Stewarding a beautiful, healthy forest doesn’t have to mean locking the gate and throwing out the key. In fact, careful stewardship can help you to perpetually manage your forest in a way that improves wildlife habitat, sustains forest health, reduces risks associated with climate change, and provides long-term income opportunities through high-quality timber products.
At this free workshop on a family forest on Lopez Island, WA, professional foresters will introduce forest owners to a set of simple, hands-on strategies for increasing their forests’ resilience in the face of a warmer and drier climate.
Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the ecological risks facing the region and nearby forests due to wildfire, drought, disease, and insect infestation. We will discuss how to evaluate the current health of a forest based on desired future conditions, when commercial or pre-commercial thinning might be appropriate, and how to select trees for thinning. Participants will learn about the equipment used in a pre-commercial or a commercial thinning, the permitting required for a timber sale, and options for utilizing woody biomass leftover from a thinning.
Driving directions provided in the confirmation email.
Topics
Instruction will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on activities, including:
- Expected Climate Impacts and Risks
- Stand Assessment 101
- Choosing climate-adapted species
- Forest Management Goals & Options
- Pre-Commercial versus Commercial Thinning
- Tree Selection for Thinning
- Economics of a Thinning
- Funding Forest Stewardship
Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch and water for the day. The workshop will take place entirely outdoors.
Free Site Visits
Participants can sign up for a limited number of free two-hour site visits with the speakers. During the site visit, the forester will help landowners refine plans for managing their forest and answer site-specific questions. To register for a free site visit, please email kirk@nnrg.org.
Speakers
- Kirk Hanson | Director of Forestry | Northwest Natural Resource Group
- Kai Hoffman-Krull | Forest Health Manager | San Juan Islands Conservation District
- Carson Sprenger | Forester, Restoration Ecologist, Fire Ecologist | Rain Shadow Consulting
- Daphne Morris | Landowner | Morris Family Forest