OFRI eNews: February 2019
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The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) has a very diverse set of stakeholders, including landowners, wood products manufacturers, foresters, educators, partner organizations, a variety of federal, state and local officials, architects, construction firms… and the list goes on.
After meeting with all these stakeholders during my first few months as executive director, I can say with certainty that there is one OFRI publication that everyone requests:
Oregon Forest Facts
. In fact, many people I met pulled out a well-worn copy of the pocket-size booklet just to show how much it is used.
Oregon Forest Facts
is published every two years with the latest facts on Oregon’s forests and their social, environmental and economic impact. Now I’m happy to say: The wait is over! We’ve released
Oregon Forest Facts 2019-2020 Edition
. You can either order a free copy from our website, or if you need to get your hands on it right away, you can download a
PDF
version, as well as check out
OregonForestFacts.org
.
I hope you enjoy
Oregon Forest Facts 2019-2020 Edition
; I know we already have another bestseller!
For the forest,
Erin Isselmann
Executive Director
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Lectures highlight tribal forestry
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Two upcoming public lectures hosted by the Oregon State University College of Forestry will focus on tribal forestry.
The free events on March 6 and April 10 are part of the 2019
Starker Lecture Series
, which highlights topics such as indigenous forest and subsistence practices, and the history and future of tribal forestry in Oregon. Both lectures start at 3:30 p.m. at the
LaSells Stewart Center
on the OSU campus in Corvallis, and will be followed by receptions.
The March 6
lecture
, “First Foods Management Approach of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,” will be given by Eric Quaempts, director of the Department of Natural Resources at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Don Ivy, tribal council chief of the Coquille Indian Tribe, and Darin Jarnaghan, the tribe’s natural resources director, will present the April 10 lecture, titled “Coquille Tribal Forestry: Seeing the Forest through a Cultural Lens.”
The 2019 Starker Lecture Series culminates May 30 with a field trip to the Siletz Indian Reservation, where participants will receive a firsthand look at active forest management for a variety of cultural and economic benefits.
Registration
is required for the field trip, and space is limited.
The lecture series is sponsored by the Starker family in memory of T.J. and Bruce Starker, founders of the Corvallis-based company
Starker Forests
. The series is also supported by the OSU College of Forestry and OFRI.
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Isselmann to address logging conference
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OFRI Executive Director Erin Isselmann will join Oregon State University College of Forestry Interim Dean Anthony Davis as guest speakers at the 81st Annual
Oregon Logging Conference
later this month in Eugene.
Talks by Isselmann and Davis on the morning of Feb. 21 will lead off the three-day event, which continues through Feb. 23 at the
Lane Events Center
. Both guest speakers plan to address the theme of this year’s conference, “Building Products for Building Futures.” Davis will discuss the decision to use locally produced wood products to construct the
Oregon Forest Science Complex
, the new home for the OSU College of Forestry in Corvallis, and how that ties into the institution’s dedication to improving the health of forest landscapes and ecosystems. Isselmann will focus her presentation on OFRI’s educational programs, particularly for
K-12 students
, which help shape the future of forestry.
Isselmann and Davis will be among more than 20 speakers at the conference, which will also feature an indoor and outdoor equipment show with nearly 325 exhibitors showcasing the latest in logging, forestry and sawmill technology. Other planned conference activities include a “Future Forestry Workers Career Day” on Feb. 22, where 750 high school students from throughout Oregon will have the opportunity to explore employment opportunities in the natural resources sector.
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Topic guide spotlights forest carbon
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A new OFRI-produced topic guide highlights a key benefit of the forests that cover nearly half of Oregon: their ability to store atmospheric carbon in growing trees and the wood they produce.
The two-sided
Carbon and Forestry Topic Guide
explains the role forests play in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing the presence of the greenhouse gas that’s a major contributor to global warming. Topics covered in the guide include ways to enhance a forest’s natural ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon, and how carbon removed from the atmosphere by trees can remain locked away for decades in wood products.
The new topic guide, which includes cited sources, is part of a series OFRI is developing to help Oregonians gain a better understanding of important subjects related to the state’s forests. The two other topic guides in the series focus on
herbicides
and
clearcutting
.
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Mass Timber Conference returns
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This year’s conference, produced by the
Forest Business Network
and
WoodWorks
, is scheduled for March 19-21 at the
Oregon Convention Center
. With a special focus on using mass timber products to construct mid- to high-rise buildings, the conference is expected to attract professionals from around the world representing the forest, manufacturing, design, development and construction industries. The
agenda
includes more than 70 expert presentations in four focused tracks and multiple general sessions, an exhibit hall with more than 70 exhibitors, and ample networking breaks and receptions.
Three supplemental conference
tours
will visit mass timber buildings and manufacturers in Oregon and Washington, including one sponsored by OFRI with stops at
Freres Lumber’s
mass plywood panel (MPP) manufacturing facility in Lyons and the
Oregon Forest Science Complex
project at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
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As the board liaison, Tucker will assist board members by keeping them informed about important developments affecting the department, and providing an ODF perspective when appropriate. She replaces Nancy Hirsch, the former deputy state forester, who retired in December.
Tucker was
promoted
to deputy state forester last month, and has been working for ODF since 1994. During her time with the agency she has worked throughout Oregon in all the department’s program areas. Most recently, she served as the agency’s Private Forests Division chief, where she focused on the implementation of Oregon’s forest protection regulations, forest health, technical assistance programs to help private forest landowners, and the Urban and Community Forestry Program.
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Blog: Who knew? The role Oregon plays in the utility pole business
OFRI Director of Forest Products Timm Locke had never really given much thought to utility poles, despite how prevalent and essential as they are, until he recently toured an Oregon utility pole plant that mostly processes Douglas-fir logs. In a new blog, he sheds light on how utility poles are made, and Oregon’s role in this important business.
Read the blog
.
Blog: Lecture series focuses on tribal forestry
OFRI Director of Forestry Mike Cloughesy chairs the Oregon State University College of Forestry's Starker Lecture Series committee this year. In his latest blog, he explains why he's excited that the 2019 series will focus on tribal forestry.
Read the blog
.
Tree School registration opens
The Oregon State University Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Program has opened registration for two upcoming Tree Schools, March 23 in Oregon City and March 29 in Roseburg. Each will feature workshops for forest landowners, foresters, arborists, loggers and others, covering topics such chainsaw safety, mushroom identification and wood product marketing.
Learn more and register.
Oregon cities have high wildfire risk
Communities in central and southern Oregon are among those with the greatest risk of losing homes to wildfire in the state, according to a new study commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service. Merlin in southwestern Oregon topped the list of cities with the greatest risk. Other cities that fell within the top 10 include Medford, Bend, Redmond, Grants Pass, Ashland and Prineville.
Learn more
.
Cushing to serve as SAF president
Next year Tammy Cushing, an Oregon State University Extension forest business specialist, will become the third woman to serve as president of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Cushing is currently serving a one-year term as vice president of SAF, which represents 12,000 forestry professionals across the U.S.
Learn more
.
OFRI earns “Gold Star”
For the 16
th
year in a row, OFRI has received the state of Oregon controller’s “Gold Star Award” for timely and accurate financial reporting.
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Oregon Forest Resources Institute
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The Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute in 1991 to advance public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products and to encourage sound forestry through landowner education.
A 13-member board of directors governs OFRI. It is funded by a portion of the forest products harvest tax.
Copyright © 2019, Oregon Forest Resources Institute. All Rights Reserved.
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