Defining Regenerative Agriculture and the Intersection with Sustainable Forestry |
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A drive toward true sustainability is a shared objective in many sectors - including agriculture and forestry. As articulated in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all sectors are necessary contributors to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.1 Within forestry, there has been an evolution in terminology over the past 100 years to define sustainability, including “multiple use” and “sustainable forest management” and the emergence of public policy and private sector initiatives like certification to guide advancements. Similar evolutions have been occurring in agriculture, with terms like “organic”, “sustainable”, and “regenerative” being advanced in policy and practice. Specifically, the term regenerative agriculture has reemerged in recent years and is reflective of efforts to achieve greater sustainability, particularly within food systems. |
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This report explores the definition of regenerative agriculture, including the expression of principles and practices that may intersect with the greater use of trees and forestry within food systems. The integration of farming and forestry at greater scales may provide significant social, environmental, and economic benefits. However, there are substantial barriers to achieving this integration that exist within public agencies, policies and programs, research and educational institutions, and markets. Regenerative agriculture clearly intersects with forestry in its philosophy and stronger cross-sector collaboration should be supported through public and private sector leadership. |
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A Minnesota Landowner Guide to Biochar |
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This guide includes best practices advice for landowners using the Carlton SWCD’s Oregon kiln to produce and utilize biochar. However, variables on the production and intended uses make exact recommendations a challenge. Detailed best practices for both production and utilization remain a need as biochar production and uses increase.
Partners in developing the biochar projects of the Carlton SWCD have included U of M Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, Dovetail Partners, Utah State University, NRRI, Cromwell High School Metals Class, City of Carlton, and the Carlton County Land Department.
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Oshkigin Spirit of Fire Wins "Best of the Fest" |
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Out of almost 400 films entered and reviewed, 137 films were selected for the 2022 Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and nine of these made the cut for “Best of the Fest". Oshkigin Spirit of Fire is one of the "Best of the Fest" top nine. The film highlights the deep, reciprocal relationship with the land and the traditional use of fire in the Ojibwe culture. The filming took place, with permission, on the reservations of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe in Minnesota and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe in Wisconsin.
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Dovetail Partners Welcomes Kate Shelton of 3M to the Board of Directors |
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Dovetail Partners is pleased to welcome Kate Shelton to the Board of Directors.
Kate Shelton is the Global Responsible Sourcing Manager at 3M. With over 16 years of experience in corporate responsible sourcing, Kate provides extensive knowledge and skills related to renewable materials, sustainability, and social and environmental risk mitigation across the supply chain. Kate has been with 3M for over 6 years, all within Responsible Sourcing and manages the company’s strategy and implementation of their Forest Products Sourcing Policy and other renewable material due diligence.
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The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council Announces New Chair and Co-Chair Leadership |
The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC) is pleased to announce Lewis Payne as the new ROWSC Chair and John Steelman as Co-Chair.
Lewis Payne is a leader in IVM within the utilities sector and led the New York Power Authority (NYPA) as a founding utility to first achieve ROWSC Accreditation in 2013 and to achieve re-accreditation in 2018. John Steelman was instrumental in supporting the successful ROWSC Accreditation of FirstEnergy Service Company in 2021.
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U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Announces Membership of the Forest and Wood Products Inclusion Council |
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The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) announced the membership of their recently formed Forest and Wood Products Inclusion Council, an initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the forest sector. |
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The Inclusion Council was formed to bring forest sector leaders together with experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to address racial and gender inequities in the sector. The Council includes representatives from public, private, not-for-profit, academic, and Indigenous organizations in the forest sector. Led by the Endowment, the initiative draws upon the expertise of Katie Fernholz at Dovetail Partners, Bethaney Wilkinson at the Diversity Gap, and Kelly Cooper at the Centre for Social Intelligence. Together, this group of sector leaders will work collaboratively within their spheres of influence and develop a National Action Plan that aims to establish a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture in the U.S. forest and wood products sector. |
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“A bright future for the U.S. forest and wood products sector requires a diverse and inclusive workforce. This needed cultural shift will create long-lasting effects beyond the term of this project. When we foster the growth and professional development of underrepresented voices and perspectives, our sector can only strengthen and that, in turn, can benefit our people and our forests,” said Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President at the Endowment and co-chair of the initiative. |
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Fireside Chat at the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC)
One of the high points of this year’s International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) was a fireside chat on the topic of specifying and responsible sourcing of #masstimber. Facilitated by Dr. Edie Sonne Hall of Three Trees Consulting, a panel of six industry professionals answered essential, often-asked questions about sustainable forest management, harvest, access to fiber, and anticipated demand. Kathryn Fernholz of Dovetail Partners participated on the panel. Think Wood has compiled a video playlist of the best moments from the fireside chat, which you can watch.
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First-of-Its-Kind $10M Green Bond Issued to Finance Family Forest Carbon Program to Fight Climate Change
The American Forest Foundation, the national conservation organization making a meaningful conservation impact through its support of America’s family forest owners, announced that its affiliate, the Family Forest Impact Foundation, issued a $10 million Series 2022A taxable bond to finance the Family Forest Carbon Program. It is the first green bond designed specifically to support the generation of nature-based carbon credits. Morgan Stanley served as the sole underwriter on the transaction. Kathryn Fernholz of Dovetail Partners is on the Board of Trustees for AFF and past-Chair.
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New Information Available from the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) |
The purpose of The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) is to bring together the diverse interests of the agricultural community with interests from across the University community in a cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and beyond. MISA recently updated their website to provide additional information about the Institute, its history, partnerships, and people. Kathryn Fernholz of Dovetail Partners is a current MISA board member. |
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Dovetail supports progress and change to address inequality. |
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