Amidst smoke, air professionals gather in the Midwest
MINNESOTA— Air team professionals gathered, for the first time since 2018, for in-person training, shared learning and planning for the future. National Air Resource Management Program attendees were greeted with haze from Canadian wildfires as they converged on Duluth, Minnesota. Led by Linda Geiser, National Air Resource Management program leader, the three-day meeting included air professionals from National Forest System, Research and Development, and State, Private, and Tribal Forestry.
Trent Wickman, air resource specialist for Region 9, described the importance of these gatherings, “The air program is one of the smallest in the Forest Service (around 30 people) and spread across the country. Unlike other programs in the Forest Service, most air specialists are regional versus a specific national forest or grassland employee. Being able to make strong personal connections with each other helps the program’s productivity. You can only make those connections at in-person gatherings."
Despite its size, the ARM Program has many significant responsibilities. Their vision is to manage air resources to provide clean air that sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands and promotes human health and welfare while using science as a basis for action.
A bit after their arrival, the skies cleared, the sun returned and the group delved into presentations and discussions with leading air resource professionals from the local area and around the country. Agency and program leadership also provided their views.
A visit to the SPRUCE experiment at Marcell Experimental Forest in northern Minnesota highlighted the effect of increased temperatures on peatland vegetation. It also demonstrated for the group the extraordinary stores of carbon in peatlands (deep, organic soils), and the threat of carbon loss (as carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas) these soils face as our climate warms.
Participants also stopped at the Marcell air monitoring site to learn about the effects of atmospheric sulfur and mercury deposition and transport on the food chain.
Attendees joined in breakout exercises and discussions designed to increase collaboration and engagement internally and externally along with multiple sessions in which the program honed, selected and reflected on three priority action items for the current year and upcoming year’s work tasks.
Members of the Air Resource Management Program left with memories, strengthened relationships, action items aimed at embracing new technologies, and future development of air resource NEPA templates.
To learn more about the Air Resource Management Program and projects, visit these links:
