SPRING/ SUMMER 08

A magazine for alumni and friends of the School of Natural Resources and Environment

homeDalai Lama shares environmental passion in historic Wege Lecture

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 1 Stewards DE AN’S MESSAGE

This time of year, it’s not easy to think with IPCC, shared the 2007 Peace Prize. Holding the Nobel about studying and taking tests as Diploma and Medal (pictured below) was an unforgettable temperatures warm and the grounds moment. The Nobel Committee’s decision to recognize their surrounding the Dana Building become contributions validated years of groundbreaking research flush with color. So, in the spirit of the and communication – and acknowledged the unassailable season, today’s pop quiz consists of a evidence supporting anthropomorphic climate change. single question: What do the National Just this spring, SNRE’s Center for Sustainable Summit on Coping with Climate Change, Systems had the honor of presenting His Holiness Nobel Peace Prize, Dalai Lama and World the 14th Dalai Lama as the 8th Wege Lecturer. His Bank have in common? Holiness was as gracious as he was unassuming. His The answer, of course, is the School of Natural lecture on human and environmental sustainability Resources and Environment, which has enjoyed an was memorable as well (see story, page 14). unprecedented level of attention in the past year. And Last but not least, my valued and trusted all of it has transpired since we produced the first issue colleague David Allan – a face and name known by of Stewards, our alumni and friends magazine. I’m a generation of SNRE students and supporters – is proud to present this second issue, the first of two to be stepping in for me as acting dean. I’ve accepted an produced this calendar year and biannually thereafter. assignment to co-direct the World Bank’s prestigious Here’s some news behind the past year’s major headlines: World Development Report 2010, which will focus on climate First, SNRE hosted in May the first-ever National Summit change and development. Dave temporarily is relinquishing his role on Coping with Climate Change. The Summit brought together as associate dean to become day-to-day administrator of the school international experts for three days of unprecedented discussion. until I return in August 2009. The school is in great hands. The conference proceedings are now being compiled into So, enjoy the issue – preferably outside under a tree, if you a book (see story, page 5). can. And goodbye until next fall. Seven months later, I had the privilege of attending the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. As someone who led several U.S. delegations to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change plenaries over the years, I was at the ceremony Rosina M. Bierbaum as an invited guest of former Vice President Al Gore, who along Dean, School of Natural Resources and Environment Stewards SPRING/ SUMMER 08

A magazine for alumni and friends of the School of Natural Resources and Environment

4 Summit Proceedings SNRE will publish the proceedings this summer of its historic May 2007 National Summit on Coping with Climate Change – the first event of its kind in the nation. 5 Landscape Architecture at 100 In his historic Earth Day address, Planning is under way on the 100th His Holiness raised environmental anniversary celebration for the Landscape concerns across themes as varied Architecture program in 2009. as population control and religious 7 It’s Hot in Here tolerance to consumerism and Three students start environmentally income disparity. themed current events radio show. 9 Crowfoot earns Golden Apple Emeritus Professor Jim Crowfoot gave his “last lecture” after receiving the 18th Annual Golden Apple Award, a student- bestowed honor recognizing great teaching. But Crowfoot got the last laugh: ONLINE he sent everyone home with homework.

Once Mark Retzloff arrived at the Visit www.snre.umich.edu for 26 Endorsing the Environment University of Michigan in 1966 Whoever becomes the next U.S. President additional stories and more or a member of the 111th Congress, they and became an undergraduate at information about some of the will likely face tough questions from the the School of Natural Resources, a League of Conservation Voters and Kerry articles in this magazine. New metamorphosis occurred. Duggan (SNRE, M.S. ’06). content is added daily to keep 27 The Big Green Purse you up to date with events When Diane MacEachern (SNR, M.S. ’77) and news about SNRE. chose Environmental Communications and Advocacy as her major in 1975, it was a match made in eco-heaven.

Stewards Contact Information Nondiscrimination Policy Statement School of Natural Resources and Environment The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative Dean Rosina M. Bierbaum action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws University of Michigan Associate Deans Dave Allan, Dan Brown regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action, including Title 440 Church Street IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Director of Communications/Editor Kevin Merrill Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all Contributors Jim Erickson, Nancy Ross-Flanigan, 734.764.2550 Diane Swanbrow, Jared Wadley persons regardless of race, sex,* color, religion, creed, national www.snre.umich.edu origin or ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, Design CDM Communications © 2008 The Regents of the University of Michigan or Vietnam-era veteran status in employment, educational Printer Metzgers Printing and Mailing programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity Printed using soy-based inks on paper that contains 100 and Title IX/Section 504 Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, percent post-consumer waste fiber. 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1432, 734-763-0235 TTY 734-647-1388. For other University of Michigan information, call 734-764-1817. * includes gender identity and gender expression The Regents of the University are Julie Donovan Darlow, Ann Arbor; Laurence B. Deitch, Bingham Farms; Olivia P. Maynard, Goodrich; Rebecca McGowan, Ann Arbor; Andrea Fischer Newman, Ann Arbor; Andrew C. Richner, Grosse Pointe Park; S. Martin Taylor, Grosse Pointe Farms; Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor; Mary Sue Coleman (ex officio).

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 3 Stewards NEWS

by kevin merrill The School of Natural Resources and Environment is planning to publish this summer the proceedings from the May 2007 National Summit May 8-10 Summit as the university’s commitment to on Coping with Climate Change. The event – the the Clinton Global Initiative, a non-partisan effort to first of its kind in the nation – focused on helping devise and implement solutions to world challenges. the United States prepare for the impact of climate Faculty from across U-M colleges, schools and change and the ongoing alterations in temperature, institutes participated in the Summit. External precipitation, sea-level rise and species range. The Summit brought scientists sponsorship came from Google Inc., the Gordon and and scholars together with Experts identified adaptation needs in four Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco, the key decision makers to address options available to U.S. critical areas: public health, energy industry, water Frey Foundation of Grand Rapids, the National institutions and companies for quality and fisheries. Then, they developed options adapting and responding to Science Foundation and the U.S. Environmental climate change. for actions to be taken at local, state and national Protection Agency. levels to help prepare cities, “The nation has lost a decade in thinking counties and states as well seriously about coping with climate change. This as business and industry. Summit was an effort to jump-start that conversation Those ideas, an with science and policy leaders and put SNRE in the executive summary forefront of innovative thinking to confront climate – Photo U-M Photo Services and other materials are change,” said SNRE Dean Rosina M. Bierbaum. captured in the book, Dan Brown, SNRE associate dean for research, which also includes a CD and Jan McAlpine, a visiting scholar from the U.S. with many Powerpoint Department of State, edited the book. presentations and related speaker information. read more: SNRE organized the clintonglobalinitiative.org

Ines Ibanez joins as an Allen Burton, professor Chris Ellis joins as an associate assistant professor in the and chair of the Department of professor from Texas A&M Terrestrial Ecology field of study Earth & Environmental Sciences University’s College of Architecture, from a post-doctorate position at Wright State University, Department of Landscape at the University of Connecticut. has been named director of Architecture and Urban Planning. Ibanez completed her Ph.D. at the Cooperative Institute for His scholarly interests include Duke University; her research Limnology and Ecosystem landscape architecture, planning focuses on the major challenges Research (CILER). Burton will hold and ecology; spatial modeling that natural communities face a simultaneous appointment as a and analysis; and applications under global change that professor at SNRE, which houses of information technology to determine the distributional CILER. He obtained a Ph.D. in planning and design. Ellis also ranges of dominate plant species. environmental science from has been involved in designing Currently, she is developing and the University of Texas at Dallas an environmentally sustainable investigating predictive models in 1984. educational facility for Texas A&M of plant species’ invasions across University next to the Monteverde New England. Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica.

4 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Among the exhibits at the 3rd Annual SNRE Earth Art installations in April was “Corn for Cars: A Visual Exploration of The Maladies of Growing Maize for Biofuel,” by LA Students Becca Sowder, Angie Cambell, Lauren DeSilva, Laurie Lesch

– 2008, The Ann Arbor News. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission and Jessica Neafsey.

