What is Climate Smart Forestry?

Peter Kolb is a scientist's scientist. He lives near Missoula and wears two hats: Associate Professor of Forest Ecology and Management at the University of Montana and Montana State University’s Extension Forester.

As such, Kolb offers advice and counsel to the state’s 29,000 non-industrial private forest landowners who own 10 or more acres of land. Most own around 100 acres. Collectively, they own some 3.5 million acres in western and central Montana.

Kolb holds a PhD in Forest and Range Ecophysiology from the University of Idaho, a Master’s in Silviculture and Forest Protection, also from UI, and a BS in Forestry from Michigan State. He is also a Fulbright Scholar to the Bavarian Institute of Applied Forestry in Freising, Germany, where he continues to study the long term effects of intensive forest management in the Northern Alps. The 144-year-old Institute was founded by Bavaria’s King Ludwig II in 1881.

In his latest essay for MSU’s Forestry Extension Service customers, he answers a very timely question: What is Climate Smart Forestry?  We are republishing the essay because it is easily the most comprehensive climate and forestry assessment we’ve ever read.

What began as a discussion between scientists at least 30 years ago, has been politicized by groups that are using fear and misinformation to gain control of every corner of our lives. It is particularly concerning for those lives are wrapped up in managing forests or farmland, often generationally. We share this concern because our sole mission for the last 40 years has been to help advance public understanding and support for science-based forestry and forest policy.

We are thus delighted that our friend Peter - who is also a member of the Evergreen Foundation Board of Directors - has answered so many timely climate related questions in one 20-page report.

What is Climate Smart Forestry is well documented and well-illustrated. It does an excellent job of explaining the roles forests and forest management play in moderating climate fluctuations by storing carbon in trees, root wads and hundreds of wood products.

We hope you enjoy reading Peter's and will share it with all of your friends, family and business associates.