Dr. Dave Peterson is Professor of Forest Biology in the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and Emeritus Senior Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). He works with the USDA Northwest Climate Hub and USFS Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center to develop climate change assessments and adaptation strategies in national forests and other lands throughout the western United States. He has conducted research on the effects of climate change and fire on forest ecosystems throughout western North America, has participated in three National Climate Assessments, and has published over 300 scientific articles and 5 books. As a contributing author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He recently published “A Climate Resilience Guide for Small Forest Landowners” and “A Climate Resilience Guide for Urban Forests in the Northwest.” Dave lives in Skagit County where he manages Mountain Heart Tree Farm.

Research Interests

Skagit-specific scientific interests

• Effects of climate change on tree growth and regeneration

• Effects of ecological disturbances and stressors on forest ecosystems

Other scientific interests

• Fire ecology in forest ecosystems

• Subalpine forest ecology

• Sustainable forest management on public and private lands

Education and Credentials

• PhD, Forest Ecology, University of Illinois, 1980

• MS, Botany, University of Illinois, 1977

• BS, Zoology, University of Illinois, 1976

Affiliations and Professional Service

• Life member, Northwest Scientific Association

• Associate Editor, Fire Ecology

• Lead Scientist, Anacortes Community Forest Land monitoring program

• Instructor, Washington State University Extension Forestry educational programs

• Board Member and Treasurer, Skagit Climate Science Consortium

Contact
Email: wild@uw.edu