Department of Forestry Natural Resource Economics and Social Sciences

Ongoing Activities 

• Forest Carbon Analysis and Knowledge Transfer in Northern United States
• Woodshed Mapping for Lake States
• Logger, consultant forester, and mill Survey
• Advisor, Great Lake Biochar Network (GLBN)
• Treasurer, Michigan Forest Association (MFA)

Competed Activities

• 2022 International Society of Forest Resource Economics (ISFRE) Meeting
• Assessment of biomass availability for a biopower production in Michigan
• Economic Impacts of potential mass timber production facility in Michigan
• Potential supply of  biomass, production of Biochar, and demand for land application in Michigan. 

In the News:

Saunders D. (2024. April). Researchers at Michigan Tech Want to Create a High-Tech Wood Product Called Cross-Laminated Timber From the State’s Hardwood Trees Inside Climate News. https://insideclimatenews.org/. 

Falinski, J . (2023. December). Exploring Michigan’s Emerging Mass Timber Market. Spartan Magazine - Winter 2024. MSU Alumni. East Lansing, MI. 

Falinski, J . (2023. December). MSU researchers explore emerging market for mass timber in Michigan. AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. 

Noel, L. (2023, September). MSU Forestry Partnership in Finland. The Forestry Source (Page 8), Society of American Foresters, Washington DC.

Medina, A. (2022, September). Public policy and social research teams receive up to $30,000 in funding. The State News, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Michigan DNR (2022, January). Webinar series from Michigan-Maine-Finland partnership examines forest ecology, economics. DNR News, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI.

Watts, A. (2020, August). How Five Natural-Resources Professionals work with CO₂. The Forestry Source (Page 8), Society of American Foresters, Washington DC.

Lewis, K. C. (2017, March). EYESORE or OPPORTUNITY? Logging Residues Could Serve as an Energy Resource. Mississippi Landmarks Volume 13 Number 1 (Page 20). Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State. MS.

Webinars 

• Papa, C. 2023. State and Trial Capacity Building on Forest Carbon: Webinar Series, December 7, 2023, Webinar Series by MSU Forest Carbon and Climate Change. (Panelist)
• Lupien S., Pokharel R., Huff S. & Thapa^* 2023. Mass Timber Demand/Supply Preliminary Findings Presentation. September 21, 2023, Presentation by MassTimber@MSU for Zoe Ahlstrom, Advisory to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
• Pokharel, R., Gc S., Clay K., Papa, C. 2023. The Economic Tradeoffs in Timber Products Under Various Carbon Management Strategies for Maryland and Pennsylvania. February 1, 2023, 2022-23 Forests and Climate Learning Exchange Series: Webinar Series by MSU Forest Carbon and Climate Change.  
• Pokharel, R., Gc S., Clay K., Papa, C. 2022. The Economic Tradeoffs in Timber Products Under Various Carbon Management Strategies for Maryland and Pennsylvania. November 15, 2022, Webinar by MSU Forestry and MSU FCCP for Penn Soil RD&C Council, USDA Forest Service, MD DNR, PA DCNR.
• Pokharel, R., Khanal, N. 2022. Analysis of location, softwood sawlog availability, and economic contributions of a mass timber manufacturing plant in Michigan. August 15, 2022, Webinar by MSU Forestry and Mass timber at MSU for Michigan DNR and MI forestry stakeholders.
• Expert Panel Discussion: Dr. Grant Domke (USDA Forest Service, Dr. Ivan Fernandez (UMaine), Dr. Alexandra Kosiba (UVM Extension), and Dr. David MacFarlane (MSU) and Dr. Raju Pokharel (MSU). Expert Panel on Forest Carbon Data and Modeling Integration and Evaluation. September 13, 2022, Expert Panel: Webinar Series by MSU Forest Carbon and Climate Change. (Panelist:) 
• Pokharel, R. 2022. Forestry in Michigan: Current issues and opportunities, Webinar series: Forestry in Finland and northern US. April 24, 2022. 
• Pokharel, R. 2021. Economics of Biochar and feedstock availability, Great Lake Biochar Network, Michigan State University. 

Reports and Publications (last five years)

1. Pokharel, R., Allohverdi, T., Latta, G., Poudel, P., Huff, E., and Gc S. 2023. Feedstock availability for Filer City powerplant and its economic impact to the state. May 2023, Report by MSU Forestry for NorthStar Clean Energy™, Michigan.
2. Pokharel, R., Gc S., Clay K., Papa, C. 2022. Economic Tradeoffs in Timber Products Under Various Carbon Management Strategies for Maryland. December 2022, Draft Report by MSU Forestry and MSU FCCP for Penn Soil RD&C Council, USDA Forest Service, MD DNR (Final Report pending) 
3. Pokharel, R., Gc S., Clay K., Papa, C. 2022. Economic Tradeoffs in Timber Products Under Various Carbon Management Strategies for Pennsylvania. December 2022, Draft Report by MSU Forestry and MSU FCCP for Penn Soil RD&C Council, USDA Forest Service, PA DCNR (Final Report pending) 
4. Pokharel, R., Khanal, N. 2022. Analysis of location, softwood sawlog availability, and economic contributions of a mass timber manufacturing plant in Michigan. August 2022, Report by MSU Forestry and Mass timber at MSU for Michigan DNR.
5. Miesel J., Pokharel R., Safron C. & Ahmed^* N. (2023). Determining opportunities and challenges for incorporating biochar into a sustainable regional bioeconomy. Project GREEEN, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.