Blue Forest Monthly: ?? Meet the people and partnerships shaping the future of Blue Forest
Dear Blue Forest Community,
As the year winds down and winter settles over the landscapes we hold dear, we find ourselves reflecting on the quieter forms of growth—those nurtured in rest, renewal, and preparation. This season reminds us that while nature may appear still, it is laying the groundwork for the vibrant renewal to come. Similarly, our collective efforts this year have strengthened our foundations and readied us for what’s ahead, as we continue to grow in our mission of building resilience for ecosystems and communities.
As we close out 2024, we’re excited to share stories of collaboration, insight, and innovation that illustrate how we’re setting up a strong and impactful year ahead:
But first, as many of you know, our team has been growing, and below we’re thrilled to introduce some of the newest members joining Blue Forest to further our work in restoring ecosystems and enabling resilience for both the people and the landscapes they depend on.
- The Blue Forest Team ??
Blue Forest Welcomes Nine New Team Members
Recently, we’ve welcomed nine exceptional new team members whose expertise enhances our ability to enable restoration, build meaningful partnerships, and create lasting change.
H. Louise RoDee and David Allen, MBA, PMP, SHRM-CP are strengthening the operational, financial, and organizational foundations that support the scaling of our mission and the expansion of our reach. Philip Michael Feliciano , Nicole Miller , Emma Troller , and Garrett Hanks are advancing restoration strategies tailored to the landscapes, economies, businesses, and communities they serve, helping expand Blue Forest’s reach into promising new places. Brandon Jirō Hayashi , Wiyaka Bennett, and McKinleigh Lair are deepening engagement with communities and organizations, building trust, and fostering understanding to amplify Blue Forest’s impact on the landscapes we help restore.
Together, they are strengthening Blue Forest’s ability to foster collaboration and innovation, and we’re excited to see how our growing team will unlock new opportunities to restore ecosystems, build partnerships, and create lasting impact.
Continue reading here.
Increasing Funding for Nature-based solutions: 3 things we wish investors knew and 3 things we wish scientists knew
Written by: Tessa Maurer, Ph.D. , Director of Science Strategy
领英推荐
Blue Forest is a highly interdisciplinary organization. Our work in conservation finance depends on collaboration from professionals across many different sectors—finance, research science, land management, and project development to name a few—who may not always have a common language or approach to their work. However, in order to scale up the resources available for forest restoration, it is critical that all partners step out of their business as usual approach and adapt to the unique challenges of supporting nature-based solutions (NbS). Here, we discuss things that two key groups, scientists and investors, should understand about working in this space.
Continue reading here.
From Snowtop to Faucet: How WRI helps us see nature as essential infrastructure
Written by: McKinleigh Lair , Storytelling and Communications Development Senior Associate
In our economic system, some of the most valuable infrastructure isn’t built; it’s grown. The World Resources Institute (WRI) views forests, rivers, and other ecosystems as integral to our water systems, just as essential as pipes and treatment plants. While we meticulously account for the costs of built infrastructure that delivers water to our homes, the natural infrastructure supporting those systems—from snow-capped peaks that feed rivers to wetlands that filter and store water—often go unrecognized and underfunded. When we overlook this value, we risk losing the practical and economic benefits these ecosystems provide to communities, industries, and entire economies. As Todd Gartner, Director of Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure at WRI, warns, “Failing to value nature means risking its degradation and loss."
Continue reading here.
Fire as a Convener: Blue Forest welcomes new science advisor Diana Almendariz
Written by: Saraya Hamidi , Indigenous Partnerships Manager
Over the past two years, I have gotten to know Diana Almendariz —a cultural practitioner and storyteller of Maidu/Wintun and Hupa/Yurok traditions, heritage, and experiences, dedicated to the cultural and ecological revival and restoration of her homeland, now called the Sacramento Valley.
As an organization, Blue Forest is guided by a set of core values including “Grounded in Science,” meaning that we believe effective ecosystem restoration is rooted in Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Blue Forest is honored to close 2024 by welcoming Diana Almendariz as a science advisor, the first Indigenous science-focused advisor on our team. In working with Diana, we hope to expand our support for Indigenous science, expand our ability to respectfully and appropriately engage with Traditional Ecological Knowledge and leok po (good fire), and be guided by Indigenous leaders as we work to advance our mission to advance climate resilience for ecosystems and communities.
Continue reading here.