Episode 55: Putting soil & plants to work

All around us, natural and working lands – from forests, to crops, to wetlands, and parks – are putting in work to benefit Oregonians.

Dig into natural and working lands and natural climate solutions on this episode of grounded. Guests: ODOE’s Elizabeth Ruther, Senior Natural & Working Lands Policy Analyst, and Jason Sauer, Natural & Working Lands Analyst

Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Resources Land-based Net Carbon Inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-Land-Based-Net-Carbon-Inventory-Report.pdf

Study on workforce development and training needs for natural climate solutions: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-NCS-Workforce-Needs-Report.pdf What are Natural Climate Solutions? What are Natural Climate Solutions?

DEQ's sector-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/Pages/GHG-Inventory.aspx DEQ's consumption-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Consumption-based-GHG.aspx

Natural and working lands fund report: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports/2025-Natural-Working-Lands-Annual-Fund-Report.pdf

Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/Pages/default.aspx

Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee: https://climate.oregon.gov/committee-meetings