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...
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?
I didn't really understand this NYT piece about the Sierra Club. First of all, they say that revenue has dropped, and include a chart that shows basically a rising long-term trend in revenue www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
The Sierra Club Embraced Social Justice. Then It Tore Itself Apart.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I didn't really understand this NYT piece about the Sierra Club. First of all, they say that revenue has dropped, and include a chart that shows basically a rising long-term trend in revenue www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
There seems to be more interest in other political news, but I'm suprised I haven't seen any coverage of the fact that St Paul MN apparently now has the first all woman elected city government in the US?
November 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
There seems to be more interest in other political news, but I'm suprised I haven't seen any coverage of the fact that St Paul MN apparently now has the first all woman elected city government in the US?
The Forests Forever Facility has officially been launched and I have SO many questions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Brazil Proposes a New Type of Fund to Protect Tropical Forests
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The Forests Forever Facility has officially been launched and I have SO many questions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Reposted by Forrest Fleischman
The 20th-century economist Robert Solow created the theory of infinite economic growth by substituting "technological innovation" for the productivity of land in his model, thereby decoupling the economy from any limits imposed by land or ecosystems.
The world took his theory as gospel.
1/n
The world took his theory as gospel.
1/n
Climate intervention may not be enough to save coffee, chocolate and wine, new study finds
Climate intervention may not be enough to save coffee, chocolate and wine, new study finds
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that even advanced climate intervention strategies may not be enough to secure the future of wine grapes, coffee and cacao. These crops are vital to many economies and provide livelihoods for farmers worldwide. However, they are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures […]
The post Climate intervention may not be enough to save coffee, chocolate and wine, new study finds appeared first on IOP Publishing.
dlvr.it
November 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The 20th-century economist Robert Solow created the theory of infinite economic growth by substituting "technological innovation" for the productivity of land in his model, thereby decoupling the economy from any limits imposed by land or ecosystems.
The world took his theory as gospel.
1/n
The world took his theory as gospel.
1/n
My son was fiddling around with chatgpt yesterday, and chatgpt *offered* to create a numberline that would demonstrate that 1+1=2, and this is what it produced. The new AI driven industrial revolution looks pretty grim to me.
November 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
My son was fiddling around with chatgpt yesterday, and chatgpt *offered* to create a numberline that would demonstrate that 1+1=2, and this is what it produced. The new AI driven industrial revolution looks pretty grim to me.
I'm looking for other forestry/environment/natural resources programs (grad & undergrad) that have recently done surveys of alumni & potential employers to understand the job market conditions in the field. Bonus for published and/or willing to share your survey instruments with me.
October 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I'm looking for other forestry/environment/natural resources programs (grad & undergrad) that have recently done surveys of alumni & potential employers to understand the job market conditions in the field. Bonus for published and/or willing to share your survey instruments with me.
Improved local democracy is a core environmental policy. In India, infrastructure development leads to species loss, "Yet the extent of species loss is more than halved when local institutions enable marginalized communities to mobilize..." www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....
University of Chicago Press Journals: Cookie absent
www.journals.uchicago.edu
October 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Improved local democracy is a core environmental policy. In India, infrastructure development leads to species loss, "Yet the extent of species loss is more than halved when local institutions enable marginalized communities to mobilize..." www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....
Humphrey School at Minnesota is hiring an associate professor in "water resources, sustainable agriculture, or the nexus of food-energy-water issues." Come join me in the frozen north!
hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
Careers
We seek applications for a tenured faculty position at the associate professor level in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP). The faculty member will join a vibrant community of interdisciplinary scholars at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, maintain a research affiliation with the Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (CSTEP), and support graduate students in the M.S. in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (MS-STEP) professional degree program, the Ph.D. in Public Affairs program, and the certificate program in Sustainable Environmental, Social and Governance Leadership.
hr.myu.umn.edu
October 31, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Humphrey School at Minnesota is hiring an associate professor in "water resources, sustainable agriculture, or the nexus of food-energy-water issues." Come join me in the frozen north!
hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
The most important and innovative paper I've read this year: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Decentering climate in vulnerability analysis: On aspiration, striving, and the fullness of life in uncertain times
Vulnerability is a core concept within the environmental social sciences. Yet contemporary discussions often focus narrowly on specific kinds of risks…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The most important and innovative paper I've read this year: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Its 12:45 pm on Sunday October 26th, and a family of trick or treaters just knocked on our door. I'm confused.
October 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Its 12:45 pm on Sunday October 26th, and a family of trick or treaters just knocked on our door. I'm confused.
Job is open until Oct. 31 and still looking for strong applicants.
A team I am a part of is hiring an India-based part time research assistant to help us with textual analysis of government forestry documents related to forest restoration and pastoral livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh. Information and application instructions here: forms.gle/4D6aVqtDU7FY...
forms.gle
October 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Job is open until Oct. 31 and still looking for strong applicants.
Can someone point me to a way to measure the total amount of money that went to forestry-related projects under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (or any kind of publication that already measured this)?
October 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Can someone point me to a way to measure the total amount of money that went to forestry-related projects under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (or any kind of publication that already measured this)?
