Cemetery Soil Science: Managing Ecosystems from the Ground Up

Part of the Monthly Free Webinar series hosted by the Green Burial Council Soil is the foundation of every managed ecosystem and cemeteries are no exception. In natural and green burial grounds, soil is the primary infrastructure of all green cemeteries. We'll explore how soil science informs cemetery assessment, design and management. Topics include site assessment and suitability, burial depth considerations, botanical and forestry planning, species selection, and the chemistry of cremated remains. Participants will gain practical insight into how thoughtful soil stewardship supports both ecological integrity and the long-term success of natural cemeteries. Featured Speaker: Michael J. Furniss Michael is a wildland soil scientist who recently retired from the research branch of the Forest Service. He teaches and has consulted on climate change vulnerability and ecological approaches to forest management, both regionally, nationally, and internationally throughout South America, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Michael is an expert in natural and green cemetery development and cemetery forestry. Other areas of expertise include the climate vulnerability of infrastructure and has conducted large-scale infrastructure vulnerability assessments on public lands in 11 western states and internationally. He is obsessed with cultivating communities of practice and effective communication to make a better world. He is chairman and longtime member of Arcata’s Forest Management Committee, which governs Arcata’s Community Forest, and a longtime board member of the Smith River Alliance. He holds a B.S. in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.S. in Soil Science with a Forest Watershed Management Emphasis from the University of California at Berkeley.