Ecosystem Workforce Program

Ecosystem Workforce Program

Current Projects |  Past Projects  |  Publications  |  About EWP
 

The Ecosystem Workforce Program (EWP) is an applied social science research program built on the interconnections of ecology, economy, and governance.

EWP applies scientific expertise and leadership to produce better outcomes for land and people.

Current Projects

forest fire

Northwest Fire Science Consortium

barns and sprinklers

Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition

forest

Federal Forest Restoration Program Monitoring

machine picking up log

Forest Service Shared Stewardship Strategy

landscape of burned forest

Lakeview Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Monitoring

logging truck passing myrtle point sign

Northwest Forest Plan

two people near burning logs

Oregon Department of Forestry Landscape Resiliency

person holding cell phone

Oregon Smoke Communications and Impacts

landscape

Air Quality in Oakridge

News and Publications

Read the latest news, updates, and publications from EWP.

The Trump administration claims roads in forests prevent wildfires. Researchers disagree.
James Johnston, an assistant research professor at the University of Oregon’s Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments, said the Forest Service lacks the personnel and funding to maintain the road system it already has, and building new ones is likely to be a challenge. The Trump administration has only exacerbated the problem by firing 10 percent of the agency’s workers since taking office.
Trump admin plans to rescind ‘roadless rule.’ Here’s what that means for millions of acres of forest across Utah.
A 2021 study found no difference in severity of wildfires across roadless and roaded national forest lands in the West. That research team did find, though, that roadless national forest areas experience a greater fire extent — meaning more acres burned. The reasons for that are “fairly obvious,” according to James Johnston, the lead author of the 2021 paper and a professor at the University of Oregon. “It’s easier to corral fires when there’s a road system to facilitate direct attack with hand crews and bulldozers,” he said.
University of Oregon wildfire experts worry what a lack of federal resources could mean for upcoming season
Heidi Huber-Stearns, Director of the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice and James Johnston, an Assistant Research Professor in Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments talk about how the firefighting workforce could shift and should prepare with federal cuts.

More News and Publications

mountain and lake landscape

Student Experience

Students from departments across UO work with EWP faculty to assist with EWP research, collaborative project coordination, web design and maintenance, and general office support.

We provide UO graduate and undergraduate students with experiential education through work study employment, paid and unpaid internships, independent study, and graduate employment (GE positions). These opportunities advance students' understanding and technical skills through participation in real projects. Available opportunities vary with projects.

Students interested in working with EWP on research projects should first visit our current projects page to better understand our research topic areas.  

Meet The Team

Heidi Huber-Stearns

Associate Research Professor
Director, EWP
she/her/hers

Michael Coughlan

Associate Research Professor
Co-Director, EWP
he/him/his

James Johnston

Assistant Research Professor

he/him/his

Jess Downey

Faculty Researcher
they/them/theirs

Julia Sizek

Associate Researcher
 

Annabelle Law

Research Assistant
she/her/hers

Kyle Trefny

Research Assistant
he/him/his

Stephanie Schneider

Research Assistant

Visit Us

130 Hendricks Hall
5247 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403