Global Connections. Regional Roots. July 2018
To Create and Inspire Champions of Sustainable Forestry
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From Sara Wu, Interim Executive Director
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In Remembrance of Thomas Maness, Dean of the College of Forestry, OSU
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Over the years the World Forestry Center has enjoyed the participation and support of many professionals serving on our board of directors, who have volunteered their expertise and energy in service to our mission. The board of directors and staff of the World Forestry Center are deeply saddened by the passing of Thomas Maness, dean of the College of Forestry at Oregon State University (OSU). He served as a member of our board of directors from 2012-2016 and as an advisory board member until his passing.
Thomas most recently participated as a panelist at the World Forestry Center 's Who Will Own the Forest conference in September 2017, where he spoke about the ways in which OSU helps to train and prepare the future forestry workforce.
He was an energetic and inspiring figure, a friend, and colleague. We appreciate his many contributions to our work and to the community. He will be greatly missed.
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Opening of Discovery Museum Exhibition
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What’s Old is New Again
The incomparable beauty of wood from around the world is on display at our new exhibit. It showcases just a fraction of the hundreds of wooden plates created by James Porter Langdon, a woodcarver and retired forester.
Currently, 150 plates from the U.S. and elsewhere are on view, with common and scientific names for the species listed.
Mr. Langdon was born in Portland in 1906 and worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 30 years before he retired. He had a long history in natural resource management, working at the Columbia National Forest in Vancouver, the Mount Hood National Forest in Zigzag, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Mr. Langdon gifted his prized collection to the World Forestry Center only a few months before his passing in 1990.
We encourage you to see this elegant collection which marries the natural beauty of wood with artistic simplicity. It is a reminder that trees come in many variations of color, density, textures and languages, just as we humans do.
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Forestry Leadership Hall Spotlight
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In 1971, the World Forestry Center began a tradition of honoring those pioneers who have contributed significantly to the advancement of forestry.
This month we are honored to spotlight Aaron U. Jones (1921-2014) and the Seneca Family of Companies.
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Aaron Jones started Seneca Sawmill Company in 1953. He was an innovator. He developed an abiding and constant pursuit of perfection which led to his award of more than 25 patents in sawmill technologies that he developed in close teamwork and collaboration with management, operations and engineering.
Over time, Aaron began to expand Seneca into a family of companies. In 1992, Seneca Jones Timber Company was founded to manage a growing land base. Then, in 2009, Seneca Sustainable Energy was formed as a way to utilize scraps from the logging and milling process. The biomass plant now uses these residuals to produce both energy for local homes and steam for Seneca Sawmill’s dry kilns.
In the late 2000s, Aaron’s three daughters Becky Jones, Kathy Jones-McCann and Jody Jones began to take a more active role in the leadership of the company, and in 2011 they were contemplating a huge and strategic decision. A mill had come up for sale in the little town of Noti, located about 20 miles from Seneca Sawmill’s flagship location in Eugene, Oregon. It had great access to transportation, a well-trained workforce and was nestled at the foot of Oregon’s Coast Range which is one of the best Douglas fir growing regions in the country.
During this time, America was going through a housing crisis. Housing starts fell by 75%, hit a 50-year record low in 2009 and had yet to recover by 2011. It was a time when virtually every major western mill suffered curtailments and 30 mills closed permanently. Moreover, Seneca had just invested in the construction of their biomass plant through the procurement of loans and an outlay of cash for a combined total of over $60 million. The construction was nearing completion and no revenue had been realized from the project when they learned of the opportunity to purchase the mill in Noti.
Instead of allowing these barriers to get in their way, they approached the dilemma with a unique perspective. They relied on the wisdom and values they had acquired over a lifetime, in partnership with a trusted team of advisors from within Seneca who had each spent their lifetimes in the industry, to make their decision. They focused on a timeline that spanned decades as opposed to adhering to annual or even quarterly goals.
In a bold and strategic move, the sisters decided to purchase the mill.
Upon acquiring the Noti mill, they began to revamp it by improving and upgrading existing machinery, while incorporating innovative employee ideas to increase production and enhance product quality. The lumber coming out of that mill went through an incredible metamorphosis, and customers were noticing. It is now sold under the Seneca Noti brand name. The decision to acquire the facility was undeniably a boon for the company.
Adhering to their culture of innovation, Seneca embarked on another massive upgrade project of their facility in 2014 to make it more efficient as well as to meet the market demands by adding more kilns to offer more dry dimension lumber. “The flexibility to match market demands between green and dry provides us a very competitive advantage going forward.” said Becky.
