Robert C. Abt

Dr. Abt is Carl Alwyn Schenck professor emeritus in the College of Natural Resources at NC State University where he teaches natural resource management and forest economics. He has 25 years of experience in bio-economic modeling of southern forest resources and markets. Interest in use of the modeling framework for strategic planning led to the formation of the Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC) at NC State. SOFAC is a consortium of over 25 forest resource dependent entities including most of the major wood consumers and corporate landowners (TIMOs and REITs) in the South. In the last decade, he has focused on the potential impact of bio-energy demand on the sustainability of the resource and traditional wood dependent industries. Dr. Abt has provided consultation on this topic to the National Academy of Sciences, EPA Science Advisory Boards, Department of Energy and the USDA Forest Service. Non-governmental consultations include the Packard Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Southern Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense Fund, Pinchot Institute, Heinz Center, Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Duke University Climate Change Partnership.