News Archive
New name, expanded focus for restoration degree
We offer one of the first degrees in the U.S. to combine ecosystem science and restoration; and we recently changed the name of this undergraduate degree to reflect that focus.
Student Clubs
Students - join up with others interested in your same career goals for a chance to network, have fun, and do interesting field trips and projects. Clubs meet regularly - check out the options and get to a meeting!
Grad student studying stream restoration
What effect does stream restoration have on streamflow and other qualities? Grad student Christine Brissette is working with professor Kelsey Jencso to find out — and getting grants to support her work.
Quantifying morel mushroom abundance after wildfire
Professor Andrew Larson recently published research estimating the abundance of morel mushrooms after a wildfire in California’s Sierra Nevada.
Student wins Garden Club scholarship
Congratulations to recent ecological restoration graduate and new master's student Christine McManamen for receiving a $4,000 scholarship from National Garden Clubs, Inc. She's working with professor Cara Nelson.
New class this fall: Field Studies in Conservation
Join professors Brian Chaffin and Alex Metcalf for NRSM 215: Field Studies in Conservation and earn one credit in one full weekend of class, traveling across western Montana to learn about current issues in resource conservation. Learn more.
New study shows importance of gravel-bed rivers
Gravel-bed river floodplains are some of the most ecologically important habitats in North America, according to new research by scientists from UM and beyond.
CFC forges relationship between Montana and Zambia
For more than 20 years, professor Wayne Freimund and CFC students have worked with colleagues in Zambia to address issues of conservation, land and wildlife management, and the role of humans in the natural ecosystem.
Students implement restoration plans at Bandy Ranch
Forestry students helped plan forest restoration treatments now taking place at the Bandy Experimental Ranch in the Blackfoot Valley. Last fall, they wrote management plans and earlier this spring, timber harvest started on three units of the ranch.
Congrats to Fulbright winner Sophia Weinmann
Graduate student Sophia Weinmann will use her Fulbright award to study how changing agricultural practices can deter crop-raiding elephants in Kenya.
Announcing our new dean!
We're thrilled to announce Tom DeLuca as our new dean, starting Jan. 1, 2017. Tom, a highly acclaimed soil scientist, comes back to CFC after having been a faculty member here for 12 years.
CFC researchers earn $1.4M grant to study biomass
Professor Beth Dodson is project director of a grant recently funded for $1.4 million to look at using biomass from fuels-reduction and forest-restoration treatments. Professor John Goodburn and partners from the U.S. Forest Service and NAU will also work on the newly funded project.
Internationally known wildlife research and educator joins WBIO
Welcome Josh Millspaugh - the new Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation in the Wildilfe Biology Program.
CFC researchers receive more than $1 million to study wildfire
Professors Solomon Dobrowski, Phil Higuera, Andrew Larson, Libby Covelli Metcalf, Alex Metcalf, and Martin Nie earned more than $1 million in funding from the Joint Fire Science Program for five separate wildfire research projects.
Woodsman Team wins timbersports competition
Congrats to John Parcell, winner of the Western Collegiate STIHL Timbersports Qualifier, and to the entire UM Woodsman Team, who took first place in their 77th annual conclave!
Grad student selected as Wyss Scholar
Alex Barton received a Wyss scholarship to continue his grad research on the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area's management and socio-ecological outcomes over the last decade.
Professor Burke wins teaching award
Congratulations to Professor Ed Burke, who received the Most Inspirational Teacher of the Year Award, as voted on by all UM graduates. The award recognizes the extraordinary impact Professor Burke has had on students' lives.
Professor Nie wins teaching award
Congratulations to Professor Martin Nie, 2016 winner of UM's Distinguished Teaching Award. The award recognizes Nie's 14 years of engaging instruction in natural resource policy.
Student scholarships, faculty/staff awards
Congratulations to the 100+ students who received $250,000 in scholarships and to the outstanding students, faculty, and staff who received awards at our 2016 scholarship reception.
Student wins award for whitebark pine research
Ecological restoration major Jesse Bunker was just honored by UM for his research on pinecone and seed viability in whitebark pine trees.
Climate Change Studies Program Coordinator Wins Award
Congratulations to Nicky Phear on her Clean Energy and Empowerment Education Award from the Dept. of Energy. The national award recognizes her leadership in education about clean energy and her mentorship of students in our Climate Change Studies program.
PhD student wins two prestigious awards
Megan Nasto recently received support from the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to support her research on soil nutrients.
