Q&A with ACR Hunter Parks Fellow, Kate Johnston

In 2023, ACR co-created the Hunter Parks Conservation Fellowship in partnership with Green Assets. The two-year Fellowship, which serves as a remembrance of Green Assets’ founder, is awarded to a recent forestry graduate on a competitive basis. The Fellow engages on a day-to-day basis with ACR forestry and carbon market experts to support the ongoing work to harness the power of carbon markets to conserve, sustainably manage and restore forestlands across the U.S.

In 2025, Kate Johnston became the second Hunter Parks Fellow, following the inaugural Fellow, Charlie Mize. The following interview was developed to introduce Kate to the ACR community:

How did you hear about the Hunter Parks Fellowship?

After completing my master’s degree, I was searching online looking for positions that fit my experience and passion. I knew I wanted to do something that made a difference for forests and conservation but was not sure exactly what it would be. Both of my parents were life-long Forest Service employees, so I assumed I might work there. Instead, a post about the Fellowship on a conservation job board led me to ACR. My background is in forest inventory and wildland fuels mapping, so it seemed like a great fit.

What were you doing before joining ACR?

I received my master’s degree at Colorado State in the Warner College of Natural Resources. I was working in the fire behavior and fuels laboratory under Dr. Chad Hoffman. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I thought my path would lead to wildlife biology, but I found a love for plants while working for the BLM in South Central Oregon as a rangeland technician. A primary part of that role was monitoring the recovery of burned areas, which is where I learned that fire and fuels were a passion. Plus, my fiancé is a smoke jumper.

What are you working on now?

As part of the technical team for forestry at ACR, my main role is reviewing projects, including materials from project developers and verifiers. I’m making sure they report in line with ACR methodologies and standards.

What’s been something surprising about your work with ACR?

When I joined the team in July 2025, I was concerned that the work would be redundant. I’ve been happily surprised to find that every project has something new. Different approaches to inventories and forest management, for example. And new tools being brought into the equation. It makes the work really interesting.

I also love seeing the impact that a project is making. It helps me bring the bigger picture – fighting climate change – into the work. It keeps things very engaging.

One of the cool things about this job at ACR is that everyone on the team has a slightly different background. Everyone brings something different to the table. It makes for a great team dynamic when we’re all together.

What do you like doing outside of work?

I love outdoor activities and I’ve taken up endurance sports. I signed up for a half Iron Man and a 30-kilometer trail run, plus another 50-kilometer run later in the fall. Basically, I do a lot of trail running and backpacking. In winter, skiing is my favorite thing of all times. I also have a couple of dogs who love to swim in the river.