Learn more about the book “Why Forests? Why Now? The Science, Economics and Politics of Climate Change” in this episode from a podcast series created by the Center for Global Development (CGD). CGD Senior Fellow, Frances Seymour, discusses forests, the Paris climate agreement, and the sustainable development goals – indicating the importance of protecting tropical… Read more »
Read how the United States Forest Service tracks domestic and international forest sustainability goals through the Service’s Sustainability Assessment Program. Using an internationally agreed-upon set of 54 forest sustainability indicators known as the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators, USFS has created reports for each indicator, with topics including biodiversity conservation, forest fires, and the many benefits derived… Read more »
Read in-depth about forest health – from invasive pests and diseases to regeneration – in this Special Issue: Forest Health from Science, a magazine published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Researchers are constantly trying to understand and monitor the health of forests given the world’s changing ecosystems and human behavior. Learn about methods being… Read more »
Check out what professional arborists look for in surveying tree health with this sample basic tree risk assessment form from the International Society of Arboriculture. By assessing multiple site factors, profiling tree species and general health (crown and branches, trunk, and roots), and soil conditions, arborists evaluate many factors when determining the overall risk of the tree… Read more »
About That Forest is a web-based role-playing simulation game that takes place in a forest where players are members of a community jointly managing their forest. Players try to achieve their goals, facing many challenges, interacting with the decisions made by other people living in the forest and an uncertain environment. Participants make decisions that affect the shared… Read more »
Learn more about management planning from the lens of a woodland owner in this interactive online module. With videos, maps, and audio segments, you can dive deeper into the experiences of woodland owners and how they create management plans to fit their specific property goals.
In this sample forest management document from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, view the type of information a property owner in Massachusetts must submit to their Department of Environmental Management. In Massachusetts, property owners need to provide information on land history, ownership, landowner goals, stewardship purpose, forest stand descriptions, and proposed management practices for the next… Read more »
Read about how Australian forest professionals created a simple game using a few hundred beer bottle tops and a couple of maps to explain forest planning and management concepts in a published peer-reviewed article through Southern Cross University. From undergraduate to professional development situations, the authors discovered the game was effective in communicating concepts related… Read more »
Learn about unique STEM stories in National Parks across the country by watching these YouTube videos created by PBS NewsHour STEM Student Reporting Labs. In 2017, students at Mercy Academy in Louisville, Kentucky worked alongside the National Park Service to explore the underwater passages of Mammoth Cave National Park. These students, with the assistance of their teachers,… Read more »
Explore more than 250 different Forest Service scientist and engineer career opportunities with the Natural Inquirer’s downloadable career cards, made in partnership with Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association (CFAIA) and the US Forest Service. Available in both English and Spanish, career cards are available direct for download and will help youth explore the important… Read more »