Forrest Fleischman
@forrestf.bsky.social
Associate professor of environmental policy at the University of Minnesota. Forest governance, Restoration Social Science, South Asia, Central America, Environmental justice, urban ecosystems, NEPA, homegardens, etc.
Pinned
Forrest Fleischman
@forrestf.bsky.social
· Jun 23
Addressing critiques refines global estimates of reforestation potential for climate change mitigation - Nature Communications
Reforestation is a key climate change mitigation strategy, but global maps of its potential are widely criticized. This study shows that addressing those critiques substantially refines estimates of t...
www.nature.com
A couple years ago, I was approached by some scientists at The Nature Conservancy with a proposal: Would I help them create a better global restoration opportunity map? The resulting paper is now out, and I will explain my view of it in this thread. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I was on a search committee last year for a position that had hundreds of applicants, of which probably 1/3 (more than 100) were highly qualified and great fits for the department. If you didn't get the job, it wasn't because you weren't qualified or discrimination, its because you had bad luck.
THERE ARE NO JOBS IN ACADEMIA! NO JOBS! DOZENS OF HYPER QUALIFIED APPLICANTS PER JOB!
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I was on a search committee last year for a position that had hundreds of applicants, of which probably 1/3 (more than 100) were highly qualified and great fits for the department. If you didn't get the job, it wasn't because you weren't qualified or discrimination, its because you had bad luck.
I really enjoyed this paper: "Why don't landowners just do what they are told?" which illustrates the mismatches between expert advisors and the values of local people and decision-makers www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“Why don't landowners just do what they are told?”: Potential mismatches of values and objectives between family forest landowners and professionals
An often-heard complaint in the forestry and forest conservation fields is that private forest landowners – especially individuals and families – do n…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I really enjoyed this paper: "Why don't landowners just do what they are told?" which illustrates the mismatches between expert advisors and the values of local people and decision-makers www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Forrest Fleischman
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
www.science.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
It was -10 F (-23 C) and our gas boiler/radiators aren't working but our house was plenty warm last night with our cold climate heat pump. Globally few people live in places that regularly get this cold, which is to say, the vast majority live in places where a heat pump is all you need.
December 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
It was -10 F (-23 C) and our gas boiler/radiators aren't working but our house was plenty warm last night with our cold climate heat pump. Globally few people live in places that regularly get this cold, which is to say, the vast majority live in places where a heat pump is all you need.
I think its worse than this actually. Lots of American citizens still don't have real IDs.
A reminder that most Americans who are life-long citizens have nothing OTHER than a Real ID to prove their citizenship. This is CBP’s chief enforcer saying that ID doesn’t count.
Bovino, the man overseeing mass deportations, publicly declared that we must all have our papers on us, at all times, or we could be stopped, harassed, kidnapped, and detained, as they did with the man in this case, who is a US citizen.
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I think its worse than this actually. Lots of American citizens still don't have real IDs.
Systematic review of evidence on Miyawaki forest restoration: Its at least 10,000 times more expensive than other techniques, yet has no well documented benefits besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Tiny forests, huge claims: The evidence gap behind the Miyawaki method for forest restoration
To scale up restoration effectively, practitioners and policymakers should prioritize methods supported by robust empirical evidence rather than relying on untested claims. Our findings highlight the...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Systematic review of evidence on Miyawaki forest restoration: Its at least 10,000 times more expensive than other techniques, yet has no well documented benefits besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
This article is a really really good argument for laws like the US's Environmental Policy Act, which has the value of forcing government agencies to "look before they leap" or in this case, before the CIA abandons a bunch of plutonium on Nanda Devi. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How Did the C.I.A. Lose a Nuclear Device in the Himalayas? (Gift Article)
A plutonium-packed generator disappeared on one of the world’s highest mountains in a covert mission that the U.S. will not talk about.
www.nytimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This article is a really really good argument for laws like the US's Environmental Policy Act, which has the value of forcing government agencies to "look before they leap" or in this case, before the CIA abandons a bunch of plutonium on Nanda Devi. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
NSF stopped the CNH/DISES program with the idea that they were going to roll out something new and better to replace it, and now we've got 0 and the folks who were working on this all were fired. I wonder if we wouldn't have been better off just keeping on with the old imperfect program.
