Workshops

The Department of Renewable Resources offers workshops for environmental consultants, land reclamation and restoration specialists, biologists, ecologists and foresters.

An Introduction to Mosses of Alberta

Three-day workshop in moss identification | Last offered in May 2024

Mosses are an important component of the diversity of Alberta with approximately 525 species in the province. However, they are often overlooked because of their small size. This three-day workshop consists of a practical introduction to moss identification. Participants will learn the characteristics most useful for the identification of 40 common species. The workshop combines both lab and field identification. A short field visit to the river valley will introduce participants to the mosses and their habitats in a natural environment.

Peatland Mosses of Alberta

Two-day workshop in bryophyte identification | Next dates TBD

Accurately identifying peatland mosses has become even more important with the release of the guide Reclamation Criteria for Wellsites and Associated Facilities for Peatlands by Alberta Environment and Parks. This two-day workshop will introduce participants to mosses most commonly found in the peatlands of Alberta and provide a practical approach to implementing the new guide. Participants will learn the key characteristics used to identify each species in addition to the species’ ecological preferences. The workshop combines both lab and field identification. A half-day field visit to a local peatland will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about species and their habitats in a natural setting.

About the Facilitator 

René Belland is a world expert bryologist who conducts research and teaches moss identification in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. René has 37 years of experience studying mosses from many regions of Canada, including Atlantic Canada, the Arctic, and western Canada. His current interests include the factors affecting diversity patterns of the moss flora of the Rockies, endangered species conservation, as well as the biogeography of the moss flora of Alberta.