James Savage

James Savage is a Professor in the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School, specializing in forestry, trail design, and environmental interpretation. He has been affiliated with ESF since at least 1990, holding licenses and certifications including NYS Licensed Guide (since 2009), Wilderness First Aid (2023), and Certified Forester (1995–2021). Savage has contributed to the Society of American Foresters as a Fellow since 2023 and serves on multiple boards, including the Adirondack Hamlets to Huts Board (President since 2022) and the Five Ponds Partners sub-committee (Founding Member since 2002).

His highest education includes an M.S. from SUNY-ESF in Silviculture (1990). Areas of study encompass Forestry, Trail Design, Interpretive Techniques, and Adirondack History. Courses he teaches highlight practical and cultural aspects of forestry, such as FTC 212 Adirondack Cultural Ecology, FTC 213 Forest Inventory Practicum, and FTC 236 Environmental Interpretation Principles & Techniques. His work integrates ecological and human dimensions, emphasizing sustainable trail systems and community-driven forest initiatives.

Research interests focus on forest technology education, Adirondack cultural landscapes, and applied forest management. Publications reflect this blend, with trail guides (e.g., Cranberry Lake 50 Pocket Guide), forest stewardship plans (James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest Plan), and presentations on educational history (2011 Society of American Foresters Convention). Recent works (2019–2023) highlight trail infrastructure and regional conservation efforts.

His professional awards include the Society of American Foresters Fellowship (2023), recognizing contributions to forestry practice and education. Savage’s service extends to economic development, such as the Clifton-Fine Economic Development Corporation’s Five Ponds Partners, and institutional governance via ESF’s Forest Properties Advisory Committee. He has also demonstrated leadership through roles like Immediate Past Chair of Five Ponds Partners and President of the Adirondack Hamlets to Huts Board.

No formal advisees (PhD/Master’s students) are listed, but his grants and collaborations are evident through publications like the 2007 Dubuar Memorial Forest Plan. He is associated with labs or teams such as the Five Ponds Partners, which focuses on trail development and regional economic ties in the Adirondacks.