College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Department of Natural Resource Sciences

Keith A. Blatner

Department Chair and Professor

Research Interests
  • The analysis of markets for timber and non-timber forest products under existing and potential future environmental, social and political constraints.
  • The changing role of non-industrial private forest landowners in the forest products sector of the Pacific Northwest and the application of collaborative learning as a mechanism for fostering more effective public involvement in the management of public forest lands.
Teaching /Professional Interests

Dr. Keith A. Blatner is Chair and Professor of forest economics in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University.  Keith joined the faculty in 1983 bringing with him previous professional experience in the midwest and southern United States.  During his tenure at Washington State University he has worked on a variety of research and consulting projects in the Pacific Northwest as well as in Russia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. In January 2001, Dr. Blatner assumed the role of Chair of the Department of Natural Resource Sciences.

Over the years Keith has been heavily involved in curriculum development in the department and coauthored a Journal of Forestry article outlining the structure of the department's integrated curriculum in 1993. He also coauthored several refereed articles in education journals in support of his teaching efforts. In addition, he has maintained an active outreach program having organized and/or participated in over 40 short courses for practicing professionals in the United States and in Asia with over 1,000 participants having attended these courses. He also organized two regional conferences in the Pacific Northwest during the 1990s -- the 1991 Western Forest Economists meeting held in Wemme, OR and Hybrid Poplars in the Pacific Northwest: Culture, Commerce and Capability held in Pasco, WA in 1999.

Keith also has a long history of professional involvement in the Society of American Foresters and the Forest Products Society having held a variety of regional and national positions within both societies. He served associate editor for economics and policy for the Canadian Journal of Forest Research from 1991 to 1994 and associate editor for the Western Journal of Applied Forestry  from 1993 through 1998. At present, he is the Editor of the Western Journal of Applied Forestry.

Educational Background
  • Ph.D. Forestry, 1983
    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Blacksburg, VA
  • M.S. Forestry, 1977
    Mississippi State University - Mississippi State, MS
  • B.S. Natural Resource Science, 1975
    Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Keith Blatner

Department of
Natural Resource Sciences
Washington State University
115 Johnson Hall
Pullman, WA 99164-6410

(509) 335-6166
blatner@wsu.edu

Department of Natural Resource Sciences, PO Box 646410, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6410, 509-335-6166, Contact Us