Cultural and Environmental Resource Management Do Long-Term Forest Management Plans in WA, OR, and ID Reflect What the Literature Says About Carbon Sequestration and Wildfire Resilience? Forests of the western U.S. are increasingly affected by climate change and rising wildfire intensity, creating challenges for both ecosystem resilience and long-term carbon sequestration. This study evaluates how contemporary forest management plans address these challenges by comparing three state-level policy frameworks: the Washington Department of Natural Resources 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, Oregon Department of Forestry 20-Year Landscape Resiliency Strategy, and Idaho Department of Lands Forest Action Plan. Using a comparative analysis grounded in existing literature on forest ecology, carbon dynamics, and wildfire management, this research examines key themes of climate change, forest management, and carbon sequestration with respect to these areas: (1) the evolution of forest management in response to climate change, (2) differences in carbon sequestration between actively managed and unmanaged forests, (3) the effectiveness of specific management techniques, and (4) tradeoffs between maximizing carbon storage and reducing wildfire risk. Results indicate strong alignment across all three plans in recognizing the need for active, landscape-scale management, including thinning and prescribed fire, to mitigate wildfire risk. However, the plans vary in how extensively they address carbon sequestration. Washington and Oregon more directly frame management as a strategy to protect carbon stocks from high-severity wildfire, while Idaho emphasizes forest health and economic sustainability with less explicit focus on carbon outcomes. Across all plans, carbon sequestration is generally treated as a co-benefit rather than a primary objective. These findings suggest that while current policies reflect scientific consensus, opportunities remain to more fully integrate carbon accounting into forest management plans. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords : Forest Management, Wildfire Resilience, Carbon Sequestration SOURCE Form ID: 63 Melinda Cramp*, Megan Walsh, PhD Project Mentor(s): Megan Walsh, PhD Impacts of Environmental, Biological, and Human Stressors on Managed Pollinators in Pacific Northwest Agriculture Alejandro Escobedo* Project Mentor(s): Mike Pease, PhD; Megan Walsh, PhD Managed pollinators play a critical role in supporting agricultural systems in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), particularly for high-value crops such as apples, cherries, and berries. Recent declines in bee populations driven by environmental, biological, and anthropogenic stressors pose growing risks to crop productivity and agricultural stability. This poster examines how factors such as climate change and variability, disease, and land-use practices affect pollinator health. It further evaluates targeted mitigation strategies, including habitat enhancement, improved disease management, and sustainable agricultural practices. Addressing these stressors is essential to maintaining pollinator populations and ensuring the long-term resilience of PNW agriculture. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords: Pollinators SOURCE Form ID: 228
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