Wood as a superpower

In February 2025, Virginia Tech launched a yearlong celebration of 100 years of forestry education, research, and outreach — marking a century since J. Wilbur O’Byrne became the university’s first forester.

To honor this milestone and John F. Hosner’s legacy, the College of Natural Resources and Environment hosted the inaugural Dr. John F. Hosner Distinguished Lecture on Feb. 25, 2025 — what would have been his 100th birthday.

Katherine “Katie” Fernholz, president and CEO of Dovetail Partners, delivered the lecture, emphasizing how forests and circular economies support a sustainable future. She emphasized a forest’s role in circular economies — from biodiversity to carbon storage — that benefit people and the planet.

“Forests are resilient, forgiving. They invite us to care, to connect,” she said.

Fernholz called for global-local collaboration in forest management and highlighted mass timber, biomass energy, and wood reuse as keys to building circular economies. In the U.S., especially in Eastern states, forests are regrowing — and markets are helping them thrive.

She mentioned the shift from wasteful practices to nearly total utilization of harvested wood, enabled by innovation and cascading markets.

With 28 years in forestry, Fernholz called for cross- disciplinary partnerships — from engineers to city planners — to protect forests and steward their many benefits. Her message: Local action and shared responsibility can be a maintainable future.

“Wood stores carbon, creates jobs, builds homes, and has cultural significance,” Fernholz said. “Mass timber is revolutionizing construction. The UK, for example, is moving away from coal and using biomass — much of it is wood from the U.S. — as part of its energy mix.”

Hosner’s legacy was clear throughout the event. His passion for forestry and dedication to education continue to inspire future generations.