NAU School of Forestry researchers contribute to global handbook on sustainable forestry
Faculty, researchers, and alumni from Northern Arizona University’s School of Forestry are helping shape the future of sustainable forest management through a new international publication.
The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Forestry brings together leading researchers and practitioners from around the world to explore the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of forest sustainability. Five years in the making, the handbook features 38 chapters and international case studies examining some of the most pressing challenges facing forests today, from climate change and forest resilience to Indigenous knowledge, watershed management, and the role of forests in supporting communities.
Co-edited by NAU School of Forestry researcher Alark Saxena, alongside Alder Keleman Saxena, Jeffrey Chow, and Josep Maria Serra-Diaz, the publication draws on expertise from institutions around the world, including a significant number of contributors connected to NAU’s School of Forestry and College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS).
Showcasing NAU School of Forestry’s global research impact
The handbook highlights the breadth of research taking place within NAU’s School of Forestry and across the university, bringing together faculty, visiting scholars, and alumni whose work spans forest ecology, conservation, climate adaptation, and the connections between forests and human communities.
Saxena shared the following overview of contributions from NAU faculty, researchers, visiting scholars, and alumni:
- Saxena and the co-editors establish the core premise of moving from sustainability to thriving in our opening chapter
- Pete Z. Fulé (M.S. Forestry ’90, Ph.D. Forest Science ’96) and visiting scholar Margot Kaye focus on the role of dendrochronology in assessing forest health
- Seafha Ramos (Professor of Indigenous Forestry), Jill Beckmann (professor of Practice), and Jon Martin (B.S. Forestry ’85, M.S. Forestry ’91) (ERI) collaborated on Indigenous forestry, traditional knowledge, and resilience
- Jesse Abrams (incoming forestry faculty) details the institutional dimensions of forest sustainability
- James A. Allen (former Exec Director of SoF) covers watershed dynamics
- We also feature chapters from NAU doctoral alumni Aalap Dixit (Ph.D. Forest Science ’21) contributed through his work on adapting forests to climate change and Noortje Wauben (Ph.D. Forest Science ’25) who did a review on the shifting Global forest types
- Fulbright visiting scholar Moussa Soulé who highlighted the role of urban forestry in Niger from an African Perspective
- Amy Whipple (Department of Biological Sciences) and Ehren Moler (Ph.D. Biology ’20) (former Department of Biological Sciences) discuss genetics in practice for reforestation
- Patrick Jantz (SICCS) explores remote sensing for forest structure
- Alark Saxena (School of Forestry), Alder Keleman Saxena (Anthro), Patrick Jantz (SICCS), and Anwesha Dutta (visiting scholar from Norway) co-authored research on forests as social safety nets in India
Together, these contributions demonstrate the interdisciplinary expertise of NAU’s School of Forestry and its partnerships across the university, advancing research that informs forest management, strengthens ecosystem resilience, and supports communities around the world.
Advancing the future of sustainable forestry
Designed for both students and practitioners, the Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Forestry aims to bring forestry into the center of global conversations about sustainable development.
The handbook’s opening chapter introduces a vision of moving beyond sustainability toward thriving forests and communities, emphasizing the importance of integrating ecological science, social systems, and practical management approaches.
For Saxena, the publication represents not only a significant academic achievement but also the dedication and collaboration of an international community of researchers.
The five-year editorial journey was shaped by personal challenges, loss, and perseverance, making the book’s publication an especially meaningful milestone for its editors and contributors.
With contributions spanning continents and disciplines, the handbook highlights the global reach of NAU’s School of Forestry and its commitment to advancing research, fostering international collaboration, and preparing the next generation of forestry professionals to address complex environmental challenges.
Learn more about the Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Forestry and the global research shaping the future of forests.