December 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NSF stopped the CNH/DISES program with the idea that they were going to roll out something new and better to replace it, and now we've got 0 and the folks who were working on this all were fired. I wonder if we wouldn't have been better off just keeping on with the old imperfect program.
Its pretty weird to watch yourself but only able to understand what you are saying using auto-generated captions with auto-translate on, but I still thought this documentary was pretty awesome.
Also (filing this under sentences I never thought I would write) I and @forrestf.bsky.social and @simonlewis.bsky.social and others were in an *excellent* French documentary on tree planting. If your French is as bad as mine: Watch it with captions and auto translate: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EFJ...
December 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Its pretty weird to watch yourself but only able to understand what you are saying using auto-generated captions with auto-translate on, but I still thought this documentary was pretty awesome.
They should also remind the Supreme Court that they are likely to grant enhanced executive power to the office of the president that in 3 years might be controlled by Zohran Mamdani or AOC.
This is 100% the correct (and obvious) move by Dems and they need to do it Every. Single. Time: counter Republicans strongarming companies/schools by openly and directly saying "we will be in charge in like a year and will absolutely make this cost you."
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Democrats warn their party may try to unravel any Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal
A new letter from Reps. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif., and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., also raised concerns about foreign investors’ involvement.
www.semafor.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
They should also remind the Supreme Court that they are likely to grant enhanced executive power to the office of the president that in 3 years might be controlled by Zohran Mamdani or AOC.
I'm filling out a University form to get one of my classes certified as fulfilling an "interdisciplinary knowledge" requirement, and for me, a guy who never got a degree from a conventional discipline, its a struggle. I can't even really figure out where different disciplines start and end.
December 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I'm filling out a University form to get one of my classes certified as fulfilling an "interdisciplinary knowledge" requirement, and for me, a guy who never got a degree from a conventional discipline, its a struggle. I can't even really figure out where different disciplines start and end.
One of the scientific puzzles I've struggled with through my career is the contrast between biophysical models of ecosystem services/nature's contributions to people and what you hear from farmers and other rural land users about how the interact with nature. - This is a thread about a new paper.
December 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
One of the scientific puzzles I've struggled with through my career is the contrast between biophysical models of ecosystem services/nature's contributions to people and what you hear from farmers and other rural land users about how the interact with nature. - This is a thread about a new paper.
Just to think that this was 27 years ago, imagine how much more product diversity exists today! theonion.com/consumer-pro...
December 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Just to think that this was 27 years ago, imagine how much more product diversity exists today! theonion.com/consumer-pro...
Reposted by Forrest Fleischman
There is such a thirst in some progressive centrist circles that they will look at the Trump administration as a model to get things done. I think its worth addressing the argument. This is from Mark Dunkelman, author of the widely praised "Why Nothing Works."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
Opinion | What the Left Could Learn From Trump’s Brutal Efficiency
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
There is such a thirst in some progressive centrist circles that they will look at the Trump administration as a model to get things done. I think its worth addressing the argument. This is from Mark Dunkelman, author of the widely praised "Why Nothing Works."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
Ethnobotany question: Mistletoe is a big part of the legends of Christmas celebration, however here in the US, I don't think I've ever actually seen mistletoe for sale or hanging in someone's home. However when we were on sabbatical in Spain, we saw mistletoe in every Christmas market. Why?
December 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Ethnobotany question: Mistletoe is a big part of the legends of Christmas celebration, however here in the US, I don't think I've ever actually seen mistletoe for sale or hanging in someone's home. However when we were on sabbatical in Spain, we saw mistletoe in every Christmas market. Why?
As far as I can tell, most of the people who do actual research on NEPA think its much less of a problem than people who just post about it online. This is a good thread.
Perhaps the problem is U.S. policy fixation on the fossil fuel/AI data center House of Cards.
Setting that aside, Flegal's post contains very serious omissions suggesting she: (1) Doesn't understand NEPA beyond centrist think tank data slop; and/or (2) Is attacking NEPA in bad faith.
Setting that aside, Flegal's post contains very serious omissions suggesting she: (1) Doesn't understand NEPA beyond centrist think tank data slop; and/or (2) Is attacking NEPA in bad faith.
