OFRI eNews: January 2023

An exciting year ahead at OFRI

There’s a lot in store for OFRI and forestry in Oregon in 2023, starting with an update to one of our most popular publications: the Oregon Forest Facts 2023-24 Edition. For two decades it has been the go-to resource for leaders and policymakers in Oregon who are looking for the latest facts and figures on forestry in our state. See the story in this issue of eNews for more info on how to get your copy.

 

Another exciting development in 2023 is initiating work on OFRI’s fourth edition of Oregon’s Forest Protection Laws – An Illustrated Manual, another popular publication since it was first released in the early 2000s. And with the coming changes as a result of the Private Forest Accord, this resource will be as important as ever for Oregonians looking for help navigating the breadth of the updates coming to the Oregon Forest Practices Act, which was first enacted in 1971.

 

The OFRI team is looking forward to another great year of carrying out our fundamental statutory purpose of supporting both the Oregon’s forest products sector and the wise stewardship of natural resources for the benefit of Oregonians.  

 

For the forest,

 

Jim Paul

Executive Director

Oregon Forest Facts updated for 2023-24.

The newest edition of Oregon Forest Facts, a pocket-size booklet packed with the latest statistics and information about Oregon’s forests and the state’s forestry and forest products industry, is now available to download and order.


OFRI publishes a new edition of Oregon Forest Facts biennially. The Institute partners with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Employment Department, along with other governmental, academic and private institutions, to update the facts and figures in the booklet using the most currently available data.


Among the statistics included in the Oregon Forest Facts 2023-24 Edition are Oregon’s total forestland area and ownership, timber harvest levels, lumber and plywood production, forest-related employment and wages, and total wildland fires and acres burned across the state over the past decade. The updated Oregon Forest Facts also includes new information about the economic impacts of the 2020 Labor Day Fires and updates to Oregon’s forest practice regulations resulting from the Private Forest Accord agreement between the timber industry and conservation groups.


The information contained in the Oregon Forest Facts booklet is also available on OFRI’s OregonForestFacts.org website

ORDER OR DOWNLOAD THE NEW OREGON FOREST FACTS

In-person Natural Resources Education Conference returns

After two years of virtual programming, OFRI’s Natural Resource/Career and Technical Education Conference for Oregon high school teachers was once again held in person last month at The Oregon Garden in Silverton, attracting a higher-than-average number of participants


More than 100 teachers from across the state attended the two-day conference aimed at helping educators make connections with each other while receiving professional development in forest and natural resource education. It featured a new format where researchers from Oregon State University paired up with community college faculty to deliver conference sessions together. The researcher would present their findings, and then a community college faculty member would model a lesson aligned with that research. Topics covered in these sessions included forest pollinators, black bear denning habits and forest fire recovery.


OFRI worked closely with the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program to organize the conference. While the conference was designed for teachers whose schools offer an accredited natural resource education program, it also attracted teachers from other content areas, including those who teach biology, agriculture and environmental science, looking to incorporate forestry and natural resource topics into their curriculum. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Starker Lectures kick off this month

The Oregon State University College of Forestry’s Starker Lecture Series returns for 2023 with a series of talks starting later this month focused on innovation in forestry.


This year’s lectures will look at historical changes in forestry, as well as new innovations and technologies in collaborative work. All lectures are free and open to the public, and take place on the OSU campus in Corvallis. The lectures will also be available via streaming video.


The series kicks off with a Jan. 25 lecture by OSU emeritus professor and author Bill Robbin titled “Sixty Years of Forestry: A Retrospective on the Douglas-fir Region” that explores substantial changes in forestry in the Pacific Northwest over the preceding decades. The lecture will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at OSU’s LaSells Stewart Center. Registration for the event is available here.


The Starker Lecture Series continues through this spring with lectures planned on Feb. 22, March 15, April 19 and May 31. More information about the scheduled speakers and lecture topics is available on the lecture series webpage.


OFRI is a co-sponsor of the lecture series, along with the OSU College of Forestry and the Starker family, in honor of TJ and Bruce Starker. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STARKER LECTURE SERIES

Video explains OFRI and its programs

OFRI has recently updated a short informational video explaining the mission of the agency and giving an overview of its educational programs.


Helping Oregonians Understand Their Forests is a five-minute video that should help anyone who wants to learn more about the agency, its mission and its benefit to Oregon’s forest products industry and the public.


The video includes information about OFRI’s:

· mission

· funding structure

· board makeup

· K-12 education programs

· landowner education programs

· public education programs


Members of the OFRI staff participated in creating the video, discussing the programs they manage for the agency.


The video, along with OFRI’s agency summary sheet, is helpful to share with anyone who can benefit from a basic understanding of the agency and its partners and programs.

WATCH THE VIDEO
In other news...

Blog: “Teachers connect in person once again”

Teachers as a group are great at sharing ideas and networking, so they were thrilled to have the chance to meet in person again at OFRI’s Natural Resources Education Conference last month, writes Director of K-12 Education Programs Norie Dimeo-Ediger in her latest OFRI blog post. In the post, she shares her takeaways from the conference. 


Blog: "Gimme shelter'"

One of the best ways to help wildlife on your forested property is one of the simplest. Piling up sticks and logs into a “habitat pile” can provide an excellent place for critters to rest, roost or nest. In a new guest post on the OFRI blog, wildlife technician Jon Cox of Cafferata Consulting explains why these wooden structures benefit forest animals, and how to construct one yourself. 


Planting trees? Order your "planted" sign today

The arrival of winter this month means tree planting season in Oregon is upon us, and it’s the perfect time to order a “planted” sign through OFRI’s landowner signage program. OFRI provides the signs, which say “planted” and the year the trees were planted, free to landowners for replanted sites facing a well-traveled roadway. The signs help the public who drive by understand that trees have been planted, even if they can’t see the seedlings. Learn more and order signs here.


OFRI earns financial reporting "Gold Star"

The State of Oregon’s Chief Financial Office has awarded OFRI a Gold Star Certificate for fiscal year 2021.The award, which OFRI has received for each of the past 20 years, recognizes state agencies that provide accurate and complete fiscal year information in a timely manner.


World Forestry Center offers free admission 

The World Forestry Center is offering free admission to its Discovery Museum in Portland’s Washington Park on Sundays through the end of this month. On those days, visitors can explore the museum for free any time from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more on the World Forestry Center website


Nominees sought for urban forestry awards 

Oregon Community Trees (OCT) and the Oregon Department of Forestry are seeking nominations for their urban forestry award program. The awards recognize people, communities and organizations in the state who have outstanding accomplishments and shown leadership in urban and community forestry. Nominations can be submitted on the OCT website and will be accepted through Feb. 15. 


Tree and plant sale supports natural resource education

The Washington County Small Woodlands Association (WCSWA) will host its annual native tree and plant sale on March 11 in North Plains. The sale, which features native plant experts to help with selection, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 30780 NW Highland Court. All profits from the sale will fund natural resource education programs. More information about the sale, including a list of plants that will be for sale, is available on the WCSWA website

Upcoming events

Douglas Small Woodlands Association Annual Meeting and Dinner

Jan. 24, Roseburg


Starker Lecture: Sixty Years of Forestry

Jan. 25, Corvallis


Starker Lecture: Log and Lumber Scaling Technology

Feb. 22, Corvallis


Oregon Logging Conference

Feb. 23-25, Eugene


Northwest Native Plant and Tree Sale

March 11, North Plains


Starker Lecture: Dr. Monika Moskal

March 15, Corvallis


International Mass Timber Conference

March 27-29, Portland

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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.


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