College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

MSU Forestry alum Jacob Slusser (MS ‘11), Panama Coordinator for the Neotropics Training Program, tells us a bit about the incredible work he has been doing with The Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative (ELTI).

Can you tell me about ELTI?

ELTI is a program of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (F&ES) that trains and supports people from all sectors and backgrounds to restore and conserve tropical forest landscapes. We take a unique approach to capacity building for conservation and restoration by mentoring people who manage or influence these landscapes in Tropical Asia and the Neotropics. With our training and support, they design and implement a range of strategies that improve the environment and enhance their livelihoods.

What does your average day entail?

I work approximately 50% in the office and 50% in the field. In the office, I focus on the development of our training sites (experimental and demonstration areas), training materials (presentations, guides, case studies) and training activities for both our field-based and on-line training programs. Additionally, I often meet with other host-country institutions and organizations to coordinate trainings for their staff or landowners who they support.

In the field, we facilitate field courses at our Training Landscapes, a network of privately-owned farms, each of which has unique demonstration and teaching potential. These sites located on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula integrate years of applied research to provide participants a place-based experiential learning opportunity. I teach participants about forest ecology and degradation and the range of restoration strategies to restore forest cover in agricultural landscapes.

What drives you to do what you do?

First and foremost, I am driven by the incredible people of Panama, who have been part of my life for the past 15 years, ever since I arrived in Panama as a Peace Corps Volunteer. They are very generous people and have been some of the best teachers a young man could have asked for in his formative years.

Additionally, my 2-year-old daughter and the world that her generation is inheriting, is an urgent driver for the work I do. While our program is small and grassroots, I believe that educating and empowering a diversity of land-use decision makers to conduct more informed ecological practices will help us achieve the resilient landscapes that are necessary to adapt to climate change.

Was there any particular course or aspect of your time at MSU that lead you to the work you are doing now?

I had the great fortune of being part of the last silviculture course that Professor Donald Dickmann taught at the Forestry Department. During the course it was clear that Professor Dickmann had over a half century of knowledge, but it was his undeniable passion about forestry that still inspires me today as I find myself in the similar position of teaching decision makers here in Panama. In addition, I had wonderful advisors like Dr. David Skole, Dr. Runsheng Yin and Dr. John Kerr (Dept. of Community Sustainability), whose international experiences further inspired me to go back abroad after finishing my master’s degree and utilize forestry as an empowering tool for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.