Planning is under way on the 100th anniversary student achievement at the 2008 Scholarship celebration for the Landscape Architecture Luncheon. “This year’s class of recipients is truly program in 2009. outstanding,” said Chris Ellis, program coordinator. For nearly a hundred years, the program – “I join my fellow faculty colleagues in honoring which became part of SNRE in 1965 – has produced them and their work and for sustaining the Michigan graduates who use their technical skills and artistic tradition of excellence.” and ecological sensitivities to lead and challenge Guests included former LA program chair Chuck the profession as it strives for a Cares, director emeritus of the Botanical more sustainable future. Recently, Gardens & Arboretum and an emeritus the program launched an electronic professor in Landscape Architecture, version of its former magazine who received a special recognition for “Michiganscapes” to keep alumni his contributions to the program and its informed about events, fellow alumni, students over the years; John Strauch, program developments and faculty father of the late Paul L. Strauch, a 1994 and student research. LA graduate for whom the “Spirit of the

In April, LA Assistant Professor – Photo by Scott Soderberg, U-M Photo Services Studio” Award is named; and Randall Beth Diamond organized the 3rd John Strauch with M’Lis Bartlett, Sharp, a landscape architect with Sharp the 2008 recipient of the award & Diamond LLC, who later in the day Annual SNRE Earth Art installations, named after his late son, Paul. featuring the work of Landscape delivered the Whittemore Lecture as part Architecture students in her course, “NRE 503: of the Winter 2008 Dean’s Speaker Series. His topic Imprints & Archetypes.” The exhibits could be was “Urban Climate Relief: Ecological Strategies for experienced at two campus locations: North Campus Streets, Walls and Roofs.” Quad and the Nichols Arboretum. (In past years, To learn more about upcoming anniversary the presentations were on the main campus events and to make sure you are on the Diag near the Dana Building. Preparations for “Michiganscapes” subscriber list, contact Erin the 2008 commencement forced the exhibits to Longchari, assistant director of the Office of relocate this year.) Development and Alumni Relations, at 734.615.0270 In March, LA faculty and guests recognized or [email protected]. – Kevin Merrill

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 5 Stewards STUDENTS

For Katie Goodall and Goodall and Sara colleagues at the University Students speak up for a 17 other students from the Adlerstein, a School of of Concepción. The course University of Michigan, a Natural Resources and focused on the Chilean special course this year allowed Environment research government’s pressing them to experience on-site scientist who co-taught the need for a plan to ensure education on cultural, political course, joined students from adequate future energy and environmental issues U-M’s undergraduate-based supplies, specifically through raised by a series of proposed Program in the Environment hydropower. The class was the hydroelectric projects. But the and the College of Engineering first one offered through the education took place not in the (CoE). Thomas Neeson, an Graham Scholars Program, United States, but Chile. SNRE doctoral candidate and an initiative of U-M’s Graham “It was great for our class graduate assistant, also made Environmental Sustainability – Photo by Elizabeth Coone used with permission to experience the issues first the journey. Institute. The Scholars Program hand,” said Goodall (SNRE, The semester-long promotes multidisciplinary M.S. ’08), who has a research course, titled “Sustainable studies in environmental interest in Latin American Energy Development in sustainability, especially topics agriculture and wildlife. “We South America,” was offered in an international context. were able to study how the through CoE but featured “There is a big interest issues were integrated at guest-lecture experts from in establishing courses with multiple levels and discuss the SNRE. The interdisciplinary international components,” conflicts between the parties format is an example of the Adlerstein said. “It’s a very involved. The more we learned, collaborative teaching and successful way of educating the more questions we had.” research expected from SNRE’s students – and we need more On the trip, students encountered the newest joint-degree program of it. You can spend a whole powerful and untamed rivers targeted The students traveled to for various hydroelectric projects. Patagonia and across southern (see related story, page 9). semester teaching and it’s Chile for a week during spring Michigan not the same as taking the break. They visited current Engineering Professor students on-site to experience and potential hydroelectric Steven Wright and it for themselves.” power plant locations and Adlerstein developed The course was so popular spoke with university and the course in that it is being offered again government researchers, collaboration next spring, with more room local residents and with Evelyn Habit for SNRE students. company officials. and Oscar Parra,

CHILE MORNING

katie goodall in patagonia

– Photo courtesy of Katie Goodall

6 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Students speak up for a

It sounded like a sure hit from the guest interviews, the hosts play music. M.S. ’08) graduated. Stimson graduates in start: three SNRE graduate students, three Guests have ranged from a second-grade December 2008. Still, they expect the show microphones and one hour of live air time. science teacher who spoke about science to return in the fall with at least Stimson The result was “It’s Hot in Here,” an education to SNRE assistant professors and Johnson, who returns to the School of environmentally themed current events Dean Bavington and Rebecca Hardin. A Natural Resources and Environment as a radio show. The weekly show debuted in recurring guest is Kerry Duggan (SNRE, M.A. Ph.D. student. March from the University of Michigan’s ’06), who is campaigns projects manager for The students don’t expect to win any student-run station starring Sarah Cwiek, the League of Conservation Voters and the Peabody awards. They view the guerilla-like Jennifer Johnson and Hugh Stimson. show’s “Washington correspondent.” (See nature of the production and limited reach profile of Duggan, page 26) Cwiek and Johnson came up with of WCBN’s signal as part of the program’s the idea and name, which reflects the What the show lacks in technical appeal. “Its roughness is part of its charm,” group’s interest in global warming and sophistication it makes up for with said Stimson. the environment. “We both are passionate unfiltered energy. “We’re used to speaking “It’s Hot In Here” airs Thursdays from about the environment – and like hearing our minds in a collaborative environment,” 12-1 p.m. EST at WCBN 88.3 FM. To listen ourselves talk,” Johnson said with a smile. said Cwiek, who is the only host with media live outside of Ann Arbor or to download “We thought that maybe others would, too.” experience, having worked at WDET-FM shows from the podcast archive, visit wcbn. in Detroit. The show is a blend of talk show and org/hotinhere. To contact the show, email dance party. Between news-talk segments Since launching the program, Cwiek [email protected]. focused on environmental headlines and (SNRE, M.S. ’08) and Johnson (SNRE,

It’s Hot In Here

From left, Jennifer Johnson, Hugh Stimson and Sarah Cwiek

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 7 Stewards WORLD

Four dual-master’s degree students from the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and Ross School of Business – and one student from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service – won Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s first “Better Living Business Plan Challenge.” Wal-Mart developed the competition to provide business students worldwide an opportunity to invent sustainable products or business solutions. Eight student teams presented their business plans to a panel of executives from Wal-Mart and other leading companies, and non-governmental Erb students organizations in April. The winning team of Jeff LeBrun, win second Tony Gross, Mike Hartley, Amir Satvat (from NYU) and Ali Moazed were business plan awarded $20,000 for developing a biodiesel company that produces competition a nonfood-based renewable fuel while supporting sustainable development in Africa. In February, the four U-M students competing as Three of four members of the U-M student a team won $10,000 for an earlier team traveled to New York to receive the top prize as part of the Inaugural “Africa version of the proposal as part of MBA Business Plan Competition.” From left: the inaugural “Africa MBA Business Tony Gross, Ali Moazed and Jeff LeBrun. Not pictured: Mike Hartley. Plan Competition.” The team received significant support from a coalition of U-M institutes, – Photos courtesy of Gross Tony including the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise; the Zell /Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies; the Center for Sustainable Systems (which is part of SNRE), and the William Davidson Institute. The students receive dual degrees from SNRE and the Ross School of Business. The students’ company, Mozergy, plans to develop and propagate jatropha crops in Mozambique and other developing countries. Jatropha is a sustainable, low-cost, high-yield plant that produces oil-rich seeds that can be extracted and refined to produce biodiesel. Because jatropha is not edible and can grow on marginal land, it is not expected to impact food production.

as part of their project, the studeNts “All of the students did a fantastic job developing their ideas and traveled to mozambique, where they presenting them to a distinguished panel of judges,” said Kim Saylors-Laster, observed the indoor growing of the plant (also pictured above). vice president of energy for Wal-Mart, in a statement. “The judges selected the University of Michigan submission because it addresses the growing need for renewable fuel sources and the social mission of economic development, in a way that is both profitable and sustainable. We hope this concept and the other great ideas presented will help build the businesses of tomorrow while protecting our natural and energy resources.”

8 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Engineers with an ecological be accepted into both SNRE and outlook will be the product of a new CoE and can choose tracks in dual-degree program between the sustainable energy, water School of Natural Resources and or manufacturing. Environment (SNRE) and College of The issues facing the “This degree seeks Engineering (CoE). The Engineering generations of tomorrow are Sustainable Systems (ESS) degree increasingly interconnected and to marry the best program educates engineers must be tackled in a “systems of engineering who integrate the principles of thinking” way, said Rosina M. sustainability into their work. Bierbaum, SNRE dean. “This with the best of In real terms, that means civil degree seeks to marry the best environmental and environmental engineers who of engineering with the best of minimize the watershed impacts of a environmental design to reduce our design to reduce new road; chemical engineers human footprint on this planet.” our human who can adjust biofuel recipes to SNRE and the Ross School use less water; and mechanical of Business have offered a dual- footprint on this engineers who design more fuel- master’s degree in business and planet.” efficient vehicles using greener natural resources and environment manufacturing processes. for 13 years. It is the first such dual-degree For more information, visit www.

Duality program in the nation. Students must snre.umich.edu/degree_programs/.