December 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
As far as I can tell, most of the people who do actual research on NEPA think its much less of a problem than people who just post about it online. This is a good thread.
Open PhD position here in UMN forest resources in the analysis of forest change in tropical mountains, with a focus on geospatial analysis. Applications due Dec. 8. More information and instructions on how to apply here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Open PhD position here in UMN forest resources in the analysis of forest change in tropical mountains, with a focus on geospatial analysis. Applications due Dec. 8. More information and instructions on how to apply here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
"Our analysis suggests that US climate financing is not distributed to meet global mitigation goals at both the investment and climate solution scale. "
This is a fascinating study showing how misaligned venture capital can be when it comes to climate. Instead of chasing high-impact carbon solutions, it tends to chase fads.
We need to do a better job aligning our money with a more substantial climate impact.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
We need to do a better job aligning our money with a more substantial climate impact.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
November 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
"Our analysis suggests that US climate financing is not distributed to meet global mitigation goals at both the investment and climate solution scale. "
A couple weeks remain to submit your proposals to our conference panel at POLLEN in Barcelona next summer about the future of restoration - due December 5. nomadit.co.uk/conference/p...
P108: From global restoration goals to people's visions for the future: Capturing diverse imaginaries of ecosystem restoration
We intend to have paper presentations with an introduction to set the agenda
nomadit.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A couple weeks remain to submit your proposals to our conference panel at POLLEN in Barcelona next summer about the future of restoration - due December 5. nomadit.co.uk/conference/p...
Maybe I'm too optomistic, but I'm just going to guess that the abstract written by the authors might be a better summary of the scientific article than the AI generated summary that every journal publisher now seems to be pushing?
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Maybe I'm too optomistic, but I'm just going to guess that the abstract written by the authors might be a better summary of the scientific article than the AI generated summary that every journal publisher now seems to be pushing?
I suggest making your pumpkin pie with a buttercup squash.
November 16, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I suggest making your pumpkin pie with a buttercup squash.
Unfortunately, sounds like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility might be dead on arrival? Also, someone should make a Dr. Evil meme of Portugal donating 1 million dollars to it.
reddmonitor.substack.com/p/the-tropic...
reddmonitor.substack.com/p/the-tropic...
The Tropical Forest Forever Facility has raised just over US$2 billion. Almost entirely from Brazil and Indonesia
TFFF is “beleaguered by complications”.
reddmonitor.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Unfortunately, sounds like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility might be dead on arrival? Also, someone should make a Dr. Evil meme of Portugal donating 1 million dollars to it.
reddmonitor.substack.com/p/the-tropic...
reddmonitor.substack.com/p/the-tropic...
This time of year, we hear alot about how we need carbon markets to raise finance for climate change. In its entire 30+ year history, the voluntary carbon market has raised about 12 billion dollars www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/publications...
2025 State of the Voluntary Carbon Market
Over the 20-year history of Ecosystem Marketplace (EM), we have seen carbon markets grow from a nascent idea into a mechanism with the potential to seriously mitigate global warming. Our annual State ...
www.ecosystemmarketplace.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This time of year, we hear alot about how we need carbon markets to raise finance for climate change. In its entire 30+ year history, the voluntary carbon market has raised about 12 billion dollars www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/publications...
Reposted by Forrest Fleischman
Latest write-up about outrageous administrative over reach at IU. www.jta.org/2025/11/07/u...
In Indiana, a vaunted Jewish studies program is upended by red-state politics over Israel and speech - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
A leadership shakeup, a defunded graduate student and political pressure from above have turned a storied program into a flashpoint for Trump-era campus politics.
www.jta.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Latest write-up about outrageous administrative over reach at IU. www.jta.org/2025/11/07/u...
If I'm understanding correctly, Musk's trillion dollar pay day is dependent on the performance of Tesla, a company that hasn't produced a marketable new product in the last 6 years and is rapidly losing market share to a variety of traditional car makers as well as new entrants in China?
November 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
If I'm understanding correctly, Musk's trillion dollar pay day is dependent on the performance of Tesla, a company that hasn't produced a marketable new product in the last 6 years and is rapidly losing market share to a variety of traditional car makers as well as new entrants in China?