Nature of Forests Weekend Speaker Profile: Andy MacKinnon

Andy MacKinnon will be our second presenter. He will give a talk at Forbes Hall at 1:30 pm Saturday July 18, followed by a 2:30 walk on Lawrence Trail (spaces limited).

Andy MacKinnon is a forest ecologist who lived in Metchosin, BC.  After completing graduate work in mycology (the study of fungi) at the University of British Columbia in 1982, Andy worked as a forest ecologist for the BC Forest Service until his retirement in 2015.  While at the Forest Service, he was responsible for ecosystem classification and mapping and for a program of forest ecology research focused on old growth structure and composition, effects of climate change, and BC's native plants, fungi and lichens.  He was also involved in developing land use plans for Haida Gwaii and the Great Bear Rainforest.

Andy’s recent research interests include ecology of BC’s ectomycorrhizal fungal species. He was lead BC scientist for Environment Canada’s 2017 ranking of Canada’s threatened and endangered fungal species.

Andy has taught rainforest ecology field courses in Bamfield and Tofino (for the University of Victoria) and Haida Gwaii (for UBC). He has also taught mushroom identification courses in Tofino (for the Rainforest Education Society) and in Victoria. He is co-author of six best-selling books about plants of western North America. He’s a (retired) Professional Forester and (retired) Professional Biologist in BC. Andy was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Simon Fraser University in 2013.

Andy has spent much of his career as an advocate for conservation, with the provincial government and since retirement. He is Board Chair for Habitat Acquisition Trust (our regional land trust) and has been involved in establishment of numerous protected areas in southwestern BC. He is President of our local mushroom club, the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS), and an enthusiastic participant, speaker and field trip leader for various mushroom festivals in southwestern BC each autumn.

About Andy's talk. Sunday July 19 at 1:30 - Forbes Hall.

Fabulous Plants and their Fungal Friends

The plant and fungi Kingdoms form extraordinary partnerships that allow both partners to survive and thrive. This talk will feature BC’s lichens, mycorrhizae, fungal endophytes, and magnificent mycoheterotrophs.

The talk will be followed at 2:30 by a walk with Andy on the Lawrence Trail. Andy's mycology walks are always a treat! Meet at Forbes Hall. Spaces are limited so preregister by contacting ann@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org