Sophie Gilbert
@sophielgilbert.bsky.social
Scientist working to better value and incorporate nature into our decisions. Climate, Biodiversity, Equity, let's do this! Biodiversity lead at Vibrant Planet, Affiliate faculty at U. Idaho.
Aaaand... because I'm obsessed... we need real, high-integrity permitting reform so we can do more good things! Even playing on "easy mode", when fuel mitigation projects qualify for categorical exemptions, it takes YEARS
September 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Aaaand... because I'm obsessed... we need real, high-integrity permitting reform so we can do more good things! Even playing on "easy mode", when fuel mitigation projects qualify for categorical exemptions, it takes YEARS
Feeling excited about the Cheap Energy Act, just introduced by @levin.house.gov and @seancasten.bsky.social in the U.S. House... lots to like in here for people and climate. Now let's make sure biodiversity/nature comes along for the ride with #AbundantNature win-wins!
September 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Feeling excited about the Cheap Energy Act, just introduced by @levin.house.gov and @seancasten.bsky.social in the U.S. House... lots to like in here for people and climate. Now let's make sure biodiversity/nature comes along for the ride with #AbundantNature win-wins!
Treatments generate more durable carbon... despite intentional biomass removal, carbon in ~75% of treated forests matched or exceeded baseline levels by year seven, with an average increase of 12.8 ± 4.7 Mg C ha−1.. Can carbon storage payments (credits, etc.) be part of the financing solution?
September 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Treatments generate more durable carbon... despite intentional biomass removal, carbon in ~75% of treated forests matched or exceeded baseline levels by year seven, with an average increase of 12.8 ± 4.7 Mg C ha−1.. Can carbon storage payments (credits, etc.) be part of the financing solution?
Larger treatments were more likely to occur around the perimeters of fires, rather than being fully consumed (top R). Severity significantly dropped with an additional surface reduction treatment (bottom L). AND treatments stored more carbon following fire (bottom R)!
September 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Larger treatments were more likely to occur around the perimeters of fires, rather than being fully consumed (top R). Severity significantly dropped with an additional surface reduction treatment (bottom L). AND treatments stored more carbon following fire (bottom R)!
Despite similar trajectories of carbon loss across severity classes (bottom), treatments have improved carbon responses to fire (middle), due to less high severity fire. There was no difference in total carbon storage by 2023 despite treatments removing carbon in 2016 and re-entry treatments.
September 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Despite similar trajectories of carbon loss across severity classes (bottom), treatments have improved carbon responses to fire (middle), due to less high severity fire. There was no difference in total carbon storage by 2023 despite treatments removing carbon in 2016 and re-entry treatments.
We used "dynamic baselining," a procedure to generate realistic matched polygons that were NOT treated, but otherwise very similar to polygons that WERE treated...
September 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
We used "dynamic baselining," a procedure to generate realistic matched polygons that were NOT treated, but otherwise very similar to polygons that WERE treated...
Our new paper shows that in dry western conifer forests, treatments are extremely effective, reducing average fire severity by 32% and the prevalence of high-severity fire (measured by composite burn index) by 88%.
September 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Our new paper shows that in dry western conifer forests, treatments are extremely effective, reducing average fire severity by 32% and the prevalence of high-severity fire (measured by composite burn index) by 88%.
Anyone remember how much fire season sucked in 2020/2021?? They also found another 2-4X predicted increase in fire size and severity by mid-century, given expected increases in aridity... and those conditions match 2020/2021. Our "new normal" will not be fun.🧪🔥 #GreenSky
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Anyone remember how much fire season sucked in 2020/2021?? They also found another 2-4X predicted increase in fire size and severity by mid-century, given expected increases in aridity... and those conditions match 2020/2021. Our "new normal" will not be fun.🧪🔥 #GreenSky
The increase in aridity-driven fire area burned and severity held across fire regime groups (e.g., different types of forests with different species, climate conditions, and resulting fire return intervals and severities)
August 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The increase in aridity-driven fire area burned and severity held across fire regime groups (e.g., different types of forests with different species, climate conditions, and resulting fire return intervals and severities)
How can we find win-wins for solar siting in agricultural land? Substitute solar for corn headed to ethanol production, especially where runoff from corn fertilizer contaminates waterways: www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
April 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
How can we find win-wins for solar siting in agricultural land? Substitute solar for corn headed to ethanol production, especially where runoff from corn fertilizer contaminates waterways: www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
Somebody should tell them that fire season has already started...
April 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Somebody should tell them that fire season has already started...
Here is a really, really, really full lion. That is all.
April 9, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Here is a really, really, really full lion. That is all.
Same thing has happened for wolves, which are a huge success story for the ESA. Many lawsuits to block de-listing, with the goal of a) not allowing wolf hunting, and b) honestly, fundraising, I think? Spoiler: there are a lot more than 150 wolves in Idaho today.
April 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Same thing has happened for wolves, which are a huge success story for the ESA. Many lawsuits to block de-listing, with the goal of a) not allowing wolf hunting, and b) honestly, fundraising, I think? Spoiler: there are a lot more than 150 wolves in Idaho today.
Now, I am a big fan of carnivores and their ability to regulate ecosystems via predation- plus they are just awesome! But think about how this looks and feels to somebody on the other side, who is worried about g-bear impacts to livelihood, etc.
