SUMMER 2019|INNOVATION & TECH TODAY 87
workers.“Itis a challengetostayreal-time
coordinatedandcommunicate...We’vecomea
longwaysincethestartoftheForestService
whenwehadtostringtelephonelinestojusthave
oneconversation,maybeoncea week. Now, we
takefulluseofourtechnology.”
IntheUnitedStates,thereareover 766 million
acresofnational-,private-,state-,andtribal-
ownedforestlands.Managingemployeesto
maintainandoverseethatmuchacreagerequires
significantcoordination.Christiansensaidofthe
challenge:“Wearea networkedorganization.We
can’toperatejustasoneunitata time,soit’sa real
priorityofmine,andattheForestServicethatwe
stayconnectedinternally...It’sonlytogether that
wecanleveragewhatis the conservation
challengeofourtime.”
Atthecoreofforestmanagementis
conservation,a wordwhichhastakenonnew
significanceintheeraofclimatechange.“The
forestsectorasa wholeneedstolookatthe
health and resilience of our forests. We have
multiplestressors...extendeddrought,a
changingclimate,andmuchlongerfireseasons.
Ourscientistshavestudiedthisandwehaveat
leasta 78-dayincreaseinfireseasonsthanwe
didjust 15 yearsago.Weneedtoreallylookat
ourclimateadaptation,”notedChristiansen.
Thesectorisworkingthoughtfullytomitigate
theimpactsofenvironmentalstressors.
ChristiansenremarkedontheForestService’s
approachtoclimateadaptation:“Wethink
aboutresiliencyandhowwecanbeadaptable...
There’sreallygoodsciencethatindicatesthis
risk,sowe’retryingtoanticipateaheadoftime
whattreatments,evenwhatkindofspecieswe
plant,thatwillhelpusmaintaintheseforests.”
TheForestServicehasinstitutedseveral
programstobringmoremoneyandfreshideas
intothesector.TheirWoodInnovationsGrants
fundingprogram,forexample,encouragesthe
creationandadoptionofnewtechnologiesto
reducemanagementcosts,promoteeconomic
health, and improve forest health whilesupportinglong-term management of National
Forestsystems.
Anotherprogram,ProjectLearningTree,
aimstoraiseawarenessamongchildrenofthe
importanceofforestconservationand
management.Abusowspokeabouttheprogram
duringourrecentinterview:“ProjectLearning
Tree(PLT)isa programweareveryproudof
andwanttogrow.Anyoneinterestedin
supportingPLTcandonatetoourwebsite,PLT.
org.Wewilltakeallthesupportwecangetto
helpgrowthenextgeneration of future forest
andconservationleaders.”
Ultimately,themissionoftheU.S.Forest
Serviceisonethateverypersonshouldsupport.
Itsgoalistomaintainthehealth,diversity,and
productivityofthenation’sforestsand
grasslandsforthebenefitofcurrentandfuture
generations.It’sa messageofconservation,
andsurprisingly,onethatwillrequireever-
evolvingtechnological innovation to ensure
its success.■(Oppositepage)KathyAbusow,presidentandCEOoftheSustainableForestryInitiative.(TopLeft)SeveralfemaleleadersgatheredtospeakattheSustainableForestry
InitiativeinDenver,Coloradotosharetheirstrategiesforbringingmorediversityintotheforestrysector.(TopRight)ChiefoftheUSDAForestServiceVickiChristiansen
(Bottom)TheUSDAForestService,theSustainableForestryInitiative, and Project Learning Tree host various training programs throughout the year to educate children and
adults about the importance of sustainable forest management.