Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series

The Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series (LES), co-hosted by the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP), the Society of American Foresters (SAF), and the FOCCE Program at Pennsylvania State University invites academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other experts to present innovative and important research, projects, and strategies relating to forest carbon. The series aims to develop and expand forest stakeholder knowledge and perspectives on forest carbon science, management, and strategy. 

The 2025 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series will feature six webinar panels that will bring together leading experts in forest carbon science, management, and policy to advance dialogues in support of high-integrity forest carbon offsets and credits. Panel conversations will not only identify major questions, barriers and gaps surrounding forests carbon offsets, but work to further the dialogue by identifying current research needs and potential pathways forward to foster the role of forests as natural climate solutions

Recordings will be posted below following the event. The LES has been organized and hosted by FCCP since 2017 (with initial support from the Forest-Climate Working Group). It reaches increasingly large and diverse audiences with engaging monthly presentations and active audience Q&A throughout the academic year.

Support for this series is provided, in part, by funding from SAF's Hagenstein Fund. To honor the legacy and memory of professional forester and SAF leader William D. Hagenstein, this fund aims to reach audiences beyond the forestry community and foster thoughtful exchanges about how and why forests, and the services they provide, are essential to our future. 

The six conversations will cover the following topics:

  1. Performance - Panel: Matt Hurteau (University of New Mexico), Bill Anderegg (University of Utah), Christopher Galik (North Caroline State University), Rebecca Sanders-DeMott (Clean Air Task Force)
  2. Additionality - Panel: Adam Daigneault (University of Maine), Lilli Kaarakka (Cal Poly -San Luis Obispo), Greg Latta (University of Idaho), Margarita Fernandez (Pennsylvania State University)
  3. Leakage - Panel: Brent Sohngen (Ohio State University), Barbara Haya (UC Berkeley), Ethan Belair (The Nature Conservancy), Moderated by: Chad Papa (MSU FCCP)
  4. Monitoring, reporting, and verification - Panel: Kim Novick (Indiana University), Jason Gibson (Weyerhaueser), John Gunn (The Nature Conservancy), and Dan Hayes (University of Maine). Moderated by: Chad Papa (MSU FCCP)
  5. Market investments and the forest bioeconomy - Panel: Dave McEvoy (Appalachian State University), Tammy Kowalczyk (Appalachian State University), Raju Pokharel (Michigan State University), Tammy Cushing (University of Florida). Moderated by: Melissa Kreye (Pennsylvania State University).
  6. Social and ecological implications - Panel: Tatyana Ruseva (Applachian State University), Stephanie Chizmar (USDA Forest Service R&D), Jake Stanton (National Indian Carbon Coalition). 

Full panel lineups will be announced on a rolling basis but please see the informational flyers below for more information.

View the full series recordings on YouTube.

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Upcoming sessions:

Previous Sessions:

To review materials and recordings of past learning sessions, please visit the links below: 

2025 Learning Exchange Series

2023-24 Learning Exchange Series

2021-22 FCWG Learning Exchange Series

2019-20 Forest-Climate Working Group Learning Exchange Series

2022-23 Learning Exchange Series

2020-21 Forest-Climate Working Group Learning Exchange Series

2018-19 Forest-Climate Working Group Learning Exchange Series

2017-18 Forest-Climate Working Group Learning Exchange Series