The Institute for Innovative Climate Solutions at the University of Idaho is working to help rural communities, forests, and farms in the Inland Northwest become more resilient to climate change. The region’s forests and farmland provide essential benefits like clean water, food, wildlife habitat, and recreation. But these resources are at risk from a changing climate.

To protect these natural benefits, the institute is developing and testing new tools and practices that can store more carbon in soils and forests, support local economies, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This includes studying how a deep-rooted grain called Kernza and a material called biochar (produced by heating wood in the absence of oxygen) can enhance soil health and sequester carbon. The institute is also helping to bring these climate-smart solutions to market, such as utilizing timber waste to create building materials and supporting training programs for students and workers in rural and tribal communities.

By partnering with farmers, tribal nations, scientists, and conservation groups, the institute is building solutions that help both people and the planet. Their goal is to make sure the land continues to provide food, jobs, and a healthy environment for future generations.