Special Edition: Recreation

News for forest resource professionals published by the Society of American Foresters July 2019 • Vol. 24, No. 7 Recreation: More than a Walk in the Woods his special edition on recreation features a pack-load of articles and Tessays on the topic, including a Q&A with Michiko Martin, the US Forest Service’s director of recreation, heritage, and volunteer resources, who talks about the agency’s efforts to maintain and perhaps improve its offerings of recreational oppor- tunities (page 4). That article is followed on page 5 by “Recreation as Shared Stew- ardship,” which is written by Martin and three of her colleagues. The essay by Steve Selin on this page, “Implementing Sus- tainable Recreation on the National Forest IN THIS ISSUE System: Aligning the Reality and Promise,” first appeared in193 Million Acres: Toward Recreation Education a Healthier and More Resilient US Forest Ser- The recreation industry is expected to increase vice, a book published by SAF in 2018. in the next decade, both in terms of the num- For a look at how Weyerhaeuser, Fat-tire bicycling is a popular winter sport on the Superior National Forest’s Pincushion Recreation Area ber of people recreating and the jobs needed Port Blakely, and Hancock Natural Re- near Grand Marais, Minnesota. Photo: US Forest Service to meet demand. To learn how universities source Group are managing recreation servation Association Integrated Fire and Two commentaries round out the rec- are training the next generation of recreation professionals, Forestry Source associate editor on their lands, see page 6. “Training the Recreation Internship program is high- reation theme: “Wilderness Recreation: Andrea Watts talked with Steve Selin, a pro- Next Generation of Recreation Leaders” lighted on page 13. On page 14, read Misnomer or Intention?” by Cindy and fessor at the West Virginia University (WVU), examines educational programs at West about how mule teams helped build a David Chojnacky (page 10) and “Recre- and John Daigle, a professor at the University Virginia University and the University of boardwalk on the Ottawa National For- ation: No Walk in the Woods,” by Nancy of Maine (UM). Both of these universities offer Maine (page 12), and the Student Con- est in Michigan. Myers (page 15). SAF-accredited recreation programs. Page 12.

Presidential Field Foresters Implementing Sustainable Recreation THE FUTURE OF SAF will honor one member from each of the 11 SAF voting districts with the Presidential SAF Field Forester Award at the 2019 SAF Nation- on the National Forest System: Aligning al Convention (www.safconvention.org), to be held October 30–November 3 in Louisville, the Reality and Promise Kentucky. The award recognizes foresters who Rebeca Rodriguez: have dedicated their professional careers to The esssay originally appeared in 193 Million Acres: Toward a Healthier and More the application of forestry on the ground using Resilient US Forest Service, published by SAF in 2018. The book, edited by Forestry Source sound, scientific methods and adaptive man- Finding a Path in agement strategies. Here are the 2019 awards editor Steve Wilent, is available in the SAF Store, eforester.org/store. winners. Page 17. sŝƐŝƚƐ;ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐͿƚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůĨŽƌĞƐƚƐ Forestry SAF Chapter Resources Editor’s note: Continuing with our profiles of ϭϱϬ Several SAF initiatives over the past two years up-and-coming SAF members who will con- ϭϰϵ have endeavored to increase the diversity and tinue managing our nation’s natural resources inclusion (D&I) of our membership and the ϭϰϴ ϭϰϳ in the coming decades, this month we feature forestry and natural-resources profession. Rebeca Rodriguez. She is an undergraduate Building on a D&I session included at its ϭϰϲ 2018 annual meeting, Ohio SAF presented an ϭϰϱ at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) R.I.P. Uniformity (Respect, Identity, Privilege) ϭϰϰ and will graduate this summer with a bache- ϭϰϯ workshop at its winter annual meeting this sŝƐŝƚƐ lor’s degree in forestry with a concentration in year. Page 20. ϭϰϮ forest recreation management. In 2016, she ϭϰϭ joined SAF and was selected as an SAF Di- BC Curtailments ϭϰϬ versity Scholar in 2018 (for information on At this writing in mid-June, at least 20 mills in ϭϯϵ the scholarship, see tinyurl.com/yy7g4rvj). British Columbia have announced shutdowns She also served as the treasurer of SFA’s SAF or curtailments in the last two months, accord- student chapter for two years. ing to Random Lengths and other sources. For example, on June 11, Random Lengths report- In her own words, Rodriguez describes ed that “Canfor Corporation announced June her path toward a career in forestry and rec- From the US Forest Service National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey, National Summary Report, 2016. 