Tree Campus USA
UM was honored by the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2015 Tree Campus USA. There are more than 100 species of trees around UM's campus - you'll learn many of them in professor Burke's dendrology class!
Grad student and alum honored with wilderness awards
Current PhD student Chris Armatas and alum Steve Martin were both recently honored with awards from the U.S. Forest Service for their research and service on behalf of wilderness.
New book by alumnus and donor
'65 alum and generous donor to our college, Earle Layser, recently finished a book telling of his great love and adventures with wife Pattie. They traveled the world together to document and protect habitat and wildlife. In 2014 they gifted our college $1.5 million to endow a preofessorship.
How he landed his dream job
Recent PTRM alum Dan Shook explains how he got a job as a park ranger — and provides helpful advice to aspiring rangers
New map shows threats to sagebrush habitat
Professor Brady Allred developed this interactive tool to map out where conifers and cheatgrass are invading sagebrush habitat, working with professor Dave Naugle, science adviser for the Sage Grouse Initiative.
Professor Martin Nie on federal land deals in the West
Director of the Bolle Center for People & Forests talks to Outside magazine about the push to protect more federal land in the West
UM professor believes UM Foundation should divest
"I would absolutely tell our foundation that they should be on a strategic path to pulling out of coal investments as soon as they can," professor Steve Running said Tuesday. "And then, over a little longer term, oil and gas investments.
UM collaboration to investigate tropical forest growth
When University of Montana biogeochemistry Professor Cory Cleveland begins a new project in Panama this summer, he will push the boundaries of soil science and how scientists collaborate with journalists to document their research.
Addressing the problem of wildfire
A new paper published in the journal Bioscience with UM co-authors Philip Higuera and LLoyd Queen provides principles to bridge diverse fire science efforts that will help wildfire research overcome disciplinary silos and lead to more fire-resilient communities.
Grad student wins AGU award
Master's student Tyler Hoecker was awarded an Outstanding Student Paper Award for this presentation "Spatiotemporal Trends in Alaskan Late-Holocene Fire Regimes" at the 2015 American Geophysical Union conference. Congrats, Tyler!
Professor Diana Six's research on why pine beetles might be a good thing
Professor Diana Six is investigating whether pines contain genetic information that will help them adapt to increasing mountain pine beetle activity and climate change.
Montana tourism #s up, spending down
The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research released its 2015 study, showing an 8% increase in visitors to Montana, but an 8% decrease in spending.
Professor Cara Nelson awarded Fulbright
Nelson, who teaches restoration ecology here, will conduct research on forest restoration in Chile this spring with a Fulbright Award.
Professor cheered by Paris climate agreement
"We now see momentum on climate change way beyond any given country, company or presidential candidate," says professor Steve Running, about the COP21 agreement.
Smartphone applications in wildland fire
For firefighters, the ability to quickly receive the latest weather information is critical to safely execute their mission. New article by Jim Riddering published in the journal Fire Management Today.
Research grant from Google
Professor Solomon Dobrowski will use a research grant from Google to estimate how changes in both land cover and climate affect ecosystems across the globe. Dobrowski will measure the rate of climate change and land cover change by analyzing land surface temperature data collected by Earth-observing satellites.
Pine Beetles Might Answer Climate Change Questions
Professor Diana Six explains her work as a forest entomology professor "Instead of trying to figure out how to manage or kill bark beetles, I study their evolution and ecology—basically the things that make them tick out there in the forest."
Students' class research published
“I think the willingness of professors like Andrew Larson to take students under their wing and provide these exciting opportunities is one of the forestry program’s greatest strengths,” says grad student Kate Clyatt. Learn more about these accomplished grad students' work.
New investments in sage grouse conservation
Professor Dave Naugle is leading a conservation partnership's strategy to protect the greater sage grouse.
How much carbon is North America producing and absorbing?
Professor Ashley Ballantyne just got a grant from the National Science Foundation to find out.
Counting trees at Lubrecht
A student field crew is doing research at our school forest.
Tourism research at CFC
Travelers make big contribution to Montana's economy.
Helping fish at Bandy Ranch
Cutthroat trout have a better stream, thanks to neighbors and partner organizations.
New Wildlife Biology director
Welcome to Chad Bishop as the new director of the Wildlife Biology Program!