Emeritus Professor Jim of Natural Resources and “It’s not only the substance of sustainability and Crowfoot gave his “last lecture” Environment means everything that’s important. It’s the environmental justice for more in March after receiving the to me,” said Crowfoot, who also process,” Crowfoot said about his than three decades and is 18th Annual Golden Apple holds the title of emeritus dean. philosophy to teaching. “Students still teaching undergraduate Award, the only university- True to his pedagogical aren’t memory machines on a interdisciplinary seminars,” wide student-bestowed honor philosophy that places great stick. That ability to learn is so Dean Bierbaum said. recognizing great teaching. value on learner participation, incredibly important for our Introducing Crowfoot But Crowfoot got the last Crowfoot’s last lecture future.” was Mark Chesler, an emeritus laugh: he sent everyone home involved open-mic audience He is the first emeritus professor of sociology and with homework. involvement and a 14-page professor to receive the 40-year friend. “Jim has been a Students voted to give handout with citations and award. “That proves that great steadfast, non-violent warrior for Crowfoot this year’s award future reading lists. The “last teachers and their legacies social justice,” Chesler said. based on letters of support lecture” ceremony is a mainstay never leave the university,” said from current and former students of the annual award, which is Andrew Bronstein, co-chair of he mentored during nearly one of the highest teaching SHOUT (Students Honoring 25 years of university service. honors at the university – Outstanding University He taught for 10 years at SNRE and the only one voted on Teaching), the group that and led it for eight more as dean. exclusively by students. conducts the voting and As emeritus professor, he still His lecture centered on bestows the award. teaches twice a year through two themes: the need to teach Rosina M. Bierbaum, the Michigan Community all U-M students the concept professor and SNRE dean, said – Photo by Scott Soderberg, U-M Photo Services Scholars Program and the of sustainability – whether the award was well-deserved. undergraduate-based Program defined in terms of spirituality “He is a man of incredible in the Environment. or natural resources – and integrity who has During his deanship, on embracing a community served as a mentor, Crowfoot guided SNRE through approach to learning, which is professor and scholar perilous times and helped a by-product of his professional reestablish its value and place and well-regarded work in at the university. “That school conflict resolution.

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 9

T NMEN O IR V EN ND A URCES O RES AL UR AT N OF OOL SCH 10

organic coffee farm in southwestern Mexico Mexico southwestern in farm coffee organic Foundation. Foundation. another insect with a sinister name: the the name: sinister a with insect another – Nancy Ross-Flanigan Nancy –

insects in a 45-hectare (111-acre) plot on an an on plot (111-acre) 45-hectare a in insects don’t expand indefinitely, all because of of because all indefinitely, expand don’t ational Science Science ational N the from funding received

been studying ants and other associated associated other and ants studying been tree, local clusters develop, but the clusters clusters the but develop, clusters local tree, researchers The said. Vandermeer

Natural Resources and Environment, have have Environment, and Resources Natural As the ant colonies spread from tree to to tree from spread colonies ant the As ct predator in the system,” system,” the in predator ct inse scale

Perfecto, a professor at the School of of School the at professor a Perfecto,

main the maintaining to component key case of criticality. of case

ants? Vandermeer and co-author Ivette Ivette co-author and Vandermeer ants?

a is clusters, these forming by ant, the s the spatial patterns as a a as patterns spatial the s explain that scenario

What do avalanches have to do with with do to have avalanches do What

that is discovered we’ve what But them. observations, the researchers came up with a a with up came researchers the observations,

that exhibit self-organized criticality. self-organized exhibit that eliminate to want and insects scale the Combining computer modeling with field field with modeling computer Combining

power law, a sort of fingerprint of systems systems of fingerprint of sort a law, power protecting ants the see farmers The “

something inherent in the biology of the ants. the of biology the in inherent something

big ones – characterizes what’s known as a a as known what’s characterizes – ones big

be due to something other than habitat – – habitat than other something to due be beetle larvae. beetle

of a phenomenon being more common than than common more being phenomenon a of

non-uniform distribution of ant colonies must must colonies ant of distribution non-uniform ants also scare away bugs that parasitize parasitize that bugs away scare also ants

grains.” Such a pattern – with small versions versions small with – pattern a Such grains.”

deliberately planted in a grid pattern. So the the So pattern. grid a in planted deliberately the scale, attack that wasps parasitic off

few avalanches involve hundreds of sand sand of hundreds involve avalanches few

uniform as a habitat can be, as trees are are trees as be, can habitat a as uniform assist from the ants. In the course of shooing shooing of course the In ants. the from assist

involve one or two sand grains, and relatively relatively and grains, sand two or one involve

the coffee farm, the habitat is about as as about is habitat the farm, coffee the coffee scale, they also get an inadvertent inadvertent an get also they scale, coffee

“What they find is that most avalanches avalanches most that is find they “What

on But said. Vandermeer responsible,” green of plenty off polish to able larvae

Nature authors. paper’s the of one and

kind of underlying habitat variable that’s that’s variable habitat underlying of kind forms both feed on it. Not only are beetle beetle are only Not it. on feed both forms

Biology Evolutionary and Ecology of

that, you tend to think that there’s some some there’s that think to tend you that, enemies is a beetle whose adult and larval larval and adult whose beetle a is enemies

Professor Collegiate Davis Margaret the

or plant that’s distributed in patches like like patches in distributed that’s plant or

ne of the green coffee scale’s mortal mortal scale’s coffee green the of ne O

Vandermeer, John said avalanche,” each

“Normally when you have an animal animal an have you when “Normally

the scale secretes. scale the how many grains of sand actually fall with with fall actually sand of grains many how

How to explain the clumpiness? the explain to How

return collect honeydew, a sweet, sticky liquid liquid sticky sweet, a honeydew, collect return at look is – physically and mathematically

m predators and parasites and in in and parasites and predators m fro insects them, you find them in clumps.” in them find you them, find you once “What physicists have done – both both – done have physicists “What

– Photo by Alex Wild Alex by Photo –

. ant teca Az this as such , ants n o plantati

ffee o c g in y stud y b patterns n o distributi

spatial g rin o pl x e are researchers U-M

– Photo by SNRE by – Photo

n some bushes, Azteca ants protect the scale scale the protect ants Azteca bushes, some n O percent of the trees,” Vandermeer said. “But “But said. Vandermeer trees,” the of percent the sides in mini-avalanches. in sides the

featureless insect that lives on coffee bushes. bushes. coffee on lives that insect featureless “The ants only occupy about three three about occupy only ants “The more sand, and the grains just slide down down slide just grains the and sand, more

Coccus viridis) Coccus , a flat, flat, a , ( scale coffee green as of criticality” where it stops growing. Add Add growing. stops it where criticality” of not the case. the not

implications for controlling coffee pests, such such pests, coffee controlling for implications pile, the cone grows until it reaches a “state “state a reaches it until grows cone the pile, that’s but farm, the on tree every to spread

Their understanding of the system has has system the of understanding Their As you trickle sand onto the cone-shaped cone-shaped the onto sand trickle you As the ants to to ants the expect you’d time, ver O tree.

criticality often is illustrated with a sand pile. pile. sand a with illustrated is often criticality satellite nest is established in a neighboring neighboring a in established is nest satellite relationship, the hallmark of criticality. of hallmark the relationship,

The basic idea of self-organized self-organized of idea basic The colony reaches a certain size it splits and a a and splits it size certain a reaches colony telltale power law law power telltale the found researchers the

establishes a colony in a tree, and once the the once and tree, a in colony a establishes at the frequencies of various sizes of clumps, clumps, of sizes various of frequencies the at Nature earlier this year in the journal journal the in year this earlier .

y other ants. A queen queen A ants. other y man of that like history spatial distribution,” Perfecto said. Looking Looking said. Perfecto distribution,” spatial adhere to the model. Their work appeared appeared work Their model. the to adhere

Azteca instabilis Azteca , have a natural natural a have , ants, The that maintains the ants’ ants’ the maintains that fly the it’s “So of ant nests on a coffee farm in Mexico also also Mexico in farm coffee a on nests ant of

Toledo colleagues have shown that clusters clusters that shown have colleagues Toledo flies to find their colonies. their find to flies in detail. in

Now, U-M researchers and University of of University and researchers U-M Now, bigger their clusters, the easier it is for the the for is it easier the clusters, their bigger Toledo, they set out to examine the system system the examine to out set they Toledo,

everything from economics to avalanches. avalanches. to economics from everything for the ants, the the ants, the for Unfortunately emerges. fly professor of ecology at the University of of University the at ecology of professor

scientists have been applying its concepts to to concepts its applying been have scientists the ant’s head falls off and the new adult adult new the and off falls head ant’s the graduate student and now an assistant assistant an now and student graduate

capsule where it feasts on the contents. Then Then contents. the on feasts it where capsule by which complexity arises in nature – – nature in arises complexity which by criticality. With Stacy Philpott, then a U-M U-M a then Philpott, Stacy With criticality.