10 it will be curtailing operations at all British reation. Columbia sawmills, except WynnWood.” For By Steven Selin By Rebeca Rodriguez more on this and other forest-products indus- keener” (Waugh 1918, 3). From his field try news, see page 24. ne hundred years ago, a For- investigation of current recreation condi- How she developed an appreciation for est Service landscape engineer tions, Waugh concluded that managing the outdoors DEPARTMENTS Onamed Frank Waugh authored a recreation should become a central pri- While I was growing up in Houston, Tex- report titled Recreation Uses on the National ority of national forest management. “The as, my parents never took my brother and 2 Letter to the Editor Forests. To prepare this report, Waugh em- moment that recreation is recognized as a me to any state parks or national parks; barked on a five-month field study, visit- legitimate forest utility the way is opened even going to the city park was a rare 10, 15 Commentary ing a number of national forests across the for a more intelligent administration of thing, because they didn’t feel comfortable 20 SAF Chapter Resources country where recreational development the National Forests. It seems obvious going to those places. Being Hispanic and was occurring. He knowingly observed that this utility must be fairly conserved not really knowing a lot of English, it was 22 Continuing Education Calendar that “Outdoor recreation is a necessity and developed in proportion to its value hard for my parents to go to one of these 22 Employment Ads of life, and as civilization becomes more intensive the public demand will grow SELIN Q Page 8 RODRIGUEZ Q Page 19 24 Forest Industry News EDITORS NOTEBOOK LETTER TO THE

Published monthly by the Society of American For- EDITOR esters (SAF), The Forestry Source (ISSN 1084-5496) Recreation: The Trail to Forestry provides SAF members and other natural resource Deer Browse Impacts professionals with news regarding developments within the forestry profession as well as the activities In “New Visualization of Browse Impacts and policies of SAF. Points to Restoration Challenges in Decid- uous Forests of the Midwest and North- The opinions expressed in articles, commentaries, and letters do not necessarily reflect the policies or east” (The Forestry Source, January 2019), views of SAF. Will McWilliams suggests that browsing by white-tailed deer is both damaging to Publisher: Terry Baker, [email protected] Editor: Steve Wilent, (503) 622-3033, young forest habitat and has made “re- [email protected] storing broadleaf deciduous forests in the Associate Editor: Andrea Watts, [email protected] Midwest and Northeast … nearly impos-

Editorial Offices and Advertising Sales sible in many areas.” His conclusions are 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814 based in part on the US Forest Service’s Tel (301) 897-8720 • www.safnet.org browse impact assessment (McWilliams

Correspondence: Address all editorial correspon- et al. 2018), which is undoubtedly the dence to the Editor at the above address. Advertising most-extensive browsing assessment inquiries should be directed to John R. Barnwell at conducted at such a large scale. As such, (301) 897-8720, ext. 300. McWilliams’s fieldwork and data set are Subscription rates: $61 for individuals in the US and important and admirable, but I found his From the US Forest Service photography archive: Camping at Woodward Forest Camp on Langdon Lake, Canada $116 in other countries); $116 for institutions Umatilla National Forest, Oregon, September 1956. Photo by Frank Flack. conclusions in this article unwarranted in the US ($173 in other countries). Subscriptions and ultimately misleading to forest prac- for members is included in annual dues. See tinyurl .com/m6xo2x9 for other rates and information. For in- By Steve Wilent titioners and the general public. formation regarding subscriptions, address changes, concerned—took me all across western McWilliams reports that about 60 per- and purchasing single editions, call 866-897-8720. ike most SAF members of my gen- North America. I kept camping gear in the cent of the 182 million acres of forestland Permission to reprint: Individuals, and nonprofit li- eration—I turned 60 last year—rec- back so I could strike out for a national across the study area was either moder- braries acting for them, are permitted to make fair reation instilled in me a love of the forest or state or county park on a whim, ately or heavily browsed, and thus, “areas use of the material in this publication; for example, L out-of-doors. Some of my earliest memories after school or work. On one memora- of concern.” But a closer look at the data copying an article for personal or classroom use. For republication, or systematic or multiple repro- are of playing outside, in the yard, at first, ble excursion to the King Range Nation- set reveals that, in four-fifths of a roughly duction of copyrighted material, permission must be and then in the field at the end of the road. al Conservation Area, a remote stretch of 110-million-acre area, browsing was not obtained from SAF, with a fee for commercial use to Though the field was perhaps five acres, it Northern California coastline managed by common (i.e., rated as medium). In fact, be determined. To request permission to republish or reproduce material, contact the Editor at the address was a vast wilderness for me as a four- and the Bureau of Land Management, I back- in 88 percent of the entire region, brows- above. Proper notice of copyright and credit to The five-year-old. Its narrow game trails became packed on sand and cobble beaches for ing was either not observed at all (rated Forestry Source must appear on all copies made. my own, the shrubby hedge with its green miles without seeing more than three or as low) or it was uncommon (medium). Permission is granted to quote from The Forestry Source if the customary acknowledgment accompa- tunnels my castle, the majestic oaks at one four people. I camped on the sand above By lumping the far more frequent medi- nies the quote. end the guardians of my kingdom. And it the high-tide line one night and spent an- um browsing with the far less frequent was all accessible—by tricycle. other at the edge of a meadow bisected high browsing, and collectively labeling Postmaster: Send address changes to The Forestry Source, 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814, My first memory of recreation beyond by a rushing creek and dotted with wild these occurrences as areas of “concern,” Attn.: E. Cooke my neighborhood was a campground at iris in bloom, with Pacific waves crashing McWilliams effectively inflates the impor- Yosemite National Park where my parents on a cobble beach, air filled with the tang tance of intensive browsing in the region Periodicals postage paid at Bethesda, Maryland, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. and brother and I slept on the ground of salt water and the earthy forest nearby, and suggests that any observed browsing wrapped in blankets—we had little camp- not another soul in sight. I caught a nice is a problem. Given that deer are an inte- © 2019, Society of American Foresters. ing gear aside from a Coleman stove and greenling and steamed it for dinner over gral part of eastern forest ecosystems, this ISSN 1084-5496. an ice chest. The aroma of frying bacon a driftwood fire. Heaven on Earth. I only perspective does little to further a broader Society of American Foresters and wood smoke on the chilly mountain reluctantly returned to civilization. understanding of forest ecosystems. air was intoxicating. As a six-year-old, the When I told my parents that I would Of course, deer (and moose) do The mission of the Society of American Foresters is trails to the park’s awesome waterfalls, go to college, not to study engineering or browse some areas heavily (i.e., 12 percent to advance the science, education, technology, and wading in the Yosemite River, and eating business, but forestry, I wondered why of the study area), and heavy browsing of- practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish standards of professional meals by a campfire made for an adven- they were surprised. ten occurs in young, regenerating forests. excellence; and to use the knowledge, skills, and ture far beyond any I had known. Young forests provide habitat for a suite conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the Before I was 16, I walked, hitchhiked, Recreation for Everyone of scrub-shrub species, such as blue and continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources or rode a bicycle to parks and camp- Several of the articles in this special edi- golden–winged warblers, chestnut-sid- to benefit society. grounds, a rucksack on my back or on tion on recreation focus on the US Forest ed warblers, and common yellowthroats. a rack on the back of the bike. My first Service, which provides more developed These ephemeral habitats soon disappear President: John W. McNulty, [email protected] car, a 1964 Pontiac Tempest station wag- (along with these associated species) as on—a sport utility vehicle, as far as I was NOTEBOOK Q Page 16 their initially open-grown structures fill in Vice-President: Tamara Cushing with dense, tall trees and a closed cano- [email protected] py. However, the only natural process that Immediate Past President: David S. Lewis, CF, ACF occurs with any regularity in the eastern [email protected] forest to delay the growth of woody plants

Chief Executive Officer: Terry Baker, and extend the period of young forest hab- [email protected] itat (i.e., low vegetation and few trees) is intensive browsing by ungulates. Hence, Board of Directors (District): Thomas M. Hanson, CF (1); Michael J. Cloughesy (2); Nicholas Dennis (3); it makes no sense to argue, as McWilliams Beverly Yelczyn (4); Donald E. Howlett, CF (5); Mar- does, that deer are both suppressing for- iann Garrison-Johnston, CF (6); David P. Gwaze (7); est growth and “obliterate[ing] habitat for Christa F. Rogers (8); Tim Phelps (9); Richard (Dick) W. Brinker; (10); Michael L. Murphrey, CF (11). young-forest obligate animal species.” As somebody who studies the im- Non-voting members of the Board of Directors: Ka- pacts of deer and moose browsing in for- tie Reiderman, Student Representative to the Board; Craig MacLean, Chair, Forest Policy Committee; Ryan ests, I understand, firsthand, the remark- Armbrust, chair, House of Society Delegates; Nan able changes that these animals can cause. Pond, Chair, Forest Science and Technology Board. However, I also understand that browsing is not just “damage” to a forest, but is also a National Office Department Directors: John R. Barn- well, Director of Government and External Affairs; fundamental ecological process that often Morgan Fincham, Senior Managing Editor; Louise has complex and surprising outcomes— Murgia, CF, Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer; Naomi Marcus, Director, Professional Development; Biking in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, in Carol Redelsheimer, CF, Director, Science and Educa- southwestern Virginia. Photo: US Forest Service Southern Region. LETTER Q Page 16 tion; Operations.

