ESF Professor René Germain Receives National Award for Family Forest Education Through Landmark Watershed Program

10/27/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Oct. 29, 2026 – The forests that help protect the drinking water supply for more than 9 million New Yorkers have also served as a living classroom under the leadership of René Germain in partnership with the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) Forestry Program and New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

For his nearly three decades of pioneering work connecting family forest owners, students, educators, and natural resource professionals through the internationally recognized WAC’s New York City Watershed Model Forest Program, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) professor accepted the 2026 Family Forests Education Award, a national honor presented by the National Woodland Owners Association and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs. Germain, WAC and partners were recognized last week at the Society of American Foresters national convention. 

The Family Forests Education Award recognizes outstanding contributions to family forest education and outreach. Germain, a professor in ESF's Department of Sustainable Resources Management, and his partners, were honored for developing and managing the Model Forest Program, which has become a nationally recognized model for demonstrating sustainable forest stewardship, landowner engagement, and natural resource education. 

Established in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Frost Valley YMCA, 4-H Program, Green Chimneys, other nonprofit organizations, public agencies, forestry professionals, and private landowners, the program provides hands-on opportunities to explore forest management practices that support healthy ecosystems, clean water, wildlife habitat, and working forests. Through demonstration sites, research projects, workshops, field tours, and educational programming, the initiative has connected thousands of participants with the science and practice of sustainable forestry. 

“The New York City Watershed Model Forest Program demonstrates what is possible when science, education, and partnerships come together to create lasting benefits for both people and the environment.” said Germain. 

“René has built a nationally recognized model of forest stewardship by bringing together science, education, and partnership,” said Joanie Mahoney, president of ESF.  “This award celebrates René's lasting impact on our forests, our communities, and the future of environmental stewardship.”

The Model Forest Program serves as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom, supporting experiential learning for ESF students while advancing research and outreach that benefits family forest owners and communities throughout the region. The program has also attracted visitors from across the United States and around the world interested in its successful approach to forest stewardship and watershed protection. 

“René has made an extraordinary contribution to the forestry profession through his leadership, scholarship, and commitment to outreach,” said Chris Nowak, professor and chair of ESF's Department of Sustainable Resources Management. “The New York City Watershed Model Forest Program is recognized nationally because it bridges the gap between research and real-world application. René created a model that helps landowners make informed decisions while advancing sustainable forest management, water resource protection, and public understanding of forestry.” 

Throughout his career, Germain has advanced ESF’s mission through a combination of teaching, research, extension, and partnership-building. His work has strengthened connections among universities, government agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners while helping landowners make informed decisions that support both environmental and economic sustainability. 

“One of René’s greatest accomplishments is the way he has transformed forests into classrooms,” said Lindi Quackenbush, provost at ESF. “His work has provided generations of ESF students with hands-on learning opportunities while demonstrating the value of experiential education and public engagement. This award recognizes a career dedicated not only to advancing forestry, but also to preparing future environmental leaders.”

WAC’s New York City Watershed Model Forest Program is widely recognized for demonstrating how sustainable forest management can promote forest health, water quality protection, economic vitality, and public education. Its influence extends well beyond the watershed region, serving as a model for family forest education and stewardship efforts across the nation. 

About SUNY ESF    

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF’s Mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to Improve Our World. ESF’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF’s tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and has a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction.  To learn more, visit www.esf.edu.