May is Wildfire Awareness Month |
April 2022 set a mark as the wettest April ever recorded in western Oregon, and wildfire may be the furthest thing from your mind right now. However, fire season is still just around the corner. Every May the wildfire community celebrates Wildfire Awareness Month, to help us all recognize the impacts of wildfires and what we can do to prevent them.
Wildfire Awareness Month reminds forest landowners and residents of the wildland-urban interface, where forests are adjacent to homes, that there are many actions they can take to make their forests and homes fire-resilient. Now is the time to take action – before fire season begins.
Last year OFRI, in conjunction with our partners at Keep Oregon Green, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State University Extension Fire Program, developed a special report titled Living with Fire. This 24-page report has a ton of information on fire awareness, prevention and mitigation. It discusses creating fire-adapted communities and resilient landscapes. This publication can be downloaded or ordered for free from the OFRI website.
Remember, as my old friend Smokey Bear always says, “Only you…..”
For the forest,
Mike Cloughesy
Acting Executive Director
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Pamphlet helps landowners retain habitat while harvesting timber |
A new informational pamphlet produced by OFRI’s Wildlife in Managed Forests program helps forest landowners and managers understand how many trees they should leave standing on the landscape and in which locations, to maximize the benefit they provide to wildlife once logging is complete.
The Managing Wildlife Leave Trees in the Pacific Northwest pamphlet highlights the importance of retaining some natural structures during timber harvest. This can include trees intentionally left uncut in certain areas to provide wildlife habitat, as well as standing dead trees, stumps, logs and other down wood.
Scientific research has shown leaving certain trees standing, along with other “retained structures,” is often critical to wildlife living in forests managed for timber production. Oregon and Washington both legally require the practice, and it’s an important component of forest sustainability certifications such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the Forest Stewardship Council and the American Tree Farm System.
In addition to producing the pamphlet on wildlife leave trees, OFRI hosted a webinar last month exploring the latest scientific research on the topic, with Gary Roloff, a professor and chairman of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, and Jake Verschuyl, director of forestry research in the western U.S. and British Columbia for the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement. A recording of the webinar is available here.
Managing Wildlife Leave Trees is part of OFRI’s Wildlife in Managed Forests series of publications, which inform forest landowners, managers and others about managing for wildlife living in Oregon’s forests.
Print and electronic versions of Managing Wildlife Leave Trees are available to order or download for free through the publications page on OFRI’s website, OregonForests.org.
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Oregon Envirothon is back to an in-person event |
For the first time since 2019, OFRI hosted Oregon Envirothon earlier this month at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Teams of students from 13 high school across the state participated in the annual natural resources knowledge competition, which had been conducted virtually the previous two years.
The winners of the 2022 Oregon Envirothon will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony May 20, but with many pandemic-related school travel restrictions lifting, students were able to convene in person at The Oregon Garden on May 6 for the competition itself, completing a series of tests to demonstrate their skills in various natural resource disciplines, including aquatic, forest and wildlife ecology, and soils and land use.
A new addition to this year’s event was the chance for students to test their hand at axe-throwing and using a two-person crosscut saw to cut through a log in the competition break station. The activities were offered courtesy of the Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders, an organization dedicated to supporting high school students interested in pursuing educational and career opportunities in the natural resources and forestry sectors.
Students also gave oral presentations and were tested on their knowledge of this year’s current issue, “Waste to Resources,” which focused on how to responsibly manage waste produced by communities to ensure it doesn’t negatively affect the environment and natural resources. The top two teams in the competition’s oral presentation category gave their presentations in person on May 6, in front of judge’s panel made up of waste management and recycling experts. The oral presentation winner will be announced at the virtual awards ceremony May 20.
The team that finishes in first place in the 2022 Oregon Envirothon will quality to advance to the national Envirothon competition, planned for July 24-30 in Oxford, Ohio.
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OFRI opens search for executive director |
The State of Oregon is seeking an experienced leader to serve as OFRI’s executive director.
The OFRI executive director oversees the Institute’s forest education programs for the general public, K-12 teachers and students, and forest landowners, ensuring they achieve its mission to support and enhance Oregon’s forest products industry.
OFRI has opened a search for a permanent executive director to replace Acting Executive Director Mike Cloughesy, who plans to return to retirement this summer. The new executive director will be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of OFRI’s 13-member board of directors.
A full job announcement for the OFRI executive director position, including salary range, benefits, minimum qualifications, desired skills and attributes, and a description of duties, is available here.
To apply for the position, current State of Oregon employees must apply through their Workday account. External candidates will need to create a Workday profile to apply. All applications must be received by May 31, 2022. A current cover letter and resume are required.
