SAF supports all types of diversity—from one’s alma mater, to their chosen career path or sector within the broad field of forestry, to class, gender, ethnicity, cultural diversity, and beyond

As foresters, we understand the value of having variety, creating space for others, and providing support for success in the forest communities we steward. 
The Minnesota SAF Access and Engagement (A&E) working group exists to translate that understanding to supporting human foresters too. Our goal is to ensure MN SAF members feel valued and can meaningfully engage with and contribute to our professional society. 

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What we've been up to: Reports, documents, and reading material

• MN SAF book club reading list
  • The Treeline by Ben Rowlence 
• A&E working group business documents
  • 2026-2028 MN SAF DEI Working Group Strategic Plan
  • MN SAF A&E Working Group Charter
• 2023 MN SAF A&E Town Hall Report
  • A report of the MN SAF A&E working group town hall meeting at the 2023 winter meeting. 
• MN SAF Early Career Gap Funding Award program
  • We were able to provide financial assistance to 7 awardees over two funding cycles in 2023 and 2024. This award is currently on hold for the foreseeable future. 

Learn more: Curated perspectives and resources to consider

• Indian Country 101 Training
  • This comprehensive resource is geared towards natural resource professionals and will help you to better understand Native history in the U.S., Native tribes today and their sovereignty, and treaty rights.
• GLIFWC Interactive Map of Treaty Areas
  • The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission maintains this map showing treaty areas around the western Great Lakes. Don't see one in your area? You may be in an area ceded in 1855 or later; check out this linked resource to learn more.
• Bird-Watching While Black: A Wildlife Ecologist Shares His Tips
  • Offers useful insight on how some groups engage in the natural world. 
• The State of the American Middle Class
  • Minnesota's forests are rural by nature, and we rely on people in rural communities to implement necessary management in those forests.  This relatively recent work lays out income disparities between lower, middle, and upper income classes.  See also: Why Is It Still OK To 'Trash' Poor White People? 
    

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Are you an MN SAF member looking to volunteer with the MN SAF A&E working group?
​Contact Lane Moser to learn more: [email protected]