Forests fuel clean water, wildlife habitat, and future energy solutions
Interview conducted by Greta Allen
Mississippians may not think of forests as fueling airplanes—but Dr. Courtney Siegert does. Her research supports clean drinking water, protects wildlife, and explores how trees and other bioenergy crops might one day replace jet fuel.
As an associate professor at Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Siegert studies how forests serve people. “Healthy water comes from healthy forests,” she says. Her work helps communities manage natural landscapes to ensure long-term access to clean drinking water—something that affects everyone.
Siegert’s current research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, examines how forest soils and water systems respond to bioenergy crops—plants that could be converted into fuel for jets. “I’m one part of a big team, but my role is to measure the ecosystem services these plants can provide,” she explains. That includes how they store carbon, manage water, and fit into working landscapes across the Southeast.
With a background in environmental studies and forest hydrology, Siegert has long been driven by a deep appreciation of the natural world. That passion now guides her role in a variety of projects, including the restoration of longleaf pine forests. These ecosystems once dominated the Southeastern U.S. and remain vital habitats for endangered species. Siegert’s research looks at how reestablishing these forests affects nutrient and water cycles.
She also collaborates with fellow MSU researchers, including Dr. Heidi Renninger, to explore woody bioenergy crops and how they might be part of a more sustainable future.
Across each project, Siegert is focused on what forests give us—whether that’s drinking water, carbon storage, or fuel for the skies. “Every study helps us understand these systems a little better,” she says.
From the ground beneath our feet to the air above us, Siegert’s work shows that smart forest management has ripple effects far beyond the tree line.
