So, tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Garett Christiansen, and I’m studying Forest and Natural Resource Management, Forest Ecosystem Management and Conservation Specialization. I’ll be graduating in fall of 2020.
Why did you choose forestry, instead of other majors?
I decided to study forestry at the University of Minnesota because I love the outdoors, and I have a passion for conserving our natural environment. That desire, along with the U’s hands-on teaching style and its position as highly acclaimed university, led me here. I want to help conserve our natural resources for future generations.
What did you expect coming into the program?
I expected a lot of courses focused on stand dynamics, forest health, silviculture, ecology, and species identification. I expected these courses to have hands-on field work, and I expected them to draw material from what’s currently happening in the world of forestry.
How was your experience in relation to those expectations?
I would say my expectations were met and exceeded. I got to practice more real-world techniques and cutting edge management strategies than I had anticipated. I studied a wider range of topics within forestry than I was expecting—like policy, hydrology, statistics, conflict management, and many others.
What challenges have you overcome in your academic life and how did you overcome them?
I think one of the biggest challenges I faced and overcame was the COVID-19 pandemic, with the spring semester of 2020 being completely derailed halfway through. It took a lot of open dialogue between students and our instructors to figure out the technology and new expectations for class projects and assignments. I was taking a lot of courses in my major that semester, and I opted to not take any pass-fail and just worked really hard to find ways to study online that helped me learn the material and maintain a good GPA.
What’s the most satisfying thing about studying forestry?
I think the most satisfying things about studying forestry here is that professors and students have such a deep passion for the field. There’s a great community here within the program that really augments it and makes it fun.
What’s the most frustrating thing about studying forestry?
I would say the most annoying thing about studying forestry is explaining what forestry is to everyone not in a natural resources field. It sometimes feels like no one knows what forestry is, that it even exists, or why it’s needed at all.
What is something you want to change about the study and management of forests, the forestry industry, or the forest science community, etc.?
One thing I would like to see change in the field of forestry and in the study of forestry is the incorporation of native teachings and techniques. Native Americans were here long before Europeans and managed the land as a way of survival. I would like to see their techniques of forest management used more. I’d like to see the role they played on the forests to have a greater presence in our teaching of forestry and natural resource management.
What’s something most people don’t know about forestry?
Most people don’t know that a lot of forestry is based around growing the next cohort of trees and the future stand conditions rather then simply the value of the timber and cutting down trees.
How has the COVID-19 impacted your academic life, and how have you adapted to it?
As a hands-on learner who finds it hard to focus on a computer for a long period of time, COVID-19 has had a large impact in my academic life. In order to adapt, I have added more technology breaks to my school day. I’ve been using one-hour periods of studying followed by a short break to maximize my productivity and stay fresh. This helps keep me from just staring at a screen taking nothing in.
Why is forestry and natural resource management important for our future?
Forestry itself is a long-term investment with stands taking 40 or more years to developed before harvest. This along with its long-term impacts of carbon storage, erosion control, and wildlife habitat make it an investment for the future. Through forestry we are preparing resources for the future and promoting services for the future.
How do you think your forestry education will serve you in the rest of your life?
I believe what I have learned, am learning, and will continue to learn about the science of forestry will serve me well throughout my life. I plan to not only build a career in forestry, but I also plan to implement what I have learned into my personal life as well. As a person who hopes to one day own some property, I plan on using the knowledge I have gained about forestry to properly manage the natural resources on my own property in an effective, sustainable, and responsible way.