April 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Now, I am a big fan of carnivores and their ability to regulate ecosystems via predation- plus they are just awesome! But think about how this looks and feels to somebody on the other side, who is worried about g-bear impacts to livelihood, etc.
Are we really going to blow up our climate goals so that we can watch "AI agents" (robots) influence, brand, and sell things none of us need on social media? WHY?
February 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Are we really going to blow up our climate goals so that we can watch "AI agents" (robots) influence, brand, and sell things none of us need on social media? WHY?
Great new paper (pre-print) by Sasha Luccioni et al. on the many issues with sustainability claims of generative AI:
"This paper examines how the problem of Jevons’ Paradox applies to AI, whereby efficiency gains may paradoxically spur increased consumption."
arxiv.org/pdf/2501.16548
"This paper examines how the problem of Jevons’ Paradox applies to AI, whereby efficiency gains may paradoxically spur increased consumption."
arxiv.org/pdf/2501.16548
January 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Great new paper (pre-print) by Sasha Luccioni et al. on the many issues with sustainability claims of generative AI:
"This paper examines how the problem of Jevons’ Paradox applies to AI, whereby efficiency gains may paradoxically spur increased consumption."
arxiv.org/pdf/2501.16548
"This paper examines how the problem of Jevons’ Paradox applies to AI, whereby efficiency gains may paradoxically spur increased consumption."
arxiv.org/pdf/2501.16548
Wow, just found an absolute TREASURE TROVE of snarky AI cartoons at marketoonist.com?s=ai, by @marketoonist.bsky.social. Are we still allowed to LOL-Sob in 2025? 😂😭
January 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Wow, just found an absolute TREASURE TROVE of snarky AI cartoons at marketoonist.com?s=ai, by @marketoonist.bsky.social. Are we still allowed to LOL-Sob in 2025? 😂😭
Some data, for context: here are some 2023 maps of annual wildfire hazard (burn probability) and risk to structures (from wildfirerisk.org/explore), and then the 2022 insurance non-renewal rate. Insurers know about risk, it is the core of their business model.
January 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Some data, for context: here are some 2023 maps of annual wildfire hazard (burn probability) and risk to structures (from wildfirerisk.org/explore), and then the 2022 insurance non-renewal rate. Insurers know about risk, it is the core of their business model.
Great quote from @michaelwara.bsky.social about downstream housing markets effects if insurance fails:
laist.com/news/climate...
laist.com/news/climate...
January 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Great quote from @michaelwara.bsky.social about downstream housing markets effects if insurance fails:
laist.com/news/climate...
laist.com/news/climate...
For any PhDs thinking of transitioning out of traditional academia where the beans that get counted are high-impact, numerous pubs... just know that you have so many other skills that are highly valuable in other spaces! 🧪
December 14, 2024 at 10:15 PM
For any PhDs thinking of transitioning out of traditional academia where the beans that get counted are high-impact, numerous pubs... just know that you have so many other skills that are highly valuable in other spaces! 🧪
My holiday 📚reading list:
The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Forest, by Alexander Nemerov
Sacred Nature, by Karen Armstrong
Search, by Michelle Hunevan
The Light Eaters, by Zoe Schlanger
Home, by Marilynne Robinson
Obviously some trends in here 👵🌲🦋
what else should be on my list!?
The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Forest, by Alexander Nemerov
Sacred Nature, by Karen Armstrong
Search, by Michelle Hunevan
The Light Eaters, by Zoe Schlanger
Home, by Marilynne Robinson
Obviously some trends in here 👵🌲🦋
what else should be on my list!?
December 14, 2024 at 9:58 PM
My holiday 📚reading list:
The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Forest, by Alexander Nemerov
Sacred Nature, by Karen Armstrong
Search, by Michelle Hunevan
The Light Eaters, by Zoe Schlanger
Home, by Marilynne Robinson
Obviously some trends in here 👵🌲🦋
what else should be on my list!?
The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Forest, by Alexander Nemerov
Sacred Nature, by Karen Armstrong
Search, by Michelle Hunevan
The Light Eaters, by Zoe Schlanger
Home, by Marilynne Robinson
Obviously some trends in here 👵🌲🦋
what else should be on my list!?
Just in case you needed something to look forward to, fawn season* is coming!
*Late May-June here in the Northwest. Timing varies a lot across regions!
*Late May-June here in the Northwest. Timing varies a lot across regions!
March 8, 2024 at 12:14 AM
Just in case you needed something to look forward to, fawn season* is coming!
*Late May-June here in the Northwest. Timing varies a lot across regions!
*Late May-June here in the Northwest. Timing varies a lot across regions!
Happy Valen-tines day!
Photo credit: Kris Larsen
Critter: Sitka black-tailed deer, my favorite
🧪🦌😍
Photo credit: Kris Larsen
Critter: Sitka black-tailed deer, my favorite
🧪🦌😍
February 13, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Happy Valen-tines day!
Photo credit: Kris Larsen
Critter: Sitka black-tailed deer, my favorite
🧪🦌😍
Photo credit: Kris Larsen
Critter: Sitka black-tailed deer, my favorite
🧪🦌😍
🏡 1. Congress creating funded policies for home-hardening, in collaboration with existing agency efforts.
January 29, 2024 at 8:48 PM
🏡 1. Congress creating funded policies for home-hardening, in collaboration with existing agency efforts.
Posting this "just pikas" I can
December 13, 2023 at 7:13 PM
Posting this "just pikas" I can