Newsletter: March & April 2025
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EmailHappy almost spring! Like some of our temperate forests, we hope that you are beginning to come out of winter dormancy. Please find the latest updates from the Forest Carbon and Climate Program below.
Hello FCCP Community,
Happy almost spring! Like some of our temperate forests, we hope that you are beginning to come out of winter dormancy. Please find the latest updates from the Forest Carbon and Climate Program below.
- Professional Online Courses
- News + Events
- Career Opportunities
- Research + Resources
-- The Forest Carbon and Climate Program Team
A note from the director
Spring is a time of change for forests where trees are sending out new growth and flower buds are opening. FCCP has some big plans for 2025 that we’re excited to get going on. 2025 has also brought lots of new changes to the forestry sector. While there might be some challenges, this also brings new opportunities to continue to promote sustainable forest management and the value of forests as not only natural climate solutions but as important drivers to support rural communities and the economies they rely on. I look forward to continuing our work supporting the health and stewardship of natural and working lands through strong collaborations and partnerships across the entire FCCP community.
-- 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 Webinar on understanding trade-offs between managing forestland for wood products and carbon
The final webinar in our carbon market decision-support webinar series will be March 27th at 3pm eastern time where Dr. Richard Mei will present “Financial trade-offs of managing forestlands for carbon and wood products”. Registration is free of charge and participants have the opportunity to earn CFEs. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4kFbZ3v
2025 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series
The 2025 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series will feature six webinar panels that will bring together leading experts in forest carbon science, management, and policy to advance dialogues in support of high-integrity forest carbon offsets and credits. Join us on April 22nd at 2pm eastern time to participate in a dialogue and learn more about how advances in Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) can help improve the integrity of forest carbon offsets.
Learn more, and view previous webinar recordings here: https://tinyurl.com/64b8vfkc or on our youtube page: @msufccp
FCCP researcher published study on science communication and education
FCCP researchers published a manuscript in the journal Environmental Research Letters. This study identified science-practice gaps among state forestry agency personnel using surveys, semi-structured interviews, and a review of relevant policy literature. This work should inform future participatory approaches for targeted education and communication of complex scientific topics to improve policy and management outcomes. This manuscript is open-access and freely available. Learn more here: bit.ly/3QAwMaz
The 9th American Forest Congress is now accepting nominations!
Nominations are now open for the 9th American Forest Congress, July 15-18, 2025, at the iconic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. This is an opportunity to engage with leaders in forestry and conservation—and help shape the health and future of our forests!
The Steering Committee also invites you to 3 upcoming virtual workshops
- Stewardship of Nonfederal Forestlands: Thursday, March 20, 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- Sustainable Forest Products: Wednesday, April 23, 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- Reforestation: Thursday, May 21, 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the workshop.
Don’t miss the opportunity to share your insights and contributions!
FCCP awarded grant to develop carbon stewardship and climate education program
FCCP is partnering with the USDA Forest Service to develop a carbon stewardship and climate education program to increase capacity of Forest Service employees and other natural resources managers in the public and private sector. Funds will be used to develop materials for training which will include the development of on-demand learning modules, updated education resources, and supplementing other existing resources that have been used in various virtual formats. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/c7d4cs5w
Career Opportunities
Forest Carbon Internship - Weyerhaeuser
As an intern on the Forest Carbon team, you will gain experience developing Improved Forest Management forest carbon projects in working forests. This role necessitates a working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), forest inventory and analysis, research, and other areas of the forest industry.
Working Forest Geospatial Analytical Intern – The Conservation Fund
The intern will work under the guidance of the Working Forests Analytics Department and focus on developing new metrics to describe the impact provided by conserving working forests in the United States and developing models to identify and prioritize potential acquisitions for the program.
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 Webinar 3: Expert Panel of Forest Carbon Markets and Payment Programs featuring Nathan Truitt, American Forest Foundation; Jon Remucal, Climate Action Reserve; Dr. Erynn Maynard-Bean, SCS Global Services; Dylan Jenkins, Finite Carbon; Dr. Nan Pond, Rubicon Carbon; and Josh Fain, LandYield
and Webinar 4: Voluntary and compliance forest carbon markets: understanding the opportunity presented by Andrew Taylor with ACR/Winrock and Alex Procton with Ecosystem Marketplace.
Report on quantifying the impacts of Climate-Smart Forestry in California to support net zero GHG emission goals
FCCP researchers co-author report in collaboration with American Forests to quantify the impacts of Climate-Smart Forestry in California in support of net zero GHG emission goals. To learn more about the project click here: https://bit.ly/4i3PjrW
To download the report click here: https://bit.ly/4kzvlqW
Technical briefings on forest carbon dynamics in the eastern US
In late 2024, the FCCP published technical briefings summarizes topics such as forest densities and covert types, carbon storage and climate considerations for 20 states across the eastern and northern United States. You can find those briefings here: https://tinyurl.com/m5e8frp4
New publication on understanding the potential of carbon credits through wood-use
Researchers at the University of Helsinki published a recent study in the journal GCB – Bioenergy to investigate how carbon credits for wood-use to help decarbonize society. This article is open-access and freely available. Learn more here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcbb.70017
New paper on detecting individual tree phenology in the Sahel using remote sensing
NASA researchers published a new paper to demonstrate how the Daily PlanetScope NDVI time series can be used to estimate individual tree phenology in the Sahel, providing greater insights into woody population dynamics and their underlying processes. This paper is open-access and freely available. Learn more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.114650
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues.
Happy spring season!
Sincerely,
MSU FCCP