to the ant’s head head ant’s the to in migrates larva fly the mechanism a – criticality self-organized as could be explained through the concept of of concept the through explained be could

on the thorax of an ant; the egg hatches and and hatches egg the ant; an of thorax the on physicists identified the phenomenon known known phenomenon the identified physicists spatial distribution patterns they observed observed they patterns distribution spatial

decapitating fly. The parasitic fly lays its egg egg its lays fly parasitic The fly. decapitating Ever since a forward-thinking trio of of trio forward-thinking a since Ever for three years and wondered whether the the whether wondered and years three for

Insects on coffee plants follow widespread natural tendency natural widespread follow plants coffee on Insects RESEARCH Bats Stewards

11 2008 SUMMER G/ RIN P S > RDS A EW T S www.snre.umich.edu

coffee plant. plant. coffee day and night, bats also had been excluded, excluded, been had also bats night, and day – Jim Erickson Jim –

But because the netting remained in place place in remained netting the because But damage, otherwise can or on, feed insects

of species 200 than More said. she thought,” received the credit. the received

bats are much more diverse than people had had people than diverse more much are bats had higher pest counts, and birds generally generally birds and counts, pest higher had

in modes foraging that out turns it “But unprotected plants. The protected plants usually usually plants protected The plants. unprotected

and compared the tally to totals from nearby nearby from totals to tally the compared and such as katydids and leaf-eating beetles. leaf-eating and katydids as such

counted the insects on the protected plants plants protected the on insects the counted plants,” the on around ing hang just were that

around-the-clock. After several days, scientists scientists days, several After around-the-clock. wouldn’t expect them to have an effect on insects insects on effect an have to them expect wouldn’t

frameworks – were placed over coffee bushes bushes coffee over placed were – frameworks “And if that’s all they were going for, then you you then for, going were they all that’s if “And

– simply net-covered wood-and-plastic wood-and-plastic net-covered simply – uillén said. said. uillén G Williams- moths,” and mosquitoes

plants. In previous experiments, the exclosures exclosures the experiments, previous In plants.

the bats were flying around in mid-air and taking taking and mid-air in around flying were bats the . . ns o plantati ffee o c

ican x e M in und o f o als are

study the impacts of various animals on coffee coffee on animals various of impacts the study off the leaf or stem. “People had believed that all all that believed had “People stem. or leaf the off

enus g this f o ats B : rhina o nch Lo

the design of “exclosure” experiments used to to used experiments “exclosure” of design the

y swoop down and snatch the bug bug the snatch and down swoop y the Then

enus g the f o bat sed o n - rd o sw A

uillén said. The first involves a flaw in in flaw a involves first The said. uillén G Williams-

chewing, crawling across leaves or chirping. or leaves across crawling chewing,

insects has been overlooked for two reasons, reasons, two for overlooked been has insects

pointy ears listen intently for the sounds of insects insects of sounds the for intently listen ears pointy

The bat’s role in controlling coffee-eating coffee-eating controlling in role bat’s The

sometimes for hours at a stretch. Their large, large, Their stretch. a at hours for sometimes

Resources and Environment. and Resources inverted and clutching a branch with their feet, feet, their with branch a clutching and inverted

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plantation in Chiapas, Mexico. Chiapas, in plantation harvestmen and mites – exceeding the impact of of impact the exceeding – mites and harvestmen

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and day to control insect pests that might otherwise otherwise might that pests insect control to day and colleagues established four types of exclosures: exclosures: of types four established colleagues

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Fellows are: Becca Brooke, Erin the Conservation of the American Carey, Rachel Chadderdon, West was designed to identify and Twelve SNRE students Andrew Fotinos, Aviva Glaser, Jose nurture a generation of leaders Gonzalez, Kristen Johnson, Brad on Western land conservation receive prestigious Kinder, Lauren Lesch and Diane issues. Since its inception, the Twelve School of Natural Sherman. Sherman is a dual- program took applications only Resources and Environment degree student through SNRE’s from students at the University students have been awarded program with the Law School. of Montana and Yale University. prestigious national fellowships. The Environment Program In a desire to broaden its reach, Ten students were selected in a of the Doris Duke Charitable program leaders visited SNRE competitive process to be named Foundation created the Doris and met with faculty and 2007-09 Doris Duke Conservation Duke Conservation Fellowship students, and subsequently Fellows. Two others were selected program in 1997 to identify and decided to include the University 2007-09 Wyss Conservation support future conservation of Michigan. Scholars. The fellowships recognize leaders. The fellowships The program is administered all 12 as future leaders in nonprofit support students enrolled by the Wyss Foundation. Fellows and public sector conservation, in multidisciplinary master’s are selected by participating with Wyss Scholars committed programs at partner universities universities during the first year specifically to work on Western land who are committed to careers as of their master’s program and are conservation issues. The students practicing conservationists. selected based on dedication, need were recognized at a special dinner The 2007-2009 Wyss Scholars and merit. – Kevin Merrill in March. are Heath Nero and Liz Nysson. The Doris Duke Conservation The Wyss Scholars Program for

The web site is www.meera.snre.umich.edu.

12 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Professor Michael J. Wiley has been named the Theodore Roosevelt Chair of Ecosystem Management at SNRE. Wiley, who has taught at the school since 1987, was nominated by fellow SNRE faculty and recommended by an internal screening committee. “I’m honored that my peers recommended me and thankful to the committee members who reviewed the nominees,” Wiley said. “I hope that during my tenure as the Roosevelt Professor, I can bring more attention to the science and policy of ecosystem management.” The Roosevelt Professor is one of seven endowed professorships at the school. It was named to reflect the bold, path-setting leadership of its namesake, Professor Bunyan Bryant, a founder of the the nation’s 24th president, in the field of conservation and protection of natural academic field of environmental justice, was resources. It is funded through the Sally and William L. Searle Endowment Fund, honored in May with the state of Michigan’s highest which was created jointly by the Searle Family Trust and the Salwil Foundation. environmental honor. Bryant received the Helen and The professorship is held for five years; Professor Steven L. Yaffee previously held William D. Milliken Distinguished Service Award from the professorship. the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC). The annual Milliken Award recognizes an individual who has The Roosevelt Professor made outstanding contributions to the protection of is expected to focus his or her Michigan’s environment. research and external outreach on ecosystem management, “I am honored to receive this prestigious award restoration and conservation. and grateful for the attention it gives the field of Wiley said the professorship’s environmental justice, which has been my life’s work,” purpose dovetails well with his said Bryant, who began teaching at SNRE in 1972. He own research agenda, which coordinates the school’s Environmental Justice field of pursues both science and study and directs its Environmental Justice Initiative its application to real-world (EJI), which he helped create about 10 years ago. EJI’s problems. “Collaboration is central mission is to ensure the rights of all people to live in a to ecosystem management,” Wiley safe, clean and healthy environment. “Environmental said. “I have always found that Justice seeks to help the public and policymakers use scientific information to build sustainable communities Professor Mike Wiley (far right) works in South Korea people really do care and want with SNRE Ph.D. student Kyung Seo Park (left) and to manage their water resources worldwide,” Bryant said. Kwang Guk An, editor-in-Chief of the Journal of The The Milliken Award was first bestowed in 2000. Past Korean Society of Limnology, and professor at Chungnam more effectively.” National University in Daejon, South Korea. honorees have included John Dingell, Peter Wege and Peter Karmanos. The honoree is chosen by the board of directors of MEC, a coalition of organizations protecting Michigan’s people and environment.

Companies that fail to shrink their carbon Enterprise at the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable footprints and integrate energy policies with business Enterprise. Erb students are dual-enrolled in the School strategies won’t survive in today’s marketplace, argues of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ross Associate Professor Andrew Hoffman in a new book. School of Business at the university. Every chief executive officer, regardless of company The authors present questions every CEO needs size, should be focused on those issues, said Hoffman to consider: What kind of climate-related action is and co-author John G. Woody in Climate Change: What’s prudent for your company? Are there opportunities in Your Business Strategy? The book was released May 1 by the uncertainty of this market transition? What do your Harvard Business School Press. competitors see? “You should not think of climate change as an “All companies should be aware of their carbon environmental issue at all. Instead, you should think of footprints,” said Hoffman, who has taught at U-M it as a market transition,” Hoffman said. “And as in any since 2004. “If they are not thinking about their such transition, there will be winners and losers.” energy management, they are throwing money out Hoffman is the Holcim (U.S.) Professor of Sustainable of the window.”

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by kevin merrill Photos by MArtin Vloet, U-M sustainability Photo Services fter nearly three days of police escorts, known, the opportunity to expound more on topics international media attention, raised in his “Earth Day Reflections” Lecture. His press conferences and three sold-out responses, along with an award ceremony honoring lectures at Crisler Arena, His Holiness three University of Michigan students, were the the 14th Dalai Lama faced perhaps the perfect coda to a months-in-the-making trip that defining moment of his trip to Ann started innocently enough last fall with an invitation, Arbor: Could he answer four but which quickly grew in international importance unrehearsed questions posed by as events in his native Tibet unfolded. students at the School of Natural And what he came to say was this: If the planet Resources and Environment (SNRE)? is to be sustained, environmental education and As expected, his responses were thoughtful, personal responsibility will be key. “Taking care of heartfelt and right on the mark. The questions gave our planet environment is like taking care of our own His Holiness, a global spiritual leader whose teachings home,” he said. “We have a responsibility to take care and writings on the topic of sustainability are well- of the environment. It is our only home.”