Addressing climate change
Students helped local organizations tackle climate change challenges
Wildlife diseases
Professor Angie Luis predicts Sin Nombre virus outbreaks in mice
Firefighting professor
"You've got to fight fire with fire," says professor Carl Seielstad
UM bioclimatologist tracks carbon
Professor Ash Ballantyne analyzes atmospheric data to get a good prediction of what global temperatures will do
Tourists Impact Montana's Economy
Visitors to Montana spent $3.9 billion in the state in 2014, supporting more than 38,000 jobs for Montanans
Climate Atlas of Montana
The Montana Climate Office recently released Montana's first climate atlas -showing climate data such as annual precipitation
Fire for Conservation
Professor Carl Seielstad explains why he recently took a team of fire researchers to Georgia to do restoration burning with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
CFC Commencement 2015
Check out our Flickr site for photos of commencement!
2015 Sustainability Fellows
The college supported 11 International Sustainablity Fellows this year who traveled to South Africa, Vietnam and Chile. Read what some of them learned.
UM tells Congress that forests need fire
CFC post-doctoral researcher Sharon Hood recently told the U.S. Senate Committee on energy and natural resources how pine beetles and wildlfire impact western forests.
Forest canopies buffer trees from climate change
Professor Solomon Dobrowski explains how adult and juvenile trees fare differently in hotter drier conditions. He was recently awarded a National Science Foundation grant for this research.
CFC student named Udall Scholar
Congratulations to resource conservation major Hope Radford, who just won a Udall Scholarship for the second year in a row!
Student wins in research conference
Congratulations to wildlife biology student Ellen Brandell. Her presentation on Wolf-cougar occupancy modeling in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta won an award for best oral presentation at the UM conference on undergraduate research!
Debate on federal lands control
Professor Martin Nie explains why it's a bad idea for states to take over federal lands in this story published in USA Today.
Oil and Gas Development Transforms Landscapes
Researchers at the University of Montana recently conducted the first-ever broad scale scientific assessment of how oil and gas development transforms landscapes across the U.S. and Canada.
Restoration industry creates jobs in Montana
Professor Cara Nelson explains the 8% growth in employment restoring Montana's lands and rivers
Fish for weeds with restoration students
Help clear the Rock Creek confluence of invasive weeds with ecological restoration students this Sat. Fly casting competition!
Drilling in critical caribou habitat
Professors Mark Hebblewhite and Brady Allred looked at impacts of energy development on caribou habitat in Alberta. Read about their findings in this HuffPost Canada story.
Field course in the Swan Valley
Resource Conservation students spent a weekend learning about conservation with local organization Northwest Connections.
Outstanding grad students
The Dept. of Ecosystem & Conservation Sciences recently selected two grad students for its 2015 excellence awards
Freshman Wilderness Experience
Incoming students: Spend three nights with other new students in Montana's wilderness before you start school in Aug. Sign-up now for this amazing backcountry experience.
Study fire ecology in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Earn three credits studying fire ecology deep in the heart of the Bob Marshall from Aug. 16-26 this summer
Study forest ecology in the Sierra Nevada Mtns.
Earn three credits studying forest ecology and 4,000 year old bristlecone pines in Yosemite May 16-31
Bark beetles might be a good thing
A story in the most recent issue of Mother Jones features professor Diana Six explaining how it might be a good thing that bark beetles are gobbling up forests.
Faculty help Bhutan promote ecological research
CFC faculty have helped launch a new ecological journal in the southeast Asian country of Bhutan.
Pine beetles changing forests
Professor Diana Six leads readers of the latest issue of National Geographic magazine into an investigation of the tiny beetles that are changing western forests.
Constraints on female hunters
New research by professor Libby Metcalf shows that women who identify as "family-oriented" hunters have the most constraints on their participation in the sport.
What the Arctic's past says about its future climate
Professor Ash Ballantyne is part of a group of scientists looking at the Arctic's past to learn more about its future.
Congratulations to Mike Patterson and Mike Sweet on their UM awards!
Congrats! Mike Patterson - Academic Administrator award and Mike Sweet - Outstanding Staff award.
Study wilderness, conservation and community
Earn a minor in Wilderness Studies (with any UM major). Apply by April 15.
Professor leads sustainable tourism workshop in India
Professor Keith Bosak was recently in India to help locals understand how to continue ecotourism development activities in the Nanda Devi region in the Himalayas.
Funds to support wilderness writing and research
The Matthew Hansen Endowment is accepting applications for awards of up to $1,000.
Ruth Swaney new coordinator of Native American Natural Resource Program
We're happy to welcome Ruth Ann Swaney as the new coordinator of the Natural Resource Program, helping the college's native students with advising, registration and other academic and professional mentoring.
