Forests are carbon treasure chests and cultural anchors. In most cases, modern forest management is has sustained revenue maximization as its goal, often at the expense of the climate, biodiversity, recreation, personal restoration, and cultural vitality. Better practices are available that are not only healthier for the forest but also for the economies they are connected to.
Writings
News and commentary
Mills, E. 2026. "Forest restoration is an ecological and cultural act", Remarks for the gathering of 500-mile Spirit Runners, Jackson Demonstration State Forest, April 12 [PDF]
Mills, E. 2026. "This is our chance to transform how Cal Fire manages its forests", The Mercury News [PDF], March 15 (reprinted East Bay Times, Santa Cruz Sentinel, and Marin Journal Independent).
Mills, E. 2026. "A Mysterious History Trail", presentation about a trail in Jackson Demonstration State Forest that seems intended to showcase best practices, but achieves exactly the opposite [PDF]
Mills, E. and J.P. O'Brien. 2025. "Cal Fire’s forest management undermining California’s climate goals", Mercury News - September 13, 2025 [PDF] (reprinted in East Bay Times and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat)
Mills, E. and J.P. O'Brien. 2021. "Cal Fire, timber industry must face an inconvenient truth", (supplementary graphics here) - San Francisco Examiner - online September 17, 2021, print September 19 (pp 10-12) [online] [PDF]
Deeper reports
Mills, E. 2026. "Job-creation efficiency of conventional versus restoration-based forestry practices: Prospects for California's Demonstration State Forests", 18pp. [PDF]
Mills, E. and J.P. O'Brien. 2025. "Greenwashing in the redwoods: A critical look at Cal Fire’s management of Jackson Demonstration State Forest", 40pp [PDF]
Mills, E. 2023. "Harvesting private capital to restore rorests," Medium [PDF]
Mills, E. 2021. "California is pilfering its forest carbon treasure chest," Medium - September 17
Fried, J.S., M.S. Torn, and E. Mills. 2004. "The impact of climate change on wildfire severity: A regional forecast for Northern California," Lawrence Berkelely National Laboratory Technical Report53273. Climatic Change 64 (1-2): 169-191 [PDF]
Mills, E. 2002. "Climate change and wildfire severity in California," Environmental Energy Technologies Division News 3(1-2):4. LBNL/PUB-821
Torn, M., E. Mills, and J. Fried. 1998. "Will climate change spark more wildfire damages?" Contingencies: Journal of the American Academy of Actuaries, pp. 34-43 (July/August issue). LBNL-42592 [PDF]