14 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT “We have a responsibility to take care of the environment. It is our only home.”

& sustainability For SNRE and its Center for Sustainable Systems “Meeting him personally was a real honor. He’s (CSS), the idea to invite His Holiness to deliver the such a humble and warm leader,” said Keoleian. Added 8th Annual Wege Lecture turned out not only to be Bulkley: “Hearing him speak on sustainability and very appropriate but timely, too. After giving four share his insights on life and living had to be the most lectures over two days, His Holiness met in Ann memorable part of the week.” Arbor with the U.S. special envoy for Tibet to discuss “It was an overwhelming success from the Tibetan-China relations. center’s perspective,” added Keoleian, who along with The lecture presented CSS an opportunity to Bulkley, had a chance to meet and speak with His communicate its mission far and wide, said co- Holiness before the lecture. directors Jonathan W. Bulkley and Gregory A. Keoleian, In his 75-minute address, His Holiness raised adding that the lecture exceeded expectations. The environmental concerns across themes as varied lecture series is named after Peter M. Wege, the retired as population control and religious tolerance to vice-chairman of the board of Steelcase, Inc., in Grand consumerism and income disparity. He connected the Rapids, Mich (see related story, page 17). topics by emphasizing how the promotion of human

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values and religious harmony is needed After providing his answers, His adding that it can and should start small. in order to take care of humanity’s Holiness presided over a two-part ceremony: He conserves water by choosing showers “inner environments.” the awarding of the first Compassion in over baths and by turning off lights when “Even if the environment – the external Action Awards (created by Jewel Heart Ann leaving a room. “Even in small ways, make surroundings – [is] peaceful and beautiful, Arbor) and the presentation to him of a a contribution,” he said. “If we take care, unless [the] inner environment is fully taken book of poetry authored by K-12 students things can change.” The demands placed on care of, the external will not bring inner across Washtenaw County. The Compassion the earth by its population – 6 billion and peace,” he said. Awards recognized achievement by growing – raises the issue of population U-M students in the areas of control. “Therefore, [a] limited number of His Earth Day Reflections poverty, public health and people is a serious matter,” he said. lecture was the last of four environment. One of the consecutive sold-out Unlike other issues confronting award recipients was events April 19-20; the humanity, such as contending with Arie Jongejan, a student three teachings that “violence and bloodshed,” the environment at SNRE and the Ross preceded the lecture can be harder to see and define. “It’s School of Business. were coordinated by invisible. Year by year, it becomes warmer. He was honored for Jewel Heart Ann Arbor, When you start feeling [that], it may be his environmental a Tibetan too late,” he said. contributions. Buddhist temple. He recalled how his own Jongejan is interested In introducing environmental awakening occurred, in sustainable energy him, SNRE Dean Rosina M. spurred on by ecological issues in Tibet, strategies, Bierbaum selected the Dalai concerns about global warming and entrepreneurship Lama’s own words: “Because of the discussions with experts and and business development interdependent nature of everything, we scientists. “Then, I realize[d] around the issues of cannot hope to solve the multifarious the environment issue is so renewable energy and problems with a one-sided or self- important,” he said. clean technology. centered attitude. Our failures in the past As he did at the The lecture was recorded and archived are the result of ignorance of our own digitally, and can be viewed at teachings, His Holiness sat interdependent nature,” she quoted the www.SNRE.UMICH.EDU/DALAI_LAMA. in a brown chair at the center Dalai Lama as stating. of a stage surrounded by Tibetan “We try to imbue our students here at tapestry and wearing a red visor to protect Michigan with that understanding,” Dean his eyes from the stage lights above. Bierbaum continued in her own words. “As they go forth into the world, we hope they In response to one of the questions will share their compassion, their wisdom, from an SNRE student about how to and knowledge of how the resources of maintain hope as an advocate of change this precious planet can be preserved and amid the mounting environmental sustained. In doing so, they will spread a key challenges, His Holiness said the answer message of today’s distinguished guest.” partially resides in increased awareness through education, especially of children. he students’ questions addressed a “From kindergarten, the concept of range of topics: his thoughts on a dialogue about taking care of the maintaining hope in pursuing environment should be part of their environmental causes; the contrasts life,” he said. facing rich and poor nations; the ecosystem of the Himalayas near his own That concept of lifelong learning native home; and the role religious action extends into adulthood and applies to and thought plays in the struggle for political awareness as well. “If you have a conservation and sustainable societies. Green Party (in this country), I want to join,” “The questions really engaged him and he said to applause. allowed him to expound on his philosophies “This taking care of the environment of the environment,” Keoleian said. should be part of our daily life,” he said,

16 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT he Center for Sustainable Systems at the School of Natural Resources and Environment annually invites an internationally recognized leader to deliver the Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability. Established in 2001, the lecture series is named to honor Peter M. Wege (pictured at left), the retired vice-chairman of the board of Steelcase, Inc., in Grand Rapids, Mich. As founding chair of the Center’s External Advisory Board, his vision of sustainability and spirit of

– Photo courtesy of the Wege Foundation generosity guided the Center through its transition from the National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education, which was established at SNRE in October 1991. The Wege Lecture, one of U-M’s most visible annual events, is open to the public and the academic community. It addresses important sustainability challenges facing society such as energy security, global climate change, ecosystem degradation and sustainable development strategies – with a focus on improving the systems for meeting human needs in developed and developing countries.

First Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Oct. 17, 2001 “Environmental Challenges for the 21st Century – A Matter of Degrees” Rosina M. Bierbaum, dean, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan

Second Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Nov. 6, 2002 “Reflections on the Great Lakes” Joseph L. Sax, emeritus professor of environmental regulation, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Third Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, March 31, 2004 “Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems” Peter Newman, professor of city policy and director of the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia

Fourth Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Oct. 29, 2004 “Sustainable Development – A Global Perspective on Ecology, Economy and Equity” Gro Harlem Brundtland, thrice-former Prime Minister of Norway; recent Director-General of World Health Organization; Chair of United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development

Fifth Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Oct. 24, 2005 “Special Lecture on Global Climate Change” Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States

Sixth Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Nov. 14, 2006 “Sustainability: A Practical Agenda” Lord John Browne, group chief executive, BP

Seventh Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture, Nov. 13, 2007 “The Road to Sustainable Transportation” William Clay Ford, Jr., executive chairman, Ford Motor Co.

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On the eve of the 38th anniversary of Earth Day, a new online tool was rolled out to give educators, students and citizens everywhere the chance to test their “green IQ.” The “Sustainability: Learn It – Live It” tool was built by researchers at the Learn It, Live It Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS), an interdisciplinary research, education and outreach center of the School of Natural Resources and Environment. The launch of the “Learn It – Live It” tool builds on the most recent edition of the CSS Factsheet series. The 15, one-page documents – available as downloads through the CSS site – are researched by scientists but written for citizens, consumers, educators and advocates. They present brief but complete pictures of environmental issues as well as sustainable solutions and alternatives. “Current U.S. consumption patterns pose sustainability challenges. The ‘Learn It – Live It’ tool presents the hard science behind many of those sustainability questions in an accessible and engaging way,” said Gregory A. Keoleian, an associate professor at SNRE and CSS co-director. “The tool offers something for everyone, but is especially useful to educators and their students.” In the tool’s “Learn It” section, users learn facts about patterns of use and the resulting impacts on modern society. The facts are divided into eight themes: municipal solid waste, buildings, climate, water, energy, food, materials and transportation. In the quiz section, users test their grasp of the facts found on the Factsheet and “Learn It” sections of the CSS web site. In the “Live It” section, users learn specific behaviors to adopt in order to lower their environmental footprints and to save natural resources. The Factsheet topics are: greenhouse gases; climate change: policy and mitigation; climate change: science and impacts; U.S. energy system; U.S. food system; personal transportation; U.S. municipal solid waste; U.S. material use; photovoltaic energy; commercial buildings; residential buildings; U.S. renewable energy; wind energy; U.S. water supply and distribution; and U.S. wastewater treatment.

find the tool online: css.snre.umich.edu/facts

18 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Stewards RESEARCH

Residents believe that both federal and state governments have a responsibility to take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Three out of four residents in the auto- U.S. automotive industry and the nation’s highest industry-dominated state of Michigan would unemployment rate,” Rabe said. “Despite all Residents were evenly split be willing to pay for ways to increase the role of that, the residents support these changes and say between support and opposition for a renewable energy sources, a new University of they’re willing to help pay for them.’’ policy that would allow businesses to Michigan survey says. In fact, while the costs estimated to reduce buy and sell carbon permits. Many states have enacted policies that global warming vary, nearly half of Michigan They strongly support mandate increased use of renewable energy residents surveyed said they would be willing to government requirements for vehicle as well as other policies that could reduce pay more than $50 annually in order to produce manufacturers to increase the fuel greenhouse gas emissions. Michigan, however, more renewable energy. Most Michigan residents efficiency of their products. has been among the least active states, which support state requirements to increase the makes these latest findings surprising, said level of renewable energy in the state’s A substantial majority of Michigan Barry Rabe, a professor at the School of Natural electricity supply. residents support increased use of Resources and Environment and Gerald R. Ford Rabe co-authored the survey of 1,001 adults nuclear power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. School of Public Policy. with Christopher Borick, a professor of political “The strong support for better vehicle fuel- science at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. It Michigan residents strongly oppose efficiency standards and a willingness to pay is the first known survey of its kind to ask Michigan either a tax on gasoline or a broader for expanded renewable energy production are residents about global warming issues and climate carbon tax as a means of reducing surprising, considering Michigan is home of the policy options. – Jared Wadley fossil fuel consumption.

