Outlook Magazine - Fall 2025

for future generations, and I hope that I can impact my community by contributing to a much cleaner, greener, healthier environ ment for our territory,” she said. Currently, at least 40% of food and paper waste enters the territory’s landfill. Through the organics management plan, Harrigan hopes to: • Create a healthy compost product that can be used by local gardeners and farmers. • Contribute to food security, as the territory is susceptible to hurricanes. • Reduce the amount of methane gas released into the atmosphere at the landfill. • Reduce greenhouse gas pollution. “Sustainable practices should be backed by legislation, but be balanced by taking into account the social, economic and environ mental perspectives of these conservation efforts. This is very important in order to have healthy environments and resources for future generations,” she said. Forestry stewardship in the U.P. The Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan covers nearly one million acres, with more than 500 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of rivers and streams flow ing into Lake Superior. As stewardship coordinator with the U.S. Forest Service, Craig Carlson (’18) , headquar tered in Ironwood, ensures conservation of and sustainable practices within the forest. “The conservation of wild places is essen tial. The uninhibited vegetative growth pat terns of these locations can be studied and provide wildlife refuge. A well-thought for estry management plan will provide wild places and suitable habitat for species, along with providing the resources our communi ties need,” Carlson said. Interacting with partner organizations and coworkers enlightens Carlson to the vast scope of work that is needed – from programs that provide temporary habitat for various species to dam removal and stream restoration, polli nator plant germination, planting and more. Carlson reviews project specifications and ensures they align with the stewardship authority and works with external partners

to achieve landscape restoration. He ensures programs run smoothly and within the limita tions of the authority for contracts, following individual timelines for simultaneous proj ects, each needing a detailed review while meeting the scope and scale requirements. “Lumber is necessary to sustain our way of living and is a large economic driver of this area. I hope I make a difference through pro viding restoration to the forest and wildlife after timber harvests. Stewardship helps to remove nonnative invasive plants and replant species or prepare the area for natural regen eration after a timber harvest,” he added. Carlson hopes to add to his positive impact on future generations with the uplifting mes sage in his book, Look Ahead Moon , a story about appreciating the gifts we each have.

"A well-thought forestry management plan will provide wild places and suitable habitat." Craig Carlson (’18)

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Outlook 2025