The State of Oregon commits to equity and diversity in all we do. We are an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members and others, to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
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Public input sought on draft OFRI policies |
OFRI is inviting public comment this month on the Institute’s proposed public review process and quality information policy. Both draft policies aim to increase stakeholder and public involvement in OFRI projects, as well as ensure the Institute’s educational materials provide information that is accurate and objective.
OFRI is offering two ways to submit written comments on the draft policies:
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Email comments to comment@ofri.org.
- Comments can also be mailed to Public Comment, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, 9755 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 210, Portland, OR 97225.
All written comments must be received by noon on May 27. Note that all comments will be reviewed and considered, and a synopsis will be made publicly available on OFRI’s website.
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Oregon Family Forest Convention returns |
The Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) and Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) are planning their first full Oregon Family Forest Convention in three years, scheduled for June 23-25 and hosted by the Benton County Small Woodlands Association at the Benton County Event Center and Fairgrounds in Corvallis.
The 2022 Oregon Family Forest Convention agenda includes joint OSWA and OTFS board meetings, afternoon tours and a dinner June 23. Educational sessions, exhibits, demonstrations, and a dinner and awards will take place June 24.
OFRI is a co-sponsor of the convention, which will conclude June 25 with the Oregon Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Tour at Ed Easterling’s Crestmont Farm Family property near Wren. The property brings together a broad mosaic of timber plantations, mixed-species forests, oak woodlands and savannas, and pastures.
The field tour will highlight results from the unusual techniques and treatments Easterling and his team use to integrate timber production and wildlife habitat management. Preview the tour here.
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Blog: “Update on OFRI response to state audit”
Last summer, the Secretary of State Oregon Audits Division released its findings and recommendations from their performance audit of OFRI. In a new post on the OFRI blog, Acting Executive Director Mike Cloughesy gives an update on the status of implementing the audit’s recommendations for OFRI to improve its performance and operations. Read the blog here.
Blog: “You never forget your first amphibian egg mass”
In one of the latest posts on the OFRI blog, Director of K-12 Education Programs Norie Dimeo-Ediger shares how she gives back to the natural areas she loves by volunteering to search for amphibian egg masses, which helps scientists gauge the effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts. Read the blog here.
Blog: "How do foresters choose what kinds of trees to plant in Oregon's forests?"
As a forester working in western Oregon, Lawrence Martin Jr. is often asked, “Why do you plant so much Douglas-fir?” In a new guest post on the OFRI blog, he explains why he plants a lot of Douglas-fir, as well as why it’s important to also plant a variety of other native tree species in Oregon’s forests. Read the blog here.
Planted trees this year? Order a "planted" sign today.
As tree planting season in Oregon’s forests winds down, now is a great time for forest landowners to order an OFRI “planted” sign with the year the trees were planted. Planted signs placed along roads help the public understand that trees have been planted after timber was harvested, even though they may not be able to see the seedlings as they drive by. Learn more about OFRI’s landowner signage program and order signs here.
Video series highlights federal forest restoration
The Oregon Department of Forestry has released four new videos as part of its Federal Forest Restoration Program. The series, called “Forward Together: Restoring Oregon’s Federal Forests,” shows how the program is helping mitigate climate change and address federal forest health challenges in Oregon, including the risk of catastrophic wildfire, insect pests and tree diseases. Watch all four videos, which use footage provided by OFRI, here.
Forest education program holding fundraiser
OFRI K-12 forest education partner Forests Today & Forever is hosting a soiree and silent auction fundraiser June 9 in Eugene. The event, which will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Sweet Cheeks Winery, will feature live music by Keltocalypse and a silent auction for experiences such as a Christmas tree-cutting outing, a pottery class and a round of golf. Learn more and register here.
Awards recognize landowners for wildlife stewardship
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Board of Forestry last month recognized several forest landowners with Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Awards, recognizing their efforts to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat. The award winners were David Bugni of Estacada, Reid and Regina Ligon of Eugene, Lewis and Clark Timberlands, Port Blakely and Manulife Investment Management. Learn more about the winners here.
World Forestry Center reopening its museum
The World Forestry Center has announced plans to reopen its Discovery Museum in Portland’s Washington Park this summer. The museum has been a Portland landmark for decades. When it reopens, visitors will encounter familiar favorites as well as a selection of new exhibits and features. Learn more about the museum reopening here.
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June 9, Eugene
June 11, Oregon City
June 23-25, Corvallis
July 21, Corvallis
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Oregon Forest Resources Institute |
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute supports and enhances Oregon’s forest products industry
by advancing public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products.
A 13-member board of directors governs OFRI. It is funded by a portion of the forest products harvest tax.
Copyright © 2022, Oregon Forest Resources Institute. All Rights Reserved.
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