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy funded the survey.

Maybe when we were their age, we data combined with a survey of 186 parents walked five miles to school, rain or shine. of students in the 5th through 8th grades, So why don’t most children today walk or Kweon found that parents were most bike to school? It’s not necessarily because concerned about the speed and volume of they’re spoiled, lazy or over scheduled. traffic students encountered en route to According to a University of Michigan school, the possibility of crime and researcher, concerns about safety are the the weather. main reason that less than 13 percent of U.S. Kweon found that children use children walked or biked to school in 2004, sidewalks, not bike lanes, when they ride to compared to more than 50 percent who school. “Parents may be concerned about did so in 1969. “These concerns are the safety of bike lanes, and they may be strongly linked to the kind of physical telling their children to ride on the sidewalk environment children navigate between because it’s safer,” she said. “We may need home and school,” said Byoung-Suk Kweon, to rethink how to place bike lanes in school an environmental and landscape architecture walk zones.” researcher at the U-M Institute for Social By identifying environmental elements Research. “The greener the route, the more conducive to walking and biking to school, likely it is that children will walk and bike.” Kweon hopes her research may help She also is a research investigator and improve children’s physical health and adjunct assistant professor of Landscape reduce the incidence of childhood obesity, Architecture at SNRE. especially prevalent among minority Using geographic information system children. – Diane Swanbrow

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here were few signs in Mark Retzloff’s childhood that pointed to him becoming a national figure in the organic and natural foods industry. He and his three siblings had a more-or-less idyllic upbringing in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak. The family didn’t grow up on a farm or around animals, and environmental stewardship was not a regular topic of conversation around the dinner table. But once he arrived at the University of Michigan in 1966, and became an undergraduate at the School of Natural Resources, a metamorphosis occurred. A change in diet from typical Midwestern fare to macrobiotic (with its emphasis on grains and vegetables) led to a growing interest in farm-production practices, which led to greater environmental awareness. The growth of the counterculture movement then prevalent in Ann Arbor further nurtured his thinking. The seeds of those early beliefs – eating healthily, growing foods naturally and finding markets for them – became the roots of a nearly 40-year career in the organic and natural foods business. Today, Retzloff (SNR B.S. ’70) is chairman and co-founder of Aurora Organic Dairy and is recognized as one of the pioneers of the organic foods industry. The distinction comes from the unique way his career has evolved: from co-founder of a small natural foods co- op at U-M to co-founder of one of the country’s largest private-label organic dairy operations (Aurora Organic Dairy). Along the way, he founded national trade associations, grew several businesses into multi-million-dollar sales organizations and helped write the very Congressional law – the Organic Food Production Act – that governs the organic industry today.

by kevin merrill

20 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT aurora organic dairy and its products are helping to fuel the growth of the dairy component of the organic food industry. INdustry sales were $5 billion in 2000 and are projected to reach $33 billion in 2010.

“I like getting ideas going,” said Retzloff, matter-of-factly. As a result, he has played a significant role in fueling the organic foods industry from those days in 1969 when he walked across the Diag in search of a location for his co-op, Eden Foods (it eventually opened on Williams Street near State Street). Today, the industry is projected to have sales of nearly $33 billion by 2010, up from just over $5 billion in 2000, according to the Organic Trade Association. Still, the industry’s current $20 billion in sales is only 3 percent of total grocery industry sales of $575 billion. And of that $20 billion, only about 13 percent was dairy; more than half was breads, grains and produce. GIVING BACK Retzloff’s perspectives on the industry are so valuable that companies regularly invite him to serve on boards and “green” private-equity funds seek out his counsel. (He also serves on SNRE’s Visiting Committee, which contributes its expertise to Dean Rosina Bierbaum and the school’s leadership team.) Capitalizing on that experience, he was a co-founder of Greenmont Capital Partners in 2004, an equity venture fund focused on early-stage companies in the $500-billion Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability – or LOHAS – market. The term has come to describe the market for goods and services focused on health, the environment, clean technology and alternative energy, personal development and sustainable living. He serves as a board member for nearly two dozen companies, trade associations and centers, from Under the Canopy, an organic fiber and fashion company, to Traditional Medicinals, a manufacturer of herbal remedy teas. He shared his personal and business philosophies with current School of Natural Resources and Environment students during a February 2008 lecture at the Dana Building. Titled “Lessons of a Serial Entrepreneur,” the talk covered his investment and managerial

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interests and concluded with advice on becoming successful: walk It’s ironic then that Retzloff, who helped pioneer the industry your talk; listen to customers; focus on gross margin (the “key” to and has received adoration for his contributions, found himself profitability); stay focused (be a finisher, avoid distractions); and and his company under fire in October as the result of a complaint know yourself (don’t believe your press clippings.) filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by an activist nly weeks earlier, Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD) group alleging the company had violated organic food production announced a major initiative with SNRE’s Center for regulations. A still-pending lawsuit was subsequently filed against Sustainable Systems (CSS). The project’s goal is to Aurora Organic for allegedly failing to comply with federal organic measure and reduce Aurora Organic’s “carbon standards. The suit cited a USDA April 2007 notice alleging possible footprint” across its entire product lifecycle, from cattle violations of several federal production practices. In August 2007, feed to cartons in retail dairy cases. The research is believed to be Aurora Organic and the USDA entered into a consent agreement, the most comprehensive carbon which resolved the allegations raised in the emissions-reduction initiative April notice. Aurora Organic has denied undertaken in the organic dairy the allegations and vigorously defends industry and is funded with $350,000 the fact that its products have always from the newly established Aurora been certified organic by USDA-accredited Organic Dairy Foundation. certifying agents. CSS will conduct lifecycle and Retzloff cites the CSS carbon-footprint – Photos courtesy of Aurora Organic sustainability research at AOD’s project and his lifelong contributions to facilities, including its High Plains, the industry in refuting his critics. “We Colo., organic dairy farm and its know that livestock production casts a Coldwater organic dairy farms in long shadow in terms of its environmental Texas. The research initially will effects. Somebody has to step forward and focus on developing an energy and move that process forward, and we want carbon footprint model, creating a Aurora Organic to be in that leadership baseline against which AOD can make position,” he said. improvements in its sustainability ANN ARBOR ORIGINS performance. Aurora Organic will Awakened almost 40 years ago by use the project’s framework and a holistic need to be healthy physically, recommendations in pursuit of its spiritually and mentally, Retzloff and his goal of achieving a sustainable, newlywed wife starting adhering to a carbon-neutral organic dairy farming macrobiotic diet. Another married couple retzloff gives a lift to one of the company’s 10,500 working joined with them, and the four moved to and processing system for the inter- cows. Now the company chairman, Retzloff is looking to mountain west. spend more time as an investor and adviser. a farmhouse near Saline in order to grow their own food. “I became a very active “Aurora Organic Dairy is providing environmentalist at that time,” said Retzloff, who turns 60 in the Center for Sustainable Systems with an excellent opportunity September. “Going into organic foods made a lot of sense to us.” to apply our research expertise and address real challenges faced nable to find enough of the produce and grains they by organic agriculture producers,” said Gregory A. Keoleian, an wanted – the kind grown without chemical pesticides assistant professor at SNRE, CSS co-director and research team or fertilizers – led them to the idea of starting their own leader. “We’re grateful for this opportunity and look forward to business. The result was Eden Foods, a natural foods sharing our findings and recommendations with the organic co-op, which quickly evolved into a regular grocery agriculture community to help drive meaningful change in energy store. Retzloff and others continued to operate Eden after consumption and carbon-emission patterns resulting from graduating. His role was to reach out to Ann Arbor-area farmers and organic farming.” encourage them to grow products more naturally. (He remained a Four SNRE students recently arrived in Platteville, Colo., home partner in Eden Foods until 1973. By then, it had become a to an AOD dairy farm and processing plant to start the work. “We successful retailer, distributor and manufacturer of natural and intend to learn as much as we can about how to make organic organic foods.) agriculture even more sustainable,” Retzloff said. Less than a year after graduating in December 1970, he and his

