced on Sept. 22 at UNB’s Fredericton campus, the gift will support the creation of a new digital stream within UNB’s master of forestry professional degree program. Funding will aid in curriculum development, research practicums and research stipends, as well as renovations on the Fredericton campus to house a state-of-the-art digital forestry lab.
“This isn’t just an investment in future foresters,” said UNB president and vice chancellor Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle. “It is an investment in the future of forests, the future of Canadian industry, and the future of our world, which is inextricably bound to sustainable forest management.”
The renovated lab will feature 60 new workstations equipped with advanced teaching technology and software, enabling students to engage with cutting-edge tools such as remote sensing, digital twinning and AI-driven decision support. Students will also collaborate on applied projects focused on forest growth modelling, operational planning and environmental monitoring on Acadian Timber lands.
Dr. Malcolm Cockwell, chairman of Acadian Timber and principal of Macer Forest Holdings, announced the gift at the event. A forester by training, Dr. Cockwell emphasized the importance of equipping future professionals with the technological skills needed to meet the challenges of modern forestry.
“Acadian Timber Corp. is dedicated to the proposition that foresters achieve more when they are conversant with all the technological tools available to forestry and environmental science today,” said Dr. Michelle Gray, dean of forestry and environmental management.
UNB’s faculty of forestry and environmental management is the only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada and among the oldest forestry programs in the country. The investment aligns with UNB’s strategic plan to tackle global challenges through research, innovation and experiential learning.
“With this tremendous investment, Acadian Timber Corp. and the Cockwell family are ensuring UNB has the resources it needs to operate at the leading edge of forestry innovation in the era of AI and machine learning,” said Dr. Mazerolle.