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July 2019 3 RECREATION

US Forest Service Recreation: Renewing Body and Spirit By Steve Wilent people visit is because of hiking or walk- t the top of the US Forest Service’s ing—about 40 percent of all visitors cite h^&ŽƌĞƐƚ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞZĞĐƌĞĂƚŝŽŶͲƌĞůĂƚĞĚ Recreation, Heritage and Volun- hiking, walking, or jogging as the primary Ateer Resources web page is this reason for their visit. ĞĨĞƌƌĞĚDĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͕ϮϬϭϲ;ΨŵŝůůŝŽŶͿ 1919 quote by Arthur Carhart, a Forest ZŽĂĚƐ Ψϯ͕Ϯϭϰ Service landscape architect: What changes have you seen in recre- Perhaps the rebuilding of the body and ation? dƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚƚƌĂŝůďƌŝĚŐĞƐ ΨϮϴϴ spirit is the greatest service derivable from One of the things we’re seeing is a slight ƌŝĚŐĞƐ ΨϮϯϯ our forests, for what worth are material increase in the number of women who are DŝŶŽƌĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚĞĚĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ;ƐŝŐŶƐ͕ŬŝŽƐŬƐ͕ƉŝĐŶŝĐ ΨϵϬ things if we lose the character and quality of visiting our national forests, and there has ƚĂďůĞƐ͕ǁĂƚĞƌƉĞĚĞƐƚĂůƐ͕ĞƚĐ͘Ϳ people that are the soul of America. been an increase in the number of Latino ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞƐŝƚĞƐ ΨϮϯ In the following paragraphs, the agen- visitors. We’re also seeing that the visits cy explains that “The National Forests and tend to be longer in duration—there have Data from Forest Service Deferred Maintenance, audit report 08601-0004-31, US Department of Agriculture Grasslands provide the greatest diversity been increases in the number of visits last- Office of Inspector General, May 2017. of outdoor recreation opportunities in the ing from three to six hours. Another trend world, connecting you with nature in an that we’re seeing is an increase in the unmatched variety of settings and activi- number of visits by people over 60 years ties. You hike, bike, ride horses, and drive of age. off-highway vehicles. You picnic, camp, hunt, fish, and navigate waterways. You Aside from hiking and walking, what are view wildlife and scenery, and explore his- the other popular types of recreational toric places. You glide though powder at activities? world-class alpine resorts and challenge Other areas where we’re seeing steady yourselves on primitive cross-country ski or increasing participation include driv- or snowmobile routes. ing for pleasure, picnicking, and wildlife “Outdoor recreation is fun—and so viewing. It’s interesting to note that we much more. It provides physical chal- have 300 million travelers each year who lenge, requires development of life-long pass through our national forests on sce- skills, provokes interest and inquiry, and nic byways or other roads. These are peo- inspires wonder and awe of the natural ple who are just driving through—they world. Recreation thereby contributes are not included in the 149 million visits greatly to the physical, mental, and spir- per year on National Forest System lands. itual health of individuals, bonds family The only areas where we are experi- and friends, instills pride in heritage, and encing statistically significant decreases in Recreation on the Ocoee River at Mac Point in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. Photo by Cecilio provides economic benefits to communi- visitation activities are hunting and fish- Ricardo, US Forest Service ties, regions, and the nation. Indeed, out- ing. These aren’t drastic declines—I think door recreation has become an essential fishing has been declining by about 2 per- part of our American culture.” cent per year and hunting by about one I recently spoke with Michiko Mar- percent per year. But these numbers are tin, director, Recreation, Heritage, and of concern to our partners, so they have Volunteer Resources, about the agency’s been rethinking the ways in which they work to maintain and perhaps improve can recruit more hunters and fishers to and expand its offerings of recreation- enjoy their public lands. al opportunities. She and her colleagues face a daunting challenge: a $5-billion de- In 2017, a USDA Office of Inspector Gen- ferred-maintenance backlog and a shrink- eral report described the Forest Service’s ing recreation budget. $5-billion deferred-maintenance backlog. Martin has worked for the Forest Ser- Much of that backlog is directly or indi- vice for about five years. During the pre- rectly related to recreation—road main- vious 30 years or so, she worked for the tenance, for example, has by far the larg- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric est percentage of the backlog, and the Administration’s National Marine Sanctu- backlog for maintaining trails and trail