22 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT wife moved to Seattle, where he became store manager at Erewhon etzloff was a founder and past president of the West, a natural foods and macrobiotic foods store. For the next 20 OTA, which today is the major membership-based years, Retzloff would be on the retail side of the organic industry, business association for the organic industry in bringing growers and consumers together, either as a manager, North America. In 2002, the association honored him president, partner or general manager. with its Outstanding Individual Achievement Award. The spiritual nature of his organic food interests was most William R. Knudsen, who was then OTA’s president, called evident in 1973, when he left Seattle to serve as director of business Retzloff a “catalyst [who] brought together the representatives of and productions of Divine Light Mission, a spiritual organization the leading companies in organic retailing, manufacturing, with offices in Denver that ran a grocery store as part of its distribution, and certification to debate the necessity and content outreach programs. of organic standards.” is retail career reached its zenith in 1990, when he From 1991-2002, Retzloff served Horizon Organic in a variety served as president, chief executive and chairman of of management roles. He was a board member when Dean Foods Alfalfa’s Markets, a leading natural foods retailer he acquired the company in 2002. Immediately, Retzloff again turned co-founded in Boulder, Colo., which Retzloff has called his entrepreneurial eye to the future. After a three-year non- home for 35 years. In compete agreement expired, he and longtime business partner opening the first Alfalfa’s store in Peperzak started Aurora 1978, he was also perfecting the Organic Dairy. concept store for the natural AOD is a leading producer foods industry, but he didn’t of private-label and store-brand realize it at the time. The store organic milk and butter. It is based became noted around Boulder in Boulder, and operates five and nationally for its offbeat and organic dairy farms in Colorado accommodating culture, hosting and Texas and an on-farm folk musicians on weekends and organic dairy processing plant encouraging community giving near Platteville. The company and environmental activism. The can’t divulge its customers, but culture at Alfalfa’s was so distinct chances are pretty good that that a Boulder-based band when a customer drinks milk Most of AOD’s Business is selling Organically produced milk to other companies, labeled organic from a major named “Leftover Salmon” wrote which then private-label it. but the company does produce several items under “When I grow up, I want to work its own label, such as high meadow organic butter. grocery store, it was produced and at Alfalfa’s” as a tribute to the processed by AOD. store’s atmosphere. Today, the company has about 10,500 milking cows and 3,800 While at Alfalfa’s, he and business partner Marc Peperzak acres of organic pasture. Another 120 family farmers support AOD came up with the idea of an organic dairy – a farm that would by contributing forages, feed and pasture. The company has about produce the milk using the best industry knowledge and practices 300 employees, including three full-time large-animal veterinarians then available. Retzloff left Alfalfa’s in 1990 to start Horizon Organic and a nutritionist. It also runs its own wastewater treatment facility Dairy. (Wild Oats Markets Inc., a national natural foods supermarket at the Platteville plant. chain, acquired Alfalfa’s Markets in 1996, and in August 2007, Whole “We believe that being a large-scale organic producer, we Foods Markets Inc. acquired Wild Oats.) can make a huge positive difference for animals, people and the planet,” Retzloff said. During this time, Retzloff became a leading advocate for federal legislation to bring clarity to then-fragmented state and Anticipating his next move, Retzl­off voluntarily relinquished industry organic standards. Through the Organic Trade Association the additional title of AOD president in February, but remains its (OTA), Retzloff and others lobbied Congress and the USDA for a law chairman. He plans to spend even more time as an investor – he that would put all organic producers on equal footing. The result was an early investor in Boulder-based Crocs Shoes – and adviser was the Organic Food Production Act of 1990, which led a few years to young companies with a “green” product or philosophy. later to the creation of the National Organic Program, which spells “Now, I just mentor and help,” Retzloff said. “I just enjoy out the rules behind the Act. watching things grow.”

www.snre.umich.edu STEWARDS > SPRING/SUMMER 2008 23 Stewards GIVING

To improve funding for graduate students, The Wyss Foundation chose the University of Michigan as its third partner (joining the U-M President Mary Sue Coleman is matching University of Montana and Yale University) in the prestigious Wyss Scholars Program for the every dollar donated to a special initiative with Conservation of the American West, which identifies and nurtures a generation of leaders on 50 cents. The goal of the “President’s Donor Western land conservation issues. The Wyss Scholars Program offers financial support for tuition, plus a stipend for a summer internship working on Western land conservation for Challenge” is to increase financial support either a nonprofit organization or a government agency. SNRE will receive $676,827 over five to graduate students at SNRE and across years, garnering an additional $338,413 in matching funds. the university. Peter (SNR B.S. ’74, M.B.A. ’81) and Carolyn Mertz pledged $250,000 to establish the At any given time, SNRE has more than Peter C. and Carolyn P. Mertz Graduate Award Fund, which receives an additional $125,000 350 enrolled students but less than $500,000 a in matching funds. The Mertz Graduate Award supports graduate students enrolled in the year is generated to support these students Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, a dual-degree program of SNRE and the Ross from endowed funds. A full graduate or School of Business. professional fellowship can cost $40,000 Tamara Reeme (SNR B.S. ’83) pledged $200,000 for the Tamara L. Reeme Scholarship to $50,000 annually. Therefore, individual Fund, which receives an additional $100,000 in matching funds. The Tamara L. Reeme endowments of $750,000 or more make the Scholarship assists students enrolled in the Behavior, Education and Communication field of most difference by funding a graduate student study or Environmental Policy and Planning field of study. for an academic year in perpetuity. Joel Heinen (SNR B.S. ’79, Ph.D. ’92) pledged $150,000 to establish the Joel T. Heinen All gifts up to $1 million are matched 1:2. Graduate Support Fund, which garners an additional $75,000 in matching funds. The Heinen The challenge began in September 2007 and Graduate Support Fund assists students engaged in conservation and resource management ends Dec. 31 or once $40 million in graduate research and pursuing conservation ecology, environmental policy and ecosystem student support is committed university-wide as management fields of study. part of the Michigan Difference Campaign. Mark Retzloff (SNR B.S. ’70) provided a $150,000 gift to establish the Retzloff Family SNRE wants to publicly acknowledge Graduate Fund, which receives an additional $75,000 in matching funds. The Retzloff Family and thank those individuals, corporations Graduate Fund supports students working with the school’s Center for Sustainable Systems. and foundations who have contributed to Robert (SNR B.S. ’58) and Jean Kirby pledged $100,000 to the Dean B. Gorham the growing success of the President’s Donor Fellowship Fund, which garners an additional $50,000 in matching funds. The Dean Gorham Challenge. At right are the 10 largest SNRE Fellowship, established in honor of longtime mentor and friend, Dean Gorham, helps recruit contributors to date to the Challenge. graduate students interested in ecosystem management. Marshall M. Weinberg (LSA A.B. ’50) pledged $100,000 to the Marshall Weinberg Endowed Fund for Summer Fellowships, which receives an additional $50,000 in matching funds. Weinberg Summer Fellowships provide opportunities for graduate students pursuing practical environmental fieldwork.

Gerald Wolberg (SNR B.S. ’57, M.B.A. ’58) pledged $50,000 to establish the Wolberg Family Graduate Grant Fund, which receives an additional $25,000 in matching funds. The Wolberg Grant Fund supports SNRE graduate students.

Burton V. (SNR B.S. ’52, M.F. ’53, Ph.D. ’59) and Lenora W. Barnes pledged $20,000 to the Endowed Scholarship in Forest Ecology, which receives an additional $10,000 in matching funds. The Forest Ecology Scholarship helps recruit graduate students interested in pursuing forest ecology and field studies.

Frederick (SNR M.L.A. ’78) and Helen Arbuckle provided $15,800 for the Fred and Helen Arbuckle Scholarship in Landscape Architecture, which receives an additional $8,000 in matching funds. The Arbuckle Scholarship supports students pursuing master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture.

