Want To Learn About Forests?
A couple invitations
I’ve made a commitment here to writing about forests not only because of their significance to climate, but because I want to understand the current management story that says forests must be more aggressively managed in order to keep them from burning up? Is that really the case? and how do I find out? Hoping to better understand the situation, I’ve signed up for a couple learning experiences that I want to share with you. You’ll notice they take a conservationist stance, but be they are also science based. I’ve read the Chad Hanson book already, but want to read it again to dive deeper into the numerous studies cited. If you want to better understand the pro-harvest view, I’d recommend Evergreen Magazine.
The first is a reading group organized by the local forest protection community where I live. This is the same community that doggedly champions the Legacy Forest concept and played a key role in recently electing a forest-friendly State Commissioner of Public Lands, a small victory in an otherwise troubling eco-political terrain. Here is their invitation:
We cordially invite you to join our new book club, Forest Talks and Forest Walks, hosted by RE Sources, The Center for Responsible Forestry, and the Whatcom Million Tree Project.
The goal of our book club is to be a community-driven space for learning, discussion, and action centered on ecological forestry and local forest issues.
The first book we will be exploring is:
SMOKESCREEN - Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate, by Chad Hanson
Smokescreen cuts through years of misunderstanding and misdirection to make an impassioned, evidence-based argument for a new era of forest management for the sake of the planet and the human race. Natural fires are as essential as sun and rain in fire-adapted forests, but as humans encroach on wild spaces, fear, arrogance, and greed have shaped the way that people view these regenerative events and given rise to misinformation that threatens whole ecosystems as well as humanity's chances of overcoming the climate crisis.
Scientist and activist Chad T. Hanson explains how natural alarm over wildfire has been marshaled to advance corporate and political agendas, notably those of the logging industry. He also shows that, in stark contrast to the fear-driven narrative around these events, contemporary research has demonstrated that forests in the United States, North America, and around the world have a significant deficit of fire. Forest fires, including the largest ones, can create extraordinarily important and rich wildlife habitats as long as they are not subjected to postfire logging. Smokescreen confronts the devastating cost of current policies and practices head-on and ultimately offers a hopeful vision and practical suggestions for the future―one in which both communities and the climate are protected and fires are understood as a natural and necessary force.
DATES & INFORMATION:
No matter where in the world you live, everyone is welcome to join since the book club will be held virtually on Zoom. Though, the in-person forest walks will primarily be held in Whatcom County.
1st, Virtual Book Club on Zoom (April 23rd, 7pm - 830pm)
2nd, Virtual Book Club on Zoom (May 21st, 7pm - 830pm)
Group Forest Walk & Discussion (June 29th, 10am - 2pm, Near Lake Whatcom, exact location TBD + signed waiver required)
Village Books lecture & discussion on Smokescreen with special guest speaker. (Date + Info TBD)
Once you register, we will email you a zoom link, study guide to prep for the first meet-up, and more information. To order Smokescreen, and for more resources, please visit our link tree here.
WHAT'S NEXT??
After we wrap up Smokescreen, the next books on our list are:
Canopy of Titans by Paul Koberstein, & Jessica Applegate
The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben
Finding the Mother Tree, by Suzanne Simard
The Final Forest, by William Dietrich
The second learning opportunity is a class organized by Biodiversity for a Livable Climate and taught by climate writer Hart Hagan. Here is their invitation”
We’re thrilled to announce two powerhouse guest speakers joining our upcoming course on Wildfires: Fact & Fiction, starting May 1.
George Wuerthner and Chad Hanson bring decades of field experience and sharp policy insight, and they’re shifting the wildfire conversation toward real, science-backed solutions:
George Wuerthner: Ecologist, author of Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy and 37 other books, board member and science advisor on over 12 environmental organizations. May 8, 7:00 pm ET
Chad Hanson, PhD: Forest and fire ecologist, Director and Principal Ecologist, John Muir Project, published researcher, co-editor/co-author of Mixed Severity
Fires: Nature's Phoenix. May 15, 7:00 pm ET
Why This Course Matters
We’re all at growing risk of wildfires—not just the high-risk zones. And while rising temperatures play a role, it’s what’s happening on the ground that’s especially fueling today’s escalating wildfire crisis.
The federal government has recently rolled back protections on more than half of our national forests, opening the door to widespread logging. These industrial operations replace biodiverse forests with flammable tree plantations, often sprayed with glyphosate, which kills soil microbes and dries out the land. The result? Drier forests, more intense fires, and greater threats to people, homes, wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain us.
It’s time to take a closer look at how forests are managed in your region and how you can help shift common practices toward real, science-backed solutions.
Hint: Wet wood doesn’t burn.
Join us as we clear the smoke, expose the root causes of wildfire risk, and equip you with the know-how to take action at home, in your community, and beyond.
What You'll Learn:
• Why aggressive forest thinning and prescribed burns often backfire
• How rehydrating land can dramatically reduce fire risk
• The science behind beavers as wildfire heroes
• Proven “home hardening” techniques that save lives
• How to decode wildfire policy and advocate for real solutions
• Real case studies of fire-resilient communities and ecosystems
The course runs on Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15 & 22 with a 12pm and 7pm option. It's hosted online via Zoom with recordings available.
Reserve your seat now!
Meet Your Instructor
Hart Hagan is an environmental reporter, organic land care expert, and passionate educator with deep expertise in ecosystem restoration and the water cycle’s critical role in climate and fire. He has produced close to 400 radio interviews and is the founder of Water & Climate, a Facebook group with over 4,600 members. Hart's focus is to empower you with knowledge so you can take effective action at home and in your community.
Praise for Instructor Hart Hagan
“The course Healing Our Land & Our Climate helped me learn more scientific details, organize many interconnections of natural processes, and also to present this paradigm that I find very encouraging. The references offered will be useful for further learning, Hart encourages discussion in a way that explores insights and topics that arise. This course has provided a boost in energy for my work-in-progress ... toward understanding how nature supports all life, all human activity ... and in my efforts at inviting curiosity in others to explore supporting this option for our future.”
—Virginia Ayers, Architect
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
What's Included in the Course
Live Classes every week! A noon and evening live class are offered each week on Zoom for a total of 8 live sessions
Guest Speakers will share their research and experience in select classes
Membership in a private email group to ask questions, share resources and build community
Advocacy Coaching for you to be effective in your community
Plus Resources you can use to help decision makers create truly effective fire resilience plans
Pricing
Early Bird Price: $97 — expires THIS Saturday, April 19
Full Course Price: $145
Email us at courses@bio4climate.org about Group Discounts off the full course price for groups of five or more and Reduced Rates for students and those on a restricted budget.
We invite everyone to join us, regardless of whether you have participated in previous courses. We are all on a journey of expanding our knowledge on nature's climate solutions, and we each bring something valuable to the conversation.
If you have any registration or general course questions, please contact us at courses@bio4climate.org. If you have specific questions about the course, email Hart at nhhagan@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
I hope you can join me in attending both the reading group and class. They are particularly timely opportunities, offered by people I admire and trust. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comment section.
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you’re here. I keep this page free for all, but that doesn’t mean I don’t depend on reader-generosity to make this work possible. Please become a paid subscriber if you can. If you can’t, I get it, but please remember to hit the share button.
Hi Rob,
I have registered for your book club class twice, I think but had no reply and have not paid anything????
I appreciate that you're sharing ways for people to get involved, have conversations, and share knowledge.