Jeffrey Vincent, Clarence F. Korstian Professor of Forest Economics and Management and former co-chair of the Master of Forestry program at the Nicholas School of the Environment, is planning to retire in 2027. We spoke with Jeff about the changes he’s seen in the program and what he’s most proud of during his 20 years at Duke.
What changes have you seen in forestry during your time at Duke?
Forests increasingly matter to the public and all sorts of organizations: government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups, companies. In the last two decades, we’ve seen growing attention to how forest loss exacerbates climate change and how forest gain mitigates it, as well as how forests protect global biodiversity. As a result, a wider range of actors have a stake in improved forest management than when I was a student in the 1980s.
Forests are of increasing interest to financial institutions like pension funds and insurance companies and to university endowments, which have the long run in mind and are making investments that pay off over decades. For that reason, forestland investment is a focus area where we’ve added instruction.
Also, forestry has become much more of a big data field. There’s always been a lot of data involved in forestry, but now, with advances in remote sensing technologies like satellites, drones, and LiDAR, enormous amounts of data are being used not just by forest researchers but by forest managers as well.
What does this mean for aspiring foresters?
Today’s foresters must be equipped to work with digital data. Forestry has always been a technical field, but the need for technical skills has grown. In response, the Nicholas School has made more offerings available in geospatial analysis while strengthening its instruction in ground-level field skills related to forest measurements and dendrology.
The foresters we’re training today need to be concerned about not just local issues—like creating jobs and income, providing recreational opportunities, and protecting watersheds—but also global issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. Our MF program aims at teaching students fundamental concepts that apply everywhere in the world.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
There is a lot to be proud of. The Master of Forestry program has been reaccredited twice by the Society of American Foresters since I joined Duke in 2007, which is evidence that we’re doing what’s necessary to train our students to be effective foresters.
I’m also proud of the achievements our students have made. Graduates of the program are leaders in the forest carbon space, as well as the space of forest certification: programs that give consumers confidence that when they buy something made of wood, they know it came from a forest that is managed sustainably. Our graduates are also experts in areas from renewable energy to urban forestry to land conservation.
We have an exceptional and supportive alumni network that continues to be a source of ideas for program innovations, such as a short course on timberland investment for working professionals that Chris Zinkhan MBA/MF’81 designed and, on a bigger scale, the Natural Resources Finance Initiative (NRFI). Scott Jones MF’81 identified an opportunity to train students in forestland investment, and our alumni community made contributions that enabled us to hire Joe Bachman MF’95 as an executive-in-residence to launch NRFI.
The forestry program has also been connected to environmental justice for some time. Forests are too often an overlooked source of rural livelihoods. About ten years ago, Sari Palmroth starting requiring students in her Silviculture Prescription class develop forest management plans for disadvantaged landowners in the state. Land is a critical asset for these landowners, who are harmed if they don’t have access to best management practices. This activity is a cornerstone of the new MF Capstone course created last year by Sari and Richard Mei, Joe Bachman’s successor as NRFI director.
Finally, I’m proud of the camaraderie of the program across students, faculty, and staff and the partnerships we enjoy across the university. The first and foremost partnership is with the Duke Forest. There would literally be no MF program without the Forest. Within the school, the program benefits from exceptional support from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and Student Services, including Admissions, the Career and Professional Development Center, and the Registrar.