24 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT The School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and the Law School are working to endow a graduate fund for students Class Notes enrolled in the schools’ dual-degree program. The Stewards plans to expand its Class Notes section in future issues. To do so, Joseph L. Sax Graduate and Professional Student we need your help. Please keep us in mind when it’s time to share news about Fund honors the career of Professor Sax, a world- your new positions or achievements with fellow alumni. We also welcome photos renowned environmental law expert. He taught (preferably color). Send your information to Erin Longchari, assistant director of at the University of Michigan from 1966-86. development and alumni relations, either via email ([email protected]) or through The schools already have an annual award regular mail. The address – in case you’ve forgotten – is SNRE, Dana Building, 440 named after Professor Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1041. We’re looking forward to hearing from you Sax that recognizes and spreading your good news. the program’s top graduating student. Professor Sax’s Kurt Byers (SNR, B.S. ’85) is in Portland, Ore. Notarianni (pictured, writings on the education services manager for Alaska bottom) told the Ann Arbor News: “It’s public trust doctrine Sea Grant in Fairbanks. Byers (pictured really exciting to be back at the market and “takings” have at right) oversees planning and guides that introduced me to locally grown frequently been cited by Alaska Sea Grant’s educational and food, and back in Michigan.” the U.S. Supreme Court communications Sarah Hines and remain definitive activities. During his (SNRE M.S. ’07, in the field. He is often called the “father” of final semester in Ann M.B.A. ’07) is environmental law and advocacy. Arbor, he received an a Presidential He developed the idea of citizen editorial internship at Management Fellow enforcement of environmental laws in his 1970 Michigan Sea Grant, with the U.S. Forest landmark book, Defending the Environment: and eventually was Service (Northeastern A Strategy for Citizen Action. He worked as a hired full time. In Area State & Private policy advocate and legislative draftsman to turn 1988, he accepted Forestry and Northern his current position this concept into practice in the “citizen suit” – Photo by Carol Warbelow Research Station). In provisions of several federal environmental laws and moved to Alaska. her position, she has and in the Michigan Environmental Protection Act, As president and co-founder of the focused on issues related to climate- popularly known as the “Sax Act.” University of Alaska Good Time Swing change mitigation and adaptation, and Dance Club and a founding member of A distinguished and honorary committee is the potential for private landowners to the Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks, leading the campaign to endow this fund by the end engage in emerging carbon markets Inc., he organizes and promotes swing of the Michigan Difference Campaign (Dec. 31, 2008). and greenhouse gas registries. She is and ballroom dances and lessons. Committee co-chairs are Bruce Babbitt, former a speaker at a June 23-25 conference Secretary of the Interior; Fred Krupp, president Sara Barth (SNRE, M.S. ’94) and sponsored by the Great Lakes Forest of the Environmental Defense Fund; and former Mark Zankel (SNRE M.S. ’94) returned Alliance, Inc., in Madison, Wis., titled: governor and first lady of Michigan, the Honorable to campus this spring and encouraged “Crisis Or Opportunity? Sustaining and William G. and Helen Milliken. current SNRE students to take seriously Strengthening Forest-Based Industries in the challenges that climate change the Great Lakes Region.” Donations are matched 1:2 by the U-M Office presents to land U.S. conservation of the President. The committee has set a goal policies and practices. They gave a joint of $500,000 over five years. Through this fund, lecture titled “Beyond Cap and Trade: the schools will recruit and support top students The Transformative Impact of Climate interested in environmental policy and law careers. Chance on Land Conservation in the Five students are currently pursuing J.D. and M.S. U.S.” Barth is regional director of The degrees through the program, established in 1974, Wilderness Society’s California/Nevada and both SNRE and the Law School hope to grow Region. Zankel is deputy director it further. The program encourages more-effective for The Nature Conservancy’s New integration of knowledge of natural resources and Hampshire Chapter. He also serves on environmental problems with the methodology and SNRE’s Visiting Committee. skills of the lawyer. Students generally complete Molly Notarianni (SNRE B.S. both degrees in four years. ’03) is the new manager of the Ann For more information, please contact Ann Arbor Farmers Market. After graduation, Boyd-Stewart, SNRE director of development she worked at a number of positions, and alumni relations, at 734.615.0315 or including on a farm in Tuscany, Italy, and – 2008, The Ann Arbor News. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission [email protected]. as a site manager for a farmers market

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26 SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT When Diane MacEachern (SNR, M.S. As co-founder and president of a ’77) chose Environmental Communications and communications company in Washington, Advocacy as her major in 1975, it was a match D.C., MacEachern worked with clients made in eco-heaven. including the World Bank, the United Nations For more than 30 years, MacEachern Development Programme, World Wildlife has written books, magazine articles Fund and the National Wildlife Federation, and newspaper columns on a range of among others. She also played a key role in environmental subjects while starting and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s leading a worldwide communications firm. campaign to educate the public about She returned to Ann Arbor this spring to sign global warming. For many years, she wrote copies of and talk about her latest book: Big a nationally syndicated weekly “Tips for Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create Planet Earth” column for The Washington a Cleaner, Greener World. – Photo by Randy Mascharka Post Writers Group. She answered readers’ questions on environmental topics. “After the last two presidential elections, the opportunity to use legislation to effect change has ground to After selling her company in 2001, she spent a few years looking a halt,” said MacEachern in a phone interview from her energy- at the marketplace and thinking about how to best use her interests in efficient home in suburban Washington. “We’ve really been playing advocacy, communications and environmentalism. The result was a defensive game as ‘industry’ has come into positions of power. But Big Green Purse, a web site and consulting company she launched on in the marketplace, things are moving like gangbusters. Companies Earth Day 2007 after about a year of planning. are tripping over themselves to compete for the honor of ‘greenest’ The site offers eco-lifestyle tips, shopping suggestions and an company. The marketplace is pulling industry in exactly the direction opportunity to join One in a Million, a campaign to encourage 1 million we want to go.” women to shift $1,000 of their household budgets to eco-friendly But why not title the book The Big Green Wallet? “Eighty-five cents products and services. Through her consulting, she works with of every dollar is spent by women,” she said. “I wanted to talk to the companies that want to meet higher environmental standards and person spending the most money, and that’s the female.” alert consumers to those higher standards. She said her own environmental awareness was nurtured in SNR The book’s message is simple but classes with professors Bunyan Bryant, James Crowfoot and Bobbi Low. revolutionary. If women change the way

While a student, she worked on Michigan’s bottle-return – Photo courtesy of bigreenpurse.com they spend their money, they can help bill campaign, which voters passed in November 1976. solve the environmental crisis – and She also volunteered for door-to-door canvassing protect themselves and their families. with the Michigan United Conservation Clubs To promote that change, the book and the Public Interest Research Group in offers steps to changing behaviors, Michigan. She later went to Washington and such as urging readers to look beyond a worked as a national coordinator on a bill to company’s marketing hype. get a national bottle-return bill passed. “Look to see who else is supporting Her previous books are Save Our their claims,” she said. “Does a third Planet: 750 Everyday Ways You Can Help party back them up? I encourage consumers to ignore marketing Clean Up the Earth and Beat High words like ‘green’ and ‘eco’ in favor of certifications from nonprofit Gas Prices Now! The Fastest, Easiest organizations or scientific groups that verify the companies’ claims.” Ways to Save $20-$50 Every Month on MacEachern doesn’t let her professional accomplishments get Gasoline. – Kevin Merrill in the way of her heart-to-heart conversation with readers. “I’m a suburban mom with a husband, two kids, a dog and two cats,” she read more: said. “I really identify with people who are reading this book. And I’ve www.biggreenpurse.com practiced every behavior I outline.”

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iTunes U. The service launched Current students use the same functions, in April at www.itunes.umich. but also can use NREeRecruiter to post resumes edu and already includes two and apply for jobs and internships. Employers This spring, the school presentations from the school’s use it to post jobs and internships, search launched a new quarterly Peter M. Wege lecture series: student resumes and set up on-campus visits. William Clay Ford’s address from email newsletter for alumni To register and use the site as an November 2007 and the April and friends: “Inside Dana.” alumnus, send an email to snre.erecruiter@ 2008 address by His Holiness the The newsletter shares the umich.edu and request a username and 14th Dalai Lama. latest news from our faculty password. In your request, specify your name and students; dates and In the familiar iTunes Store (first, last and maiden name if applicable) and times of upcoming events; format, visitors can find lists and success stories of of audio and video content. fellow alumni. If you want to subscribe, please Users select desired content by contact Sarah Jarzembowski in the school’s downloading the segments to their computers Office of Development and Alumni Relations or iPods. One big difference: the content is at 734.763.1577 or [email protected]. To view free. The service makes content available in audio and video formats. SNRE plans to place online, visit www.snre.umich.edu/alumni. more content on the iTunes U site while also increasing the amount of multimedia available at snre.umich.edu. Content from the University of Michigan, including the School of Natural Resources and More info: itunes.umich.edu Environment, is now available at Michigan

To better serve alumni (and current UM uniqname or student ID number. If you do students), the SNRE Career Services Office not remember your uniqname or student ID, go this fall launched NREeRecruiter, an online to accounts.www.umich.edu/create/alumnirec career services portal. to obtain this information. Alumni can use the site to create a In one or two business days, you job-search agent to receive customized job will receive an email with your username postings; view a career events calendar; and password. You can use it to log on and create a profile in order to search to NREeRecruiter and begin creating a other registered alumni for networking user profile. opportunities. They also can register to serve For more information, visit erecruiter. as career mentors to current students. snre.umich.edu.

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