Newsletter: January & February 2025
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EmailFCCP announces appointment of new Director, Dr. Chad Papa, 2024 in review, and upcoming events.
Hello FCCP Community,
Happy 2025! We'd like to share some big updates from the Forest Carbon and Climate Program. Please find these announcements below.
- Professional Online Courses
- News + Events
- Career Opportunities
- Research + Resources
-- The Forest Carbon and Climate Program Team
FCCP Announces Appointment of new Director, Dr. Chad Papa!
We are delighted to share the exciting news of the appointment of our incoming Director, Dr. Chad Papa, who joined the FCCP in this new role on January 2nd. Chad brings an extensive background conducting research and outreach activities spanning forest ecology, carbon accounting, harvested wood products, and professional training in natural resources.
Chad has a Ph.D. in forestry from Michigan State University and previously earned a M.S. in forestry from Michigan State University. Chad has spent the past 6 years as a research assistant with the FCCP where he led a diverse portfolio of projects including conducting original research on forest carbon topics, developing professional education and curriculum, organizing webinar series, conducting in-person workshops for natural resource professionals, and teaching core undergraduate courses on forest ecology, harvest wood products, and forest carbon. Prior to his time at MSU, he spent time as an Agroforestry Extension Agent in Senegal with the U.S. Peace Corps and as a Research Horticulturist at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Daniel Ortega-Pacheco, former director of FCCP, as well as the FCCP transition team which included Dr. Emily Silver, Sandra Lupien and Dr. Raju Pokharel for their great leadership. We look forward to continuing to build upon the FCCP’s mission and established legacy as we embark on this new chapter under Chad Papa’s leadership.
2024 in review, a note from FCCP Director, Dr. Chad Papa
As I begin my new role as the Director of the Forest Carbon and Climate Program, I would also like to look back and highlight some of the accomplishments of the FCCP team in 2024. We launched our Wildland Fire and Forest Carbon Management professional course which blends emerging research and real-world case studies to illuminate the connections between these crucial topics. We collaborated closely with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to advance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts by helping identify opportunities to address climate change risk within SFI’s 2022 Forest Management Standard. These efforts have resulted in additional support from the USDA Forest Service and the Doris Duke Foundation led by former director and founder of the FCCP, Lauren Cooper in collaboration with American Forests, the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS), and the Northwest Forests Climate Hub. We concluded our State and Tribal Capacity Building on Forest Carbon Webinar Series along with conducting two in-person workshops to address knowledge gaps within state forestry agency employees.
As a new year begins, I look forward to leading the FCCP team going forward with plenty of exciting projects and education initiatives on the docket for this year. It needs to be said that all the great work the FCCP has accomplished over the years would not have been possible without the support of our many close collaborators and partners. I am excited to continue to further the FCCP mission, building upon the legacy of many mentors and friends.
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! 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.
Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy, and Management
With a global focus, the Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy, and Management is available completely online and supplements a wide range of vocations. The Certificate equips participants with the interdisciplinary tools and conceptual backgrounds to plan, implement, manage, and evaluate forestry-based climate change mitigation projects.
The Graduate Certificate is open to a wide range of participants, including recent graduates, those enrolled in an MS or PhD program, and lifelong learners. The only requirement for admission is completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year program. While a background in forestry, natural resources, environmental sciences, or a related field is favorable, resources will be made available to accommodate those with a limited scientific background.
To earn the Certificate, students must complete all of the following courses, which are available online:
- Human Dimensions of Forest Carbon Management (FOR 833)
- Forest Carbon Policy, Economics, and Finance (FOR 835)
- Measurement and Monitoring of Forest Carbon (FOR 837)
Each course is 3 credits. FOR 835 will be offered during Fall Semesters. FOR 833 and FOR 837 will be offered during spring semesters.
News + Events
FCCP co-hosting the 2024-2025 Building Forest Carbon and Market Decision Support Webinar Series
Together with the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate (FOCCE) Program at Pennsylvania State University, the FCCP is co-hosting a webinar series to increase landowner capacity and decision-making towards participation in voluntary carbon programs in the United States. Join us for our next upcoming webinar in the series “expert panel on forest carbon programs” on January 16th. All webinars are at 3PM eastern time. Registration is free of charge and participants have the opportunity to earn CFEs.
FCCP co-hosting the 2025 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series
The FCCP will be co-hosting the upcoming 2025 learning exchange series with the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program at Pennsylvania State University. This six webinar series aims to set research priorities in the forest carbon space. Our first webinar will be held on January 21 from 2-3pm ET, and will feature Matt Hurteau, William Anderegg, Christopher Galik, and Rebecca Sanders-DeMott, and will focus on identifying forest carbon offset research priorities.
Dr. Chad Papa represents FCCP at the Forest Entity Guidelines Workshop in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Chad Papa, incoming FCCP director, attended the workshop in October 2024. The workshop convened to advance the USDA guidelines on quantifying greenhouse gas fluxes in managed forest systems bringing together targeted experts and stakeholders to meet a growing demand for improved standards, science, data, and tools.
FCCP featured at the 2024 Goddard Forum: Visioning Climate-Smart Forestry in the Mid-Atlantic Region in State College Pennsylvania
Dr. Raju Pokharel, MSU Forestry, and Dr. Chad Papa presented research around the potential mitigative effects of implementing climate-smart forestry in the Mid-Atlantic and potential economic trade-offs of for landowners enrolling in voluntary carbon programs. The Goddard forum supports science-policy dialogue on environmental challenges relevant to the Mid-Atlantic region.
Dr. Chad Papa represents FCCP at National Forest Stewardship Program Gathering in Frederick, MD
Dr. Chad Papa presented research on the economic trade-offs of implementing climate-smart forestry in Maryland and Pennsylvania in an effort to enhance decision-making in support of both economic and ecological carbon benefits. The National Forest Stewardship Program Gathering seeks to provide high quality information and peer-network learning opportunities to support outreach and education opportunities to landowners.
Career Opportunities
Climate Smart Forestry Analyst
The Nature Conservancy is seeking someone to design and conduct a broad set of scientific analyses, related to the carbon outcomes from different forest management strategies, and use them to design robust carbon accounting tools for Natural Climate Solutions, with a particular focus on Voluntary Carbon Market applications. The position is currently funded for 18 months and can be extended based on availability of additional funding.
Wildlife Research Technologist – Climate-Smart Forestry Carbon and Wildlife Co-benefits
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (ESM) Pennsylvania State University is seeking a research technologist to support research on carbon and wildlife co-benefits of climate-smart forestry with a regional focus in Pennsylvania and the potential for comparative research in other locations in the Northeast. Applications are due by January 31st.
Research + Resources
2024-2025 Building Forest Carbon and Market Decision Support Webinar Series Recordings Available
Recordings of previous webinars in this series are now available on our website. Watch Dr. Greg Latta's Introduction to forest carbon markets and payment programs and Dr. Raju Pokharel's Cost-benefit of voluntary carbon projects: demonstrating an online tool for landowner decision-support.
Chad Papa, Kylie Clay, Lauren Cooper, and Scott Stark Publish Manuscript
The FCCP Director, along with former and current FCCP and Department of Forestry colleagues published a paper in Environmental Research Letters titled "Science-based communication and education needed to improve forest carbon science, policy, and management outcomes". (DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ada8c4). This manuscript uses survey, semi-structured interviews, and a review of relevant policy literature to assess the science-practice gap as well as identifying key barriers and opportunities relating to forest carbon science, policy and management.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues.
Happy winter season!
Sincerely,
MSU FCCP
