Achievement

Land managers, municipalities and conservation organizations are charged with sustaining intact, resilient forests that provide a range of ecosystem services, and it is useful to apply an integrated approach to determine where to target green infrastructure investments or land management activities to meet specific objectives and maximize beneficial outcomes efficiently. The World Resources Institute approached IGERT trainee, Jodi Schoenen, and community partner, Nikola Smith (USFS) to coauthor a chapter for The Green Infrastructure Guide (available 6.13) that would articulate how forest management-water interactions can help drive investments and maintain balance between economic and socio-political considerations. This interdisciplinary collaboration between an IGERT student (landscape ecologist) and U.S. Forest Service employee (ecosystem services specialist) has created a foundation for future research and strong community partner relationships that will continue into the future.