CFC grad student appointed Wyss Scholar
Congratulations to grad student Haley Wiggins, who just won a Wyss Scholarship to support her graduate research and a summer internship/research project. This prestigious award supports future conservation leaders like Haley.
Study abroad in Zambia this summer
Learn about conservation and community development in Zambia this summer and earn 6 credits. Five $2,000 fellowships available for UM students. Information session Thurs., March 5 at 12:10 p.m. in UC 223.
Are treeline habitats a refuge from mountain pine beetle for whitebark pine?
PhD student Colin Maher was awarded a competitive grant from the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation for his research on the whitebark pine survival along the treeline edge.
CFC students win prize for business idea to turn wood waste into fuel
Congratulations to forestry students Stephen Jenkins and Jena Trejo for winning second place in the Barrett Foundation Business Concept Challenge, sponsored by the National Forest Foundation, for their business plan to convert logging slash to methanol and liquid C02.
UM helps NASA map soil moisture from space
The NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission was successfully launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base on January 31. UM scientists Steve Running and John Kimball helped make it happen.
Wakimoto wins presidential faculty award from UM
Congratulations to Professor Ron Wakimoto - he's being honored with the George M. Dennison Presidential Faculty Award from UM during Charter Days on Feb. 12.
Professor's contributions lead to new planning rule
Professor Martin Nie served on the federal advisory committee that helped develop the U.S. Forest Service's new planning directives. He was the only faculty member on the 20-member Federal Advisory Committee.
Wilderness Lecture Series
Join the Wilderness Institute's spring series on Wild Lab: Weaving stories through wilderness research. Lectures free and open to everyone; available for one credit for UM students.
Study Abroad
Study conservation, sustainable tourism and more in Zambia or India this summer in one of our study abroad programs. UM students are eligible for an International Sustainability Fellowship to support these trips.
Wolf control measures in Alberta will not save caribou
Wildlife biology professor Mark Hebblewhite's recent paper on how the Alberta government's wolf control efforts are doing little to protect dwindling caribou populations compared to habitat loss from oil and gas development is featured in this Nature news story.
SNOTEL data artificially inflates temps in higher elevations
Montana Climate Office researcher Jared Oyler found that while the western U.S. has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the western U.S. is likely not as large as previously supposed.
Students win awards for AGU presentations
Graduate students Anna Bergstrom and Zachary Hoylman received awards for their presentations at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December.
UM students studying climate change in Vietnam
Thirteen UM students and instructor Nicky Phear spent three weeks in Vietnam, learning about its history, geography, culture and how the country is meeting the challenges of a changing climate. Read more on their blog.
Recent numbers from our tourism research institute show impact of visitors to Montana
Recent data from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research shows that out-of-state visitors spent nearly $4 billion in Montana in 2014.
CFC grad students at AGU fall meeting
CFC grad students Anna Bergstrom and Zach Hoylman are at the AGU fall meeting this week with advisor Kelsey Jencso; both presented on hydrology research conducted at Lubrecht.
Students help build a house in three days with Montana wood
In October, forestry students and professor Beth Dodson helped Montana Society of American Foresters and Habitat for Humanity build a house for a local family in three days using wood from Montana forests.
PTRM alum found his passion for the outdoors at UM
PTRM graduate Jeff Ozimek has his dream job, directing an outdoor recreation program on Bainbridge Island. He got there by following his passion and with his PTRM degree from UM.
Professor Lisa Eby on PBS NewsHour
Professor of aquatic vertebrate ecology Lisa Eby was interviewed in this PBS NewsHour story about illegal fish dumping in Montana. The practice of adding non-native fish to Montana's waterways threatens native fish populations.
Climate Change Studies Internships
Climate change studies students have great internships opportunities this coming spring semester at City of Missoula, Home Resource and other local sustainability organizations. A climate change studies minor can be added to any UM degree!
Professor Nelson helps Kuwait restore arid lands
Professor of restoration ecology Cara Nelson just returned from Kuwait where she worked with scientists at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to develop effective strategies for restoring arid land ecosystems.
Hands-on Learning
Our students learn by actively doing. One student said this after a weekend at our Lubrecht Forest for Forestry Field Skills class: "I honestly had one of the best weekends since I've been in Montana. There was so much to learn and it was all so interesting. It was really cool to be outside and see how exactly managing the forest directly impacts it."
