Lauren Cooper

Contact Me

Outreach Academic Specialist, Forest Carbon & Climate Program
Forest Carbon and Climate Program

Phone:
517-353-1961

Degrees:
Ph.D. Forestry, Human Dimensions of Forestry, Michigan State University (2017 – current)
M.S. Environmental Policy & Planning, University of Michigan, 2012
M.U.P. (Masters of Urban Planning), Land Use & Environmental Planning, University of Michigan, 2012
B.A. Arts, History, Colonial Society, Landscape Change & Vulnerable Populations, Wayne State University, 2007

Website: Lauren T. Cooper

Lauren Cooper leads the Forest Carbon and Climate Program for the Forestry Department and has experience in forest carbon project development and wood utilization linkages to sustainability. She has projects looking at socio-ecological carbon cycling, conservation incentives, and carbon storage in wood utilization. She has international experience in Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador, and previously worked in Washington, D.C. at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). Her expertise is in policy implementation, impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, knowledge transfer, and sustainable land management.

Publications

Peer-reviewed:

Cooper, L. and D. MacFarlane. (2023). Climate-Smart Forestry: Promise and Risks for Forests, Society, and Climate. PLOS Climate. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000212

Gabriela S., Ranjeet, Chen, J, Cooper, L et al. (2023) Land cover change and socioecological influences on terrestrial carbon production in an agroecosystem. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-023-01647-5

IPBES Values Assessment. (2022). Contributing author. Chapter 3: The potential of valuation. In: Methodological Assessment Report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. P. Balvanera, U. Pascual, M. Christie, B. Baptiste, and D. González-Jiménez (eds). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6521298.

Ackerman, A., Cooper, L. Malmsheimer, R., Esch, E. Volk, T., Constantineau, S., and D. Gadoth-Goodman. 2022. Virtual Reality Visualization of Sustainable Management Practices for Forest Carbon and Climate Change. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture: 392-401.

Clay K, and L. Cooper. 2022. Safeguarding against Harm in a Climate-Smart Forest Economy: Definitions, Challenges, and Solutions. Sustainability. 14(7):4209. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074209

Huambachano, M., & L. Cooper. 2021. Values, Knowledge, and Rights Shaping Land Use in the Peruvian Amazon. Case Studies in the Environment, 4(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1525/cse.2020.1234945.1

Veintimilla, R., Macfarlane, D., and L. Cooper. 2020. Carbon sequestration potential of “analog” forestry in Ecuador: an alternative strategy for reforestation of degraded pasture. Forestry. 00, 1–13, https://doi:10.1093/forestry/cpaa017

Radonic, L. Cooper, L, and M. Omans. 2020. Perceptions of flood risk and shifting governance strategies: Reflections from an urban floodplain in the U.S. Rust Belt. Journal ofHuman Organization.

Cooper, L. and E. Huff. 2018. Foreign investments in the forestry sector as a means of increasing community resilience: Two case studies in Mexico. International Forestry Review. 20(4). https://doi.org/10.1505/146554818825240629

Cooper, L. & N. Rajkovich. 2012. An Evaluation District Energy System Potential in North America: Lessons Learned from Four Heating Dominated Cities in the U.S. and Canada. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Monterey, CA.

Non-juried:

Cooper, L. and S. Whitcomb. 2021. Recommendations of the Natural and Working Lands Work Group. State of Michigan.

Cooper et al. 2021. Summary Report: Scoping Dialogue on Potential Climate Benefits, Challenges and Risks Related to Scaling up Mass Timber Construction Practices. The Forests Dialogue, Yale University.

Clay, K. and L. Cooper. 2021. How Michigan forests can do more to help protect the planet. Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI.

Clay, K. and L. Cooper. 2020. A new policy platform is thinking big on forests and climate. Greenbiz.com.

Papa, C and L. Cooper. 2019. How cities can lead the fight against climate change using urban forestry and trees. Mongabay.com

Cooper, L. 2019. Sustainable forests work to address climate change. Treehugger. Oct 2.

Cooper, L. 2018. ICAO and forest offsets: Substantial opportunities and exceptional benefits. Mongabay Environmental Science and Conservation News.

Cooper, L. & E. Huff. 2017. Sustainable Forests, Sustainable Communities: A Case Study of The Forest Investment Program in Mexico. Climate Investment Funds c/o the World Bank. Washington, DC.

Cooper, L. 2016. Unleashing trees in the battle against climate change. Greenbiz.com

Cooper, L. April 2014. Biodiversity Boom Bolsters Peruvian Forests (and REDD) Ahead Of Year-End Climate Talks There. Ecosystem Marketplace. Digital.