David Kittredge, faculty member in the Department of Natural Resources Conservation, was appointed on 2 June by Governor Deval Patrick to the state’s Commission on Financing Forest Conservation. This commission was created by legislation to study innovative methods for funding the conservation of forested wildlands and woodlands in the Commonwealth. Roughly 70% of all the state’s forestlands are privately held, and a variety of finance methods will be explored that may underwrite conservation and ensure the continuance of public ecosystem benefits from these private lands.