Research on state's elk management plan
Research by Libby Metcalf and Alex Metcalf on actions local residents would support to manage elk and prevent the spread of brucellosis is part of the state's elk work plan and was used in decisions made recently by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Solving the Bitterroot elk mystery
UM's wildlife biology professor Mark Hebblewhite helps solve the mystery of declining numbers of elk in the West Fork of the Bitterroot. Mark and his graduate students worked with MT FWP over the past three years to collar elk, study vegetation in the area and document calf mortality to figure out what's killing the elk. Download the article (pdf)
UM's ecology scientists top the nation
UM's ecologists are the most influential and productive of any from universities in the U.S. and Canada, according to new research compiled by restoration ecology professor Cara Nelson, research assistant Megan Kelville, and UM ecology professor Ric Hauer.
Forestry students selected as finalists in business challenge
Stephen Jenkins and Jena Trejo are finalists in the Barrett Foundation Business Challenge for their propsoal to convert forest slash into methanol!
Forestry alums win awards at national SAF convention
Forestry alums Scott Kuehn ('81) and Amy Helena ('04) won awards at the 2014 Society of American Foresters national convention. MSU Extension Forester Peter Kolb, based here in Missoula, also won an SAF award.
UM's forestry school makes list of 100 Missoula icons
We made it into the Missoulian newspaper's list of 100 Missoula icons! We're proud of our traditions and excited for the future.
PTRM student spends summer as wilderness ranger
PTRM student Joe Zimmerman spent the summer working as a wilderness ranger in the 80,000-acre proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness, building a trail and serving as an ambassador for the roadless area on the Montana-Idaho border.
Montana Forest Products Week
Join us in celebrating Montana Forest Products Week. Forestry alum Buck Fullerton from Boise Cascade will be here Friday, Oct. 17 to speak about his role managing NE Oregon timberlands for the company. His talk begins at 4:10 p.m. in ISB 110.
Impact of Global Change on Forests Worldwide
Professor Andrew Larson is co-author on a new paper showing changes to the world's forests from drought, permafrost loss, nitrogen pollution and other changes. Larson is part of the Smithsonian-led Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, which released the report this month.
Student clubs in action
PTRM students recently attended a professional conference in Butte and wildilfe biology students built non-invasive hair tubes to help MT FWP look for northern bog lemmings. Find out what student clubs are up to here at the CFC.
Celebrating alumni and new murals
On Friday, Sept. 26 we unveiled progress on three new murals for the Forestry bldg. and celebrated distinguished alumni Jim Durglo, Russ Graham, Peter Leech and Zane Smith
The economic impact of bicycle touring in Montana
A recent study coauthored by the college's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research highlights the important economic impact of bicycle tourists visiting Montana.
50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
It's the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act this fall. Learn about local celebrations and read more about the act's future in two articles featuring thoughts from professor Martin Nie.
International Sustainability Fellows
Students: join a cohort of new international conservation leaders. Learn more about our new International Sustainability Fellows program.
CFC student clubs
The CFC has student clubs for every interest and major. Learn more about when and where each club meets and find one that fits you.
Wildlife biology student studies Glacier National Park's goats
Wesley Sarmento is helping the park understand how humans impact the park's iconic mountain goats. Read more in Montana Magazine. Check out the Wildlife Biology Program.
Professor Nie appointed to federal advisory committee
Professor Martin Nie was appointed to the Planning Rule Federal Advisory Committee by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Aug. 2014. The committee provides guidance and recommendations on management of America's national forests on Planning Rule implementation of the 2012 Planning Rule. The Planning Rule continues to guide stewards of national forests and grasslands in developing, revising or amending land management plans. Nie joins 20 other members as the sole representative of the scientific community.
International land managers visit Montana
The 15th annual CFC-led training of international land and natural resource managers visited a fire lookout in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Fire season 2014
Wildfires are burning in Montana and across the West. Learn more about our research and education on this issue.
How do recreationists feel about the Blackfoot River?
The Blackfoot River attracts a variety of recreation users. How satisfied are they with their experience on the water?
Montana Conservationist Bud Moore
We're celebrating the legacy of Montana conservationist Bud Moore and the opening of his papers at UM's Mansfield Library.
Professor Steve Running listed among "world's most influential scientific minds"
UM Regents professor of ecology Steve Running is recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the "world's most influential scientific minds."
CFC part of largest research award in UM history
CFC faculty members Winsor Lowe, Libby Metcalf and Cara Nelson are part of a recent $45 million award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Professor honored with lifetime achievement award
Fire science professor Ron Wakimoto received the Biswell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Fire Ecology this spring.
