Over the years, more and more women have entered forest-related fields and have made incredible strides in conservation, forestry, and climate change. At the American Forest Foundation, we know that we can’t achieve our goals to protect the health of our forests and the planet without the earned expertise, diverse perspectives, active participation, and sheer strength of all people — particularly women.  

This Women’s History Month, AFF will highlight #AFFWomen – those that work tirelessly to improve our forests, support American landowners, and benefit our communities. They hail from different backgrounds and have unique stories to tell — but they all share the goal of leaving our planet better and healthier than we found it.  

For the first post of this series, we sat down with Brittany VanderWall, AFF’s senior forestry manager in the Midwest for the Family Forest Carbon Program. In her own words, Brittany details her love of forest conservation, her dedication to teaching others, and the importance of women representation in her field.

When a whole population of decision makers are not represented, or less represented - perspective and progress is lost.

How/why did you choose to work in forest conservation? 

I fell into forestry on a whim – I’d never even heard of the profession until I made a sudden decision to choose it. I had wanted to attend Michigan Tech since 7th grade to be an engineer, but when I got there, I had a change of heart before classes had even started. It was fascinating to learn about something I had no experience with and decide to build an entire career from that. I remember my first field techniques class very vividly – I had never even touched a compass before, and I was tasked with using it to navigate to a specific point in the woods.  

What’s your favorite part of your career/job? 

It is fun and fulfilling to teach others about the natural world. The best day in the woods is one where you share a new idea with someone who enjoys being in the forest. I always get a rush after spending an afternoon with a landowner and they are excited about how much more they know about their forest. Teaching others brings a greater self-awareness and understanding of the material as well.  

Why is it important for women to be involved in forest conservation? 

Matters concerning the natural world are not gender specific. When a whole population of decision makers are not represented, or less represented - perspective and progress is lost. Forest science plays an important role in climate change mitigation – which is the most pressing issue of our generation. Every human group has a stake here – those that have been left out of the conversation must be engaged and uplifted for a holistic solution to emerge.  

In your opinion what needs to change, or what needs to be done, to increase women's involvement in forest conservation work? 

When people see themselves reflected in a space – they feel more like they belong or have a peer group there. Forestry has traditionally been a male dominated field, but I have observed that balance shifting little by little over my 9-year career. As an example - my alma mater has made a specific effort to market forestry degree programs to women. There has also been a rise in women focused forestry programming across the United States. I think even little things such as women representation at career fairs and such makes a difference in the long run. 

Do you have a woman role model in the forest, conservation, or environmental space? Who is it and why? 

I worked for one of my forestry professors at Tech, Molly Cavaleri, to complete a research thesis as an undergrad. I remember asking after class one afternoon if I could work for her and it was an immediate yes. I won an award for my part in the research and that thesis did get published a few years after completion.  She was a fantastic mentor and gave me lots of pragmatic advice throughout my time developing the project. She was one of my absolute favorite professors at Tech due to her ability to communicate complex tree knowledge, her enthusiasm for the subject as well as her kindness and support.  

What advice would you give to women looking to pursue a career in forest conservation? 

I’ve found success in my career by “making myself a seat at the table” and “saying yes to things." On the latter, it is important not to stretch oneself too thin, or say yes too much – but taking opportunities and showing up is a great way to make a name for yourself and be consulted as a decision maker. This advice applies to any profession – but I feel it is particularly relevant as a woman in forestry, since there are less of us in high visibility decision making roles. I’ve also observed that women tend to sell themselves short, or second guess their abilities in contrast with men in a comparable peer group. It is important to recognize one’s strengths and not let “perfect” be the enemy of “good enough”. It can be scary to take on a responsibility that you don’t feel fully knowledgeable about – but that is how we learn and pave the way for others who don’t see themselves reflected in those spaces. 

What's your favorite tree? 

Celtis occidentalis – Common Hackberry: It is a phenomenal urban tree, since it is highly resilient to many stressors. The fruits are also edible and nutritious. Where I live, in Northern Michigan – it is a climate change adaptation species as well.