Dennis Becker | We the Forest Profile
ABOUT DENNIS BECKER
Dennis Becker has been enamored by the beauty of nature ever since spending his childhood on his family's farm in Kansas. Becker, who serves as Dean and Professor of Natural Resource Policy at the University of Idaho, has developed this appreciation into a successful career, which has taken him all over the world to work on forestry issues in a myriad of areas from illegal logging to energy policy.
As a distinguished researcher, Becker has published multiple papers and has played an important role in natural resource policy analysis. His research has focused on the economic and social impacts of forest resources, fisheries, and wildlife, range, and community systems.
And as Professor of Natural Resource Policy, Becker prepares students for the forestry profession by offering them a broad range of perspectives, showing them that working with people with diverse perspectives is necessary for a profession in forestry.
When he’s not teaching the future foresters of tomorrow, Becker is involved in a number of organizations and projects, including recent involvement in the construction of the University of Idaho’s breathtaking new mass timber arena. In building this 62,000-square-foot arena, mass timber was harvested from the university’s own research forest and sustainably managed forests throughout Idaho and its surrounding regions, demonstrating the benefits mass timber buildings provide for the environment, society, and economy.
ABOUT WE THE FOREST
We the Forest offers information and personal stories from those working in the forest products industry, highlighting the role they play in solving forest health problems and providing a stage for their voices.
We are dedicated to building common ground on the many sides of the timber production conversation, showing sustainable forest-first practices can provide solutions for catastrophic wildfire prevention, bug and disease reduction, climate change mitigation, and resource stewardship.
Ensuring our forests are around for years to come is something that should be our utmost priority. Through education like this, we can come together to understand the importance of restoration and collaboration to protect our forests from catastrophic wildfire, and create a more sustainable reality.