Maia CheliWith rapid climate change, the importance of coast redwood forests is increasing. Old-growth redwood forests on the northcoast store record-breaking amounts of carbon, and the trees themselves are growing faster today than in previous decades. Research shows that restoration techniques are effective at accelerating the growth of harvested forests and increasing their carbon sequestration potential.
Emily Burns is the Director of Science for Save the Redwoods League, and directs the research program that includes the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative and the Redwood Genome Project. She holds a PhD in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley for her studies on the impacts of fog on coast redwood forest flora, and a BS in Plant Biology from UC Davis. She is a Research Associate in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at UC Santa Cruz, and was the recipient of the 2013 Women in Science Frameshifter Award from St. Catherine University. Burns contributes frequently to the League’s blog, and in her scant spare time, she enjoys embroidering, particularly designs of native plants of redwood forests.
The Sustainable Futures Speaker Series at Humboldt State creates interdisciplinary discussion, debate, and collaboration around issues related to energy, the environment, and society. Lectures are held on Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm in HSU Founders Hall 118. For details on upcoming events or to request accessibility accommodations, visit our series events page or call (707) 826-4345.
