SYSTEMS CHANGE:
Moving knowledge into action through quick deployment of best practices.
Moderator: Abel Ponce de Leon Lead Contributor: Tom Duffus Contributors: Craig Engwall, Katie Fernholz, Bob Owens
Folks - there have been a number of discussions swirling around that our "Systems Change" group might want to tackle in greater depth - perhaps as an underlying theme we pursue in Scandinavia and for which we create action at home - in a BIG way.
I would appreciate your ideas and reaction to the following list:
- Carbon: forestry's role. How can Minnesota forest owners participate in the looming carbon credit market? what does it take to store carbon in working forests? What is the role of older vs.. younger forests?
I can put a webinar together that would be very instructive on this issue, using TCF's experience with our Garcia River Forest in California (a working forest with embedded endangered species and on which we just sold 250,000 tons of carbon for around $10/ton). What are the Scandinavians doing on this?
2. Carbon: Should we change what the next rotation looks like?
John Herman is trying to get Dr. Sue Galatowitch to speak to us at the August gathering on how dramatically MN's northern forests are changing and the predictions of what we will be left to work with in a very short timeframe (see attached). The findings of this and other studies leave me speechless that to have "productive forests" in the next 20-50 years, we may have to create a completely new approach to silviculture. What would that look like and how could we create such change? what are the Scandinavians doing on this? See also: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf
3. Forestland Conservation: the job is ahead of us:
With the looming election and the Vote Yes for Mn constitutional amendment showing high marks in the polls, MN may soon finally have the resources to conserve its land and waters. About $25 million/year is ear-marked for forestland conservation including working forests. As the attached article summarizes, it is better for rural communities, let alone the industry and nature, to have trees over houses. How best to we position the DNR to take advantage of a small window of time and conserve private forests? See also the attaché State conservation Plan at http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/statewideconservationplan/SCPP_FinalPlan.html