aries System, which encompasses more bridges is $288 million. Why are there than 600,000 square miles of marine and such large backlogs? Has the so-called Great Lakes waters; she also served in the fire borrowing had an impact? US Navy as a meteorologist and oceanog- The backlog for recreation site mainte- A man jogs early one morning in Davidson River Campground, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. USDA photo by Lance Cheung. rapher. What follows are excerpts from nance is about $400 million. The fire bud- our conversation. get has been just eating us alive. The fact that the agency has had to put more mon- nance budget have remained relatively flat What has been accomplished since then? The most recent National Visitor Use ey into fighting fires than has been allo- over the last five years. And when I say It was in the spirit of the agency’s shared Monitoring system report shows that vis- cated means that money has to come from flat, that doesn’t account for inflation and stewardship strategy that the 15 priority its to the national forests and grasslands other areas. Usually, we can count on that rising costs. So a flat budget gives us less areas were designated. We have groups all increased, overall, from 2012 to 2017. Has money being repaid, but often that mon- funding to put toward maintenance. We across the nation who really cared deeply the trend continued? ey comes at a time in our budgetary cycle simply don’t have the money we need to about their trails. Shared stewardship is Yes, we’ve been seeing an increase in the where it’s not the same as if we had been put toward our roads, trails, facilities, and a recognition that we can’t do everything number of visitations to our national for- given that money on schedule at the be- structures. alone, nor should we. We went through a ests of about one-half of one percent per ginning of our fiscal year in October—we solicitation process to invite comments on year. The latest numbers show that we can’t use the funding in the most-effective In February 2018, US Secretary of Agricul- the designation of priority trail areas. have about 149 million per year on Na- manner before receiving it late in the fiscal ture Sonny Perdue announced the selec- We are using these designations as a tional Forest System lands. Some of those year as a repayment. tion of 15 priority areas to help address way to bring attention to these trail areas are repeat visits, of course, but it shows More broadly, most of our funding is the more than $300-million trail-mainte- and invite a larger collaboration around how much people love visiting their na- appropriated by Congress. Appropriations nance backlog on national forests and the stewardship of those trails. We’re re- tional forests. The number one reason for our capital improvement and mainte- grasslands [see tinyurl.com/yczhww3h]. MARTIN Q Page 16

4 The Forestry Source To Share and Sustain: Stewarding Recreation Resources in the US Forest Service By Monika Derrien, Lee Cerveny, Michiko Martin, Matt Arnn he residents of rural Athens Coun- What might a national commitment ty, Ohio, saw an opportunity to to shared stewardship mean for outdoor Taddress their public-health and recreation? It means more creative, col- economic challenges by tapping into the laborative efforts such as the Baileys and natural and social capital of the Wayne Eastern Sierra partnerships. While recre- National Forest. Community visionaries ation partnerships in the US Forest Service pulled together local business owners, are as old as the Appalachian Trail Con- government officials, and university facul- servancy (founded in 1925), the agency’s ty to develop a concept for an expansive nationwide commitment to ensuring that mountain-bike trail system, with trail- partnerships are empowered, inclusive, heads in several small towns, connecting and better supported is new. It marks a them to federal, state, and local public change from a culture of expertism to one lands. The trail system would promote in which the agency acknowledges that physical activity for residents, create new important insights will emerge from the jobs to serve out-of-town trail enthusi- collective knowledge of diverse partners. asts, and improve the community’s overall It recognizes local and indigenous knowl- quality of life. US Forest Service officials edge alongside corporate and scientific began working with a network of nation- knowledge, extending one of Gifford Pin- al and community partners to solidify chot’s maxims for foresters, to “Get rid of Mountain biking on the Pisgah National Forest. Photo by Cecilio Ricardo, US Forest Service local investment in the proposed Baileys the attitude of personal arrogance or pride Mountain Biking Trail System. With an of attainment of superior knowledge.” innovative financing