Sustainable Forestry for 4th Graders … Or, How I Learned that Kids Will Drive the Change Our Planet Needs

My son is in the fourth grade, and his class is learning about forests and their role in the world. His teacher recently asked me to present on sustainable forestry to add a real world perspective to what they are learning in the classroom. With a degree in forestry and as International Paper’s senior manager of natural capital stewardship, I had some trepidation about breaking down the complexities of forestry for these nine and ten year olds. But I was amazed by their level of knowledge!

We talked about the importance of having a mix of working forests, national forests and protected areas, as each type serves a specific purpose in our lives. We talked about the goods and services that forests, and trees, provide for people. When they were called upon, the students told me that forests provide animal homes and clean water; that the roots of trees prevent soil erosion; that trees absorb CO2 and give us oxygen to breathe; and that trees are used for paper, construction, and for other things like rubber and baby diapers. I was impressed; many adults don’t even realize that the fluff in baby diapers is natural fiber from trees!

We discussed how sustainable forestry ensures the health of the forests while also giving us the goods and services we need every day. A little bit of interactive “theatre” helped the kids understand how foresters can help landowners manage their forestland responsibly. With a little stage direction, the students were transformed into a forest of trees – some were tall, mature trees, some were small saplings, and some were downed woody debris or homes for animals. I played the role of forester. I assessed each “tree” in the forest and decided which to harvest and which to leave standing.

It was delightful watching the kids all play their parts. Some were harvested, allowing others to grow in the patch of sunlight that was created. Others were proud to provide nests for red-cockaded woodpeckers. Their attention, curiosity and excitement were palpable as they experienced “a-ha!” moments at different points in the exercise.

These kids really got it. They left the room understanding the importance of balancing the needs of people with the health of ecosystems.

But I received the most important lesson that day in my son’s classroom.

On the heels of one of the most dramatic and disturbing reports on the scale and pace of the loss of biodiversity on our planet, I felt hope for the future. Our kids will be prepared to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities to continue to drive transformational change. And the actions that responsible companies like International Paper and others are taking today will set the stage for a future world that our children can only improve. I have no doubt they will.