David MacFarlane, a professor of measurements and modeling in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University, recently completed a six-month sabbatical that took him from the mangrove coasts of Mexico to the alpine forests of Italy. His journey was part of a Fulbright Global Scholar Award aimed at advancing an emerging global approach to forest management known as climate-smart forestry.

Climate-smart forestry integrates forest conservation, carbon storage and sustainable use of forest products to strengthen community resilience and combat climate change. For MacFarlane, the sabbatical was not only about research but also about building meaningful cross-cultural collaborations.

MacFarlane began his sabbatical in Mexico, where he had previously conducted research and leads an education abroad program. This time, he spent two months fully immersed — living in the community, setting up an office at a local institution and working closely with Mexican colleagues and students.