strategy structured Theodore Roosevelt invoked the of thousands of generous volunteers and ation service providers, the agency is help- through a social impact bond (see tinyurl “sense of common duties and common service participants putting in millions of ing reduce uncertainty and de-risk capital .com/yyd5z93o), this ongoing community interests, which arise when [people] take hours annually to maintain trails, patrol the investments, encouraging private business- visioning and investment process exem- the trouble to understand one another, backcountry, and manage campgrounds. es to invest in public-land infrastructure plifies how the Forest Service is building and to associate together for a common Partners extend the reach and relevancy projects—such as deferred maintenance recreation capacity through shared stew- object.” Economist Elinor Ostrom posited of this work in many communities. While in campgrounds—that will serve business ardship. that sustainable resource management can all of this is an important component of interests and further the agency’s goal to What is shared stewardship? The US be achieved through building trust, coop- shared stewardship, the shared-steward- facilitate high-quality outdoor experiences Forest Service uses the term to describe an eration, and institutions for collaborative ship concept encourages broadening, for the public. agency-wide commitment to work with governance. Shared stewardship for out- deepening, and weaving together new and Shared stewardship requires building others on relevant scales to identify, prior- door recreation builds on these traditions. existing commitments. Shared stewardship social capital, nurturing nascent partner- itize, plan, and accomplish mutually ben- is about sharing not only in the work itself, ships, and sharing leadership and de- eficial work on national forests and grass- Recreation Today but also in the risks and returns of shared cisionmaking space. For many people, lands and beyond. Shared stewardship As foresters across the country know, out- investments. For example, by encouraging approaches are motivated by a common door recreation is popular. The Bureau of longer-term special-use permits to recre- STEWARDSHIP Q Page 13 vision for how lands might be managed in Economic Analysis recently estimated that a way that achieves shared benefits. The outdoor-recreation industry contributes to approach is implemented through partner- 2.2 percent of the nation’s gross domestic ships and capitalizes on shared interests, product, with more consumer spending values, and interdependence, encouraging than the pharmaceutical and gasoline/fuels the engagement of long-standing partners industries combined. The growth of out- as well as new and diverse groups. [See door recreation has outpaced the overall “Federal–State Shared Stewardship Strate- economy. At the same time, many pub- gy Takes Hold,” The Forestry Source, June lic-land agencies have experienced declines 2019] In California, for example, the East- in budgets for operations and maintenance, ern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partner- as well as personnel, alongside increasing ship helps gateway communities, such as levels of deferred maintenance for recre- Mammoth Lakes, invest in mutually ben- ation facilities and infrastructure. A 2013 eficial projects across public lands (Eastern audit from the Government Accountability Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership, Office found that only about one-quarter of essrp.org). Here, local tax measures fund the Forest Service’s trail miles met the agen- trails projects on the Inyo National Forest, cy’s standards. as well as a trails website, supporting local Shared stewardship is more than a tourism interests in a way that Town Coun- new catchphrase for getting help from cil member John Wentworth describes as others. National forests and grasslands al- “innovative, replicable, and necessary.” ready get a lot of help, benefiting from tens

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July 2019 5 Private Timberland Owners’ Views on Balancing Access and Recreation in noncommercial picking of berries and we have people working out in the woods, ucation. We want to get people out there, mushrooms. and it’s important to have safety precautions and what we’ve found through this way “We chose the permit model because in place and reduce resource damage.” of doing things, [is that] it pays dividends of our large blocked-up landscapes, where Permitted motorized vehicles don’t to us.” we have huge ownerships with existing include motorcycles or ATVs, because as The fifth-generation family-owned gates around the edges,” Metcalf explained a working forest, Weyerhaeuser doesn’t Port Blakely’s corporate approach to rec- “That worked better than dividing the