In their pursuit of constantly innovating and thinking about the future, Becky, Kathy and Jody are starting to embrace the next generation of the Jones family to foster among them a greater understanding of their companies, the industry and, above all, Seneca’s core values. They now have family meetings that include both structured education as well as some more relaxed time spent as a family in the woods, rafting down a river or some other pursuit out in nature.
At Seneca, the future is limitless. They have a solid foundation based on their history, principles and values and well as a drive to innovate and create their own future.
Article contributed by:
Casey Roscoe, Senior Vice President, Public Relations, Seneca
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We invite you to visit the Forestry Leadership Hall located on the second floor of the Discovery Museum. For more information
click here
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World Forest Institute News and Updates
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The WFI International Fellows Visit
Port Blakely
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The World Forest Institute (WFI) International Fellows’ schedule has been jam-packed with interesting and educational activities since arriving in early April, including weekly tours to local forestry-related businesses and sites of interest. One of the first tours for the Fellows was to Port Blakely located in Molalla, Oregon.
Port Blakely is a family-owned company dating back five generations that grows and markets renewable forest products around the globe, operating three divisions: US Forestry, NZ Forestry, and PLS International. Guided by the principle that tomorrow comes first, they take great care in advancing the ideals and best practices of good corporate and environmental stewardship.
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Port Blakely encourages responsible forest management embracing all aspects of forest certification. They support landowners that have achieved the following certifications: Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), and American Tree Farm System (ATFS). They support an improved style of forest management that maximizes the ability of each tree to sequester harmful carbon from the environment.
The highlight of the visit was seeing Port Blakely’s Environmental Education Program in action as they accompanied Environmental Educator, Bonny Glendenning, as she led a classroom through the forest. More than 87,000 Washington and Oregon schoolchildren, grades 3 to 6, have participated in this program through classroom study and field trips discovering firsthand the benefits of a working forest in a fun, safe environment.
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We thank Port Blakely and Chairman and CEO René Ancinas for inviting us to visit and experience best practices of environmental stewardship in action.
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Now Accepting Applications for the 2019 World Forest Institute International Fellowship Program
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The award-winning WFI Fellowship program brings natural resource professionals from around the world to our World Forestry Center headquarters in Portland, Oregon, USA.
The Fellowship is a six-month professional development program designed to help you take your career to the next level. You will join a global cohort of professionals in weekly study tours around the Pacific Northwest learning how natural resources are managed in this part of the world. We are looking for motivated professionals who want to explore, expand their knowledge and networks, and engage with others in forestry. Fellowships are open to any country, including U.S. citizens.
There is one scholarship available for an outstanding candidate for the 2019 program!
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Watch the video to hear and see more about the program from past fellows and the program manager, Shadia Duery.
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8th Annual Forest Products Forum
"Stampede to the South"
September 25, from 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center
Come join us for our 8th Annual Forest Products Forum—the premier conference featuring forward-looking analysis of the wood products, timber and wood biomass sectors.
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September 25-27, from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
World Forestry Center
Institutional investors have been allocating part of their portfolios to timberland as they seek diversification from bond or equity markets, and inflation protection. This 2½ day conference covers issues pertaining to the economy, forestland valuations, investing overseas, regulatory, tax and lending drivers, and emerging values such as carbon, biomass, and environmental credits.
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October 14 from 1:00-4:00 pm
Miller Hall, World Forestry Center
The World Forestry Center and Society of American Foresters invite you to join us for the 2018 Hagenstein Lectures.
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The Hagenstein Lectures brings together influential young urban professionals who are deeply concerned about the future of the world’s forests with fascinating, forward-thinking guest speakers (under the age 45) who are working on the ground in forests around the world. By combining their “Emerging Voices,” we intend to create a robust and ongoing local-global conversation about real opportunities to advance sustainable forestry in the 21st century. The Hagenstein Lectures are intended to be a catalyst for action.
This event is FREE, registration coming soon,
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Hold Your Next Event at
Magness Memorial Tree Farm
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Tucked away in the Chehalam Mountains of the Willamette Valley, Magness Memorial Tree Farm is private property owned and operated by the World Forestry Center and is the perfect place for your next business meeting or social event. From board meetings, to team building adventures, to family gatherings, Magness offers a quiet and serene setting you and your guests are sure to enjoy.
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For more information about the World Forestry Center, please contact
Wendy Mitchell, Development and Community Relations Director
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