Dear colleagues and friends,

We are pleased to announce Dr. Jonathan Kusel as the next speaker in the Spring 2016 Sustainable Futures Speaker Series. Jonathan will speak on Thursday, March 3 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in Founders Hall room 118 (FH 118) on the HSU campus. The title of his talk is "Improving Forests and Building Communities: A Networked Biomass Approach."

Jonathan Kusel founded and has for 22 years directed the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. He received a Masters of Forest Science from Yale University and a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in natural resource sociology and policy. He participated on the Clinton Administration’s “Option 9” Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team and led the community assessment team and public participation team for the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project (SNEP). More recently, Dr. Kusel sat on the steering committee of the Biomass Economic Recovery Group of the Northern Sierra and was instrumental in the development and success of the California Forest Biomass Working Group. Dr. Kusel and the Sierra Institute are one of the nine members of California’s State Wood Energy Team.

Many communities in western U.S. states that once depended on conventional logging and associated forest industry activities are now struggling to redefine their economies. This effort takes place in a period characterized by drought, forest fires, climate change, and related environmental pressures. The Sierra Institute, under Jonathan's leadership, has sought to develop new and innovative strategies for economic development and forest resource management using an approach characterized by strong community involvement. His talk should be interesting and engaging. We hope that you will be able to join us.

An informational flier is attached!