area want these vehicles using the same roads reation and public access is providing free into individual leases, like they have in the as forestry vehicles. access to its timberlands. “I think it’s ap- South, and it also gave an opportunity to With the influx of people onto the preciated that people don’t have to pay to get more people out on the landscape.” landscape, the likely question is: How re- access the lands,” explained Stanley, and The pilot permit program was offered spectful are people? “On any of our permit Warjone added that “we get some e-mails in several areas in 2013, and the follow- areas, we don’t have a garbage problem,” and calls in support of that.” ing year, it was unveiled across 18 per- Metcalf said. “All of our garbage issues are That being said, “Weyerhaeuser and mit areas. The number of permits issued in areas where it’s open access or people Hancock are creating a pretty cool experi- each year was determined, Metcalf says, just rolling up to the gate to dump a refrig- ence for people who can buy a key,” War- through “a little bit of trial and error.” erator and drive away.” jone said. Weyerhaeuser picked what it thought was In addition to its recreational access However, Port Blakely’s philosophy a reasonable number and then gauged the permit program, Weyerhaeuser also offers has evolved over the years, said Stanley. feedback from Weyerhaeuser employees, leases on 250 scattered or isolated parcels “We used to just gate portions of our In the Pacific Northwest, Weyerhaeuser offers ac- the timberlands security staff, and permit across Oregon and Washington. The leas- property and open our land for motorized cess via recreational access leases to nearly two users to determine if the landscape felt es are primarily used for hunting, but this access during hunting season,” he said. million acres of its timberlands. Leaseholders can camp, ride horses, hike, hunt, and fish. Photograph crowded. year, a bike club leased a parcel in Mult- “But when the Forest and Fish law came courtesy of Michelle Metcalf. “We’ve been able to add some per- nomah County. Weyerhaeuser foresters in, we started realizing we were spending mits—not huge quantities—and a lot of will work with the group to construct sus- an awful lot of money repairing roads af- that is in areas where we sell out quickly, tainable, safe trails that minimize resource ter hunting season, and there was an in- By Andrea Watts because we do want to get people out on damage. creased risk of silt getting into streams, so lthough public lands are touted for the landscape,” Metcalf said, adding that “We look forward to a very successful it was going against our road-maintenance their recreational opportunities, the goal is to find that sweet spot between relationship,” said Metcalf. “This club has policies.” Aprivate timberlands also provide accessibility and over-use. leases on other industrial forestlands that To that end, motorized vehicles aren’t similar valuable opportunities. Unlike One change made since the permit have been very positive. I have faith that permitted; people are welcome to walk, state and federal agencies, however, pri- program started is the availability of a it’s going to be a great partnership.” bike, or ride in on horseback. Picking vate landowners aren’t required to open nonmotorized annual permit, which cur- Just as the forest types in the North- mushrooms and berries is allowed, and their lands to the public. Those who do rently costs $75. With this permit, permit- west and South are different, so too are cutting firewood is also allowed with a contend with the same issues that public tees are only allowed to bike ride, walk, the recreational programs. The Southern permit. Camping and campfires aren’t al- agencies must grapple with: determining or ride horses within the permit area. “We Timberlands recreational program offers lowed. The reason for banning camping when and where different types of recre- were getting feedback from neighbors only leases, with some customers having was the result of seeing the aftermath of ational activities are permitted, managing who just wanted to walk in or horseback leased the same property for more than 20 hunting season on a tract of land pur- security and trash, and balancing access riders who didn’t want all that other stuff,” years, Metcalf said. Hunting stands and chased in 2004. with management activities. said Metcalf. “We tried to find something food plots are allowed, and the lease areas “After hunting season, it was disgust- To learn how several well-known to accommodate their recreation use.” are also smaller compared to those out in ing,” Stanley said. “It was a mess. With fire private forestland owners in the Pacif- Another recent change for motor- the Northwest, due to the differences in danger, I can’t foresee