For friends in France (or maybe French speakers in other parts of Europe?) this is a new documentary about the perils of large-scale tree planting. I'm interviewed in it and French colleagues who've watched it say its quite good. www.arte.tv/fr/videos/11...
Planter à tout prix - Des arbres pour sauver la planète ? - Regarder le documentaire complet | ARTE
Cette passionnante enquête sur trois continents (France, Espagne, Portugal, Congo, Brésil) dévoile les mensonges, les intérêts et la menace cachés derrière les immenses forêts industrielles plantées à...
www.arte.tv
October 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
For friends in France (or maybe French speakers in other parts of Europe?) this is a new documentary about the perils of large-scale tree planting. I'm interviewed in it and French colleagues who've watched it say its quite good. www.arte.tv/fr/videos/11...
My department is hiring an assistant professor of forest regeneration. The University of Minnesota department of forest resources is a great place to work, I really really like it here, and hope we end up hiring someone I can collaborate with. hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
Careers
The Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota seeks outstanding applicants for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position focused on forest regeneration dynamics. This may include focus areas of early stand dynamics, forest genetics, climate-adaptive seed/tree selection, nursery systems, or environmental stress physiology, which may fall within broader disciplines such as silviculture, restoration ecology, or forest operations. This is a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track faculty position with research (50%) and teaching (50%) responsibilities. The successful candidate will have access to office and laboratory space in the department. The position is available beginning August 2026, with review of applications beginning December 8, 2025.ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities include but are not limited to:
hr.myu.umn.edu
October 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
My department is hiring an assistant professor of forest regeneration. The University of Minnesota department of forest resources is a great place to work, I really really like it here, and hope we end up hiring someone I can collaborate with. hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
"Independent studies consistently point to shortcomings in the rigor and credibility of crediting methodologies and other procedures, which market players have been slow or reluctant to address." onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Demystifying the Romanticized Narratives About Carbon Credits From Voluntary Forest Conservation
This article takes a critical look at carbon offset projects that claim to prevent deforestation and degradation, known as REDD+. While these projects are often promoted as climate solutions with add...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"Independent studies consistently point to shortcomings in the rigor and credibility of crediting methodologies and other procedures, which market players have been slow or reluctant to address." onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Several colleagues and I are organizing a panel on "From global restoration goals to people's visions for the future: Capturing diverse imaginaries of ecosystem restoration" at the upcoming Pollen conference in Barcelona (June 29-July 3, 2026).
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
October 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Several colleagues and I are organizing a panel on "From global restoration goals to people's visions for the future: Capturing diverse imaginaries of ecosystem restoration" at the upcoming Pollen conference in Barcelona (June 29-July 3, 2026).
Carbon credits for not creating art (its a spoof, it made my day). reddmonitor.substack.com/p/cancelled-...
Cancelled artwork in Belém generates 57,765 Cultural Degrowth Credits
“An artwork to help the world breath better.”
reddmonitor.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Carbon credits for not creating art (its a spoof, it made my day). reddmonitor.substack.com/p/cancelled-...
Reposted by Forrest Fleischman
The University: We need to become leaders in climate and sustainability and there is an urgent need to develop climate science courses.
Me: Our department has climate in the name and we already offer courses on climate science at every level.
The University: Who invited you to this meeting?
Me: Our department has climate in the name and we already offer courses on climate science at every level.
The University: Who invited you to this meeting?
October 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The University: We need to become leaders in climate and sustainability and there is an urgent need to develop climate science courses.
Me: Our department has climate in the name and we already offer courses on climate science at every level.
The University: Who invited you to this meeting?
Me: Our department has climate in the name and we already offer courses on climate science at every level.
The University: Who invited you to this meeting?
And yet big NGOs (and plenty of big name ecology & forest scientists) are still promoting them, and arguing that little tweaks will fix them. At this point, If you think your little tweak is going to fix things, you need to show me really strong evidence.
News that shocks no one: Carbon offsets do nothing for climate.
Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says
Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
And yet big NGOs (and plenty of big name ecology & forest scientists) are still promoting them, and arguing that little tweaks will fix them. At this point, If you think your little tweak is going to fix things, you need to show me really strong evidence.
A team I am a part of is hiring an India-based part time research assistant to help us with textual analysis of government forestry documents related to forest restoration and pastoral livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh. Information and application instructions here: forms.gle/4D6aVqtDU7FY...
forms.gle
October 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
A team I am a part of is hiring an India-based part time research assistant to help us with textual analysis of government forestry documents related to forest restoration and pastoral livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh. Information and application instructions here: forms.gle/4D6aVqtDU7FY...
I have a serious question: How do you teach botany or agriculture if you are required to say that only 2 genders exist and that individuals can't be both? I'm not trying to troll, I'm genuinely curious about this.
September 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I have a serious question: How do you teach botany or agriculture if you are required to say that only 2 genders exist and that individuals can't be both? I'm not trying to troll, I'm genuinely curious about this.
A former student of mine was laid off earlier this year from a major carbon market company. Apparently it had been hemoraging money for years, because carbon markets, especially those based on forests, have been contracting.
September 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A former student of mine was laid off earlier this year from a major carbon market company. Apparently it had been hemoraging money for years, because carbon markets, especially those based on forests, have been contracting.