In May, Class 40 attended the Forestry Issues Seminar in Colville. As sponsor and host, Boise Cascade Wood Products leveraged their resources and connections to provide the Class with an impactful experience.
Kevin Arneson (Class 22) and Bryan Reggear (Class 31), the Seminar Coordinators, crafted an agenda that demonstrated the complex realities of managing forests in Washington state. Field excursions brought class members to forestland managed by a small, private woodlands owner, large industrial timberlands, Washington State DNR, and the U.S. Forest Service. Participant’s gained perspective on the scope and scale of forestry operations, and an appreciation for the players’ unique land management priorities. The class also spoke with members of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition - an alliance of timber companies, conservationists, business owners, and forestry professionals - who are working to find common ground and move forward with new solutions to forest management problems.
What Class Participants are Saying:
- Before this seminar, I knew next to nothing about forestry. After the seminar, I feel adequately prepared to discuss the economic, environmental, social, and cultural significance of forests.
- There is no "one size fits all" approach to forest management. Being able to see the different forest management styles (Federal/State/Industrial/Small) drove home this message.
- Best field trips I've been on in years! Each stop was well-organized and focused. The diversity of land managers featured provided a powerful contrast.
- I gained an even greater appreciation that through collaboration great things can be done. The example of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition was inspiring. To see former foes sitting together and extolling the virtues of working together was a great lesson.
- Many of the issues we explored stemmed from different stakeholders fighting over the same resources. I came away from these discussion with the recognition that someone has to "go for it". Progress was eventually made by someone “sucking it up,” going to the other party, and deciding to lay it all out on the table.
- A few statements from the seminar have really stuck with me: “Start collaboration with your interests and not your position - then you have something to talk about" and "People don't care what you know until they know you care." These are good insights for dealing with adversarial situations.
- It struck me that it doesn't take leadership to defeat those who disagree with your position. It takes leadership to work with those who have differing views and to create solutions that benefit all in some capacity.
- I made some excellent connections during this seminar that I feel will build into great working relationships in the future. I am excited to use this opportunity to benefit my organization.
