South Tahoe High School seniors Emily Barnett and Tyler Myers are going to Russia to present their field research project “The Effects of Fire and Forest Thinning on the Biodiversity of Understory Plants in the Lake Tahoe Basin” at the 9th annual International Junior Foresters’ Competition.

Their project was selected by the U.S. Forest Service International Programs office in Washington, D.C., to represent the United States.

The competition is in Moscow Sept. 12-14.

This annual event brings together youth from nations around the world to promote and reward young scientists for their interest and efforts in the environmental field and encourage international dialogue concerning forestry issues.

This year, 60 students from 32 countries will be competing. An international panel of 15 forestry experts will judge the students’ projects. This is the first time the United States will attend the competition.

Barnett and Myers’ project grew out of their participation in the Generation Green Program, a student club advised by teacher Maria Luquin and the Forest Service’ Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit’s Conservation Education Specialist, Joy Barney. Through this program, they learned of a summer internship opportunity with the LTBMU, and in 2011 worked as members of the Youth Conservation Corps. The internship motivated them to assume the leadership of the Generation Green Club during the 2011-12 school year.