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The Outlook | March 2025
A trusted source of environmental information
| | U.S. Forest Sustainability in the 21st Century: Strengthening Families, Communities, and Livelihoods | | |
Sustainably managed forests play a key role in addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges. Forests are essential to the growth of a circular, more bio-based economy and contribute to healthier communities and a more equitable built environment. Forests also provide crucial natural climate solutions. Sustainable forest management helps tackle issues such as affordable housing, workforce development, human health, youth engagement and education, and can support creation of more resilient infrastructure.
For the past 30 years, certification has served as a benchmark for forest sustainability. Where accessible, certification auditing has become a valued tool. However, newer, more advanced systems for risk assessment, data analysis, and public reporting now offer more accessible and effective solutions. These modernized approaches ensure sustainability across the landscape without imposing the cost and technical barriers that hinder supply chain transparency and perpetuate marketplace inequities.
Special thanks to the Forest Landowners Foundation and the US Forest Service for support and collaboration.
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Online Learning Session: U.S. Forest Sustainability in the 21st Century
Join Katie Fernholz, of Dovetail Partners, on April 24th from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. The session will explore how sustainable forest management can address critical issues like affordable housing, workforce development, public health, and youth education. Learn more and register here.
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SBP Interim Regional Risk Assessments
The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has published three SBP Interim Regional Risk Assessments (RRAs), covering the province of Quebec, Canada, US Private Forest, and US National Forest, available here. These SBP Interim RRAs will support Certificate Holders in implementing risk mitigation measures and enable Certification Bodies to carry out certification activities until SBP-endorsed RRAs for these regions are available.
Dovetail Partners served on the assessment teams for the US Private Forest RRA and US National Forest RRA.
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Agrivoltaics - Merging Solar Energy and Agricultural Production
At our March team meeting, Jim Bowyer, Ph.D., summarized key insights from a Dovetail report on agrivoltaics, covering its potential, research findings, early experiences, and challenges to widespread development. You can watch the recording here.
| | | Register Now for Q2 Webinar on June 6th | | |
Webinar Topic: Tree-Free, Hemp, and Non-Wood Alternatives - Impacts & Trade-Offs
June 6, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am CDT
Speakers: Jim Bowyer, Ph.D. and Mark Jacobs
Join Jim Bowyer, Ph.D. and Mark Jacobs as they examine non-wood alternatives to traditional forest products, including trends in “tree-free” and use of fibers such as hemp. This webinar will explore the role of hemp, agricultural residues, and other materials in diversifying material supplies and the impacts for forestry and farming that result.
Dovetail Partners is offering quarterly webinars throughout 2025 to highlight key topics and provide greater insight into issues addressed in our reporting. You can learn more about the remaining topics here.
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Join the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) from May 20-23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the 2025 SFI Annual Conference as we celebrate SFI’s 30th anniversary and three decades of shared achievements in sustainable forestry! This year’s theme, "Innovating for Forests & Communities," sets the stage for engaging sessions on market insights, solutions for deforestation and degradation, harnessing technology for conservation, future forest workforce needs, and more. Continuing education credits are available.
Kathryn Fernholz, from Dovetail Partners, will be a speaker for the session on “Forest Products Innovation to Advance Sustainability”. There will also be a Women's Forest Congress meetup on May 22nd over lunch. Learn more about the conference: forests.org/conference.
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Kathryn Fernholz to present at Mississippi State on April 9th
Kathryn "Katie" Fernholz will present, “The People Side of Forest Resources.” In her lecture, she will explore the needs and opportunities across the forest and wood products sector, from land ownership to workforce development. The Owen Lecture Series was established more than 30 years ago in MSU’s College of Forest Resources by Carlton Owen, a Greenville, South Carolina, resident and 1974 MSU graduate. The program focuses on natural resource conservation issues. Learn more here.
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