6.13 - The Critical Role of Forests in Combating Climate Change with Laurie A. Wayburn of Pacific Forest Trust

This special episode from the Techonomy conference in New York City during Climate Week features Laurie A. Wayburn, co-founder and president of the Pacific Forest Trust. She shares her decades of experience as a pioneer in forest conservation and sustainability. Wayburn was one of the speakers at the Techonomy Climate event where she focused on the organization’s innovative work to combat the climate crisis.

Techonomy Climate brings together leaders, innovators, and influencers from various sectors to explore and promote sustainable practices that can lead to meaningful environmental change.

The Role of Forests in Combating Climate Change
Laurie Wayburn begins by highlighting the critical role forests play in addressing climate change. Forests are unique in their ability to absorb carbon emissions, making them a vital tool in reversing environmental damage. However, the financial motivations for landowners often lead to deforestation and degradation—key contributors to excess CO2 in the atmosphere.

To combat this, Wayburn and her team at the Pacific Forest Trust developed an economic model that rewards landowners for managing forests sustainably. “Conservation is an active sport,” says Wayburn, emphasizing that preservation doesn’t mean leaving forests untouched but managing them thoughtfully to balance ecological and economic needs.

Pacific Forest Trust worked with the owners of Willow-Witt Ranch in the Southern Cascades to protect 445 acres of meadows, forests, and wetlands. It is a model of sustainable land management.

Managing Forests for Climate Resilience
Wayburn challenges a common belief that wildfire is inherently destructive, instead describing its natural and beneficial role in many ecosystems. She stresses the importance of transitioning from fire suppression to fire management, a strategy that promotes healthier, more resilient forests. By addressing issues such as overplanting and overcrowding, forests can better withstand climate-related stressors like drought, invasive species, and extreme weather.

“Forests are like people,” says Wayburn. “If you’re under stress, you’re less healthy.” Active management, including selective timber removal, ensures that forests remain robust and capable of providing essential benefits such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and clean water.

Expanding the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions
Wayburn talked to Tucker about the widespread adoption of her organization’s innovations, such as the working forest conservation easement, which has become a national standard for sustainable forest management. Her team also played a pivotal role in integrating forest management into California’s climate policies, creating compliance-grade forest carbon offsets that are now utilized across the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

Bridging the Gap Between Forests and Communities
One of the biggest challenges Wayburn identifies is the disconnect between people and forests. Many Americans don’t think of themselves as forest people, yet forests are critical to everyone’s well-being. Whether it’s cooling urban areas, reducing flooding, or providing cleaner waterways, forests have far-reaching benefit

Wayburn also emphasizes the importance of connecting national parks and forests with surrounding landscapes to reduce risks like invasive species and wildfires. “National parks and forests don’t exist as islands—they’re part of a larger system,” she explains.