Newsletter: July 2025
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EmailHappy summer! We hope this update finds you well. We'd like to share some recent updates and resources from the Forest Carbon and Climate Program.
Hello FCCP Community,
We hope this email finds you well! We'd like to share a few updates regarding Forest Carbon and Climate Program activities. Please find these announcements below.
- Professional Online Courses
- News + Events
- Career Opportunities
- Research + Resources
—The Forest Carbon and Climate Program Team
A Note from the Director
Happy Summer!
While are forests continue to mature across the growing season, summer has been a busy time for the FCCP team. FCCP concluded the 2025 Forest + Climate Learning Exchange Series in June, which focused on supporting and advancing the integrity of forest carbon offsets through identifying current research needs and potential pathways forward. Thanks to our co-hosts at the Society of American Foresters and the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) Program. We will now be working on synthesizing those conversations to foster the role of forests as natural climate solutions.
FCCP has continued our summer workshop series and recently finished the 3rd workshop of our Forest Carbon Market Decision Support workshop series in State College, PA, this week. Prior to this workshop, we had convened workshops in Rhinelander, WI and Albany, NY. Additionally, we look forward to our upcoming 4th workshop in Conway, NH. These workshops have been bringing together educators, professionals, landowners, and students to learn about carbon market resources and remove access barriers through a peer-to-peer learning environment.
Finally, I want to highlight last week’s 9th American Forest Congress, which was a truly inspiring gathering that provided opportunities to engage with forestry thought leaders and practitioners to help shape the future of our forests and the communities that rely upon them. I was truly encouraged through both my time serving on the steering committee and during the actual congress to hear and learn from such diverse groups and see people coalesce around principles and resolutions to support healthy forests and resilient communities. I hope this event will only be a starting point to galvanize support for climate-informed management and better policies to support forests in the face of climate change.
All my best,
Chad
Professional Online Courses
Our online short course, Understanding Forest Carbon Management, and our online intensives, Wildland Fire and Forest Carbon Management, Urban Forests & Climate Change, Forest Certification and Climate Change and FCCP Intensive: US Regions, are live now! Our next session begins September 9th.
For more information, visit our Professional Courses page. This page includes registration instructions, course pricing information, and an onboarding video that outlines what to expect after registration.
News + Events
Save the Date – 2025-2026 Forest + Climate Learning Exchange Series
Our 2025-2026 Learning Exchange Series is taking shape! You won’t want to miss this year’s lineup of speakers, which will include topics from science communication, forest carbon data platforms, and innovative research related to carbon and climate. For a sneak peek, we will have presentations from Youth4Nature, the Sustainable Forestry & African American Land Retention (SFLR) Network, and U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities. Webinars will take place on the first Wednesday of each month from September – May at 3pm eastern time. Stay tuned for more LES updates and access our webinar archive going back to 2017 below.
9th American Forest Congress – Healthy Forests, Thriving Communities
Dr. Chad Papa, FCCP Director, attended the 9th American Forest Congress from July 15—18 in Washington, DC. In addition to serving on the congress steering committee, Dr. Papa co-convened a panel on multisector strategies for research and innovation and led a dialogue on securing the future of U.S. forest carbon science and policy. To learn more about the congress, the voting process, and the principles and resolutions adopted at the congress, read more.
New Publication Assessing the Compatibility Between Carbon Offsets and Property Tax Programs
Former FCCP team members, Graham Diedrich and Dr. Kylie Clay, published a journal article titled “Navigating Dual Enrollment: Assessing Compatibility Between Improved Management Carbon Offset Projects and Preferential Property Tax Programs Across Nine States” in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry. Diedrich and Clay conducted policy analysis and expert interviews to understand state-level forest taxes and county-level variance, with an emphasis on harvest and forest management plan requirements.
Our State Policy Initiative Full open-access article
FCCP Researchers Receive Grant to Establish Climate Adaptive Silviculture Demonstration Site
FCCP researchers received two years of funding to establish a climate adaptive silviculture demonstration site to foster carbon resiliency at the Fred Russ Experimental Forest. The project will establish a long-term demonstration site showcasing approaches to managing forests for climate change considerations while providing outreach and education opportunities for forest managers and landowners.
FCCP publishes white paper and hyper-realistic urban tree visualization summarizing the impact of Emerald Ash Borer in Detroit, MI
Along with Aidan Ackerman at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, FCCP created a video highlighting the effect of the Emerald Ash Borer in Detroit. The video demonstrates the American Forests Tree Equity Score in action, showing various levels of regeneration and canopy cover.
Voluntary Forest Carbon Market Workshop Update
This summer, we have been co-hosting the Forest Carbon Market Decision-Support Workshop Series along with FCCP affiliated faculty member Dr. Raju Pokharel. Workshops have been hosted in Rhinelander, WI, Albany, NY, and State College, PA. Workshops seek to increase knowledge about voluntary carbon projects for educators, managers, and landowners. Each workshop features field visits to carbon offset projects and other forest carbon demonstration sites. The workshops also include training and demonstrations for our online Forest Carbon Calculator Tool, which provides landowners with a cost-benefit analysis of delaying timber harvest as a part of a carbon offset program. Learn more about our NY workshop below.
We have one workshop remaining in Conway, New Hampshire, on August 5. If you or someone you know is interested, follow this link for more information and registration.
Penn State University Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) updates
Our colleagues at FOCCE are developing an AI chatbot to help landowners find reliable information on carbon markets and offset projects. As part of the development of this new tool, they are looking for feedback on the types of questions landowners may have. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to list questions you have about carbon markets here.
FOCCE launched a new asynchronous, online course titled “Educator Training Program on Carbon Incentives”. The course equips natural resource professionals and educators who advise private woodland owners with the opportunity to explore 10 modules of video content at their own pace. The course provides an overview of forest carbon projects and provides tips and tricks for sharing this information with others.
Register Here Learn More - FOCCE Program
Career Opportunities
Silviculture Forester – Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Plummer ID
The Silviculture Forester is responsible for planning, scheduling, directing and managing the “Forest Development” program, which includes forestation and early silvicultural activities on Tribal and allotted forest lands. This position focus on developing, implementing, and monitoring silvicultural practices that promote forest resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability. The incumbent also works with timber sale foresters on silviculture for timber sales. Preparation, advertisement and administration of contracts is an integral part of this position.
Forester – Colorado State Forest Service, multiple locations
Join the Colorado State Forest Service and play a key role in forestry! We’re seeking dynamic foresters to lead various CSFS programs, from forest management to wildfire mitigation. Administer grant programs, provide expert assistance on forest health and contribute to government projects. If you have a strong background in silviculture, pest management and wildfire mitigation and are passionate about professional service and education, join our team! Contribute to healthy forests and vibrant communities with us.
Research + Resources
What Drives Employment in Forestry and Wood Process?
Dr. Brent Sohngen, Ohio State University, published a blog exploring drivers of employment in forestry and potential future implications.
Learn more about this topic.
Protect young secondary forests for optimum carbon removal
Researchers published a new article in Nature Climate Change highlighting the role of secondary forests to contribute to carbon removal strategies.
Find the open-access article here.
Ground-Truth: Can Forest Carbon Protocols Ensure High-Quality Credits?
Researchers published an article in Earth’s Future that surveyed existing forest carbon offset protocols, concluding that protocols do not ensure carbon credits are consistently real, high-quality, and accurately represent 1 tonne of avoided, reduced, or removed emissions.
Learn more about their recommendations for how protocols can be strengthened using existing data and new tools.
Growth-Morality Coordination Differs Among Xerophytic Versus Mesophytic Tree Species During Severe Drought
Researchers with the US Geological Survey's Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center published a study that quantified drought response of 20 abundant eastern US tree species, finding that future management efforts to conserve oak-hickory stands will be important to sustain carbon mitigation potential of eastern forests.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues.
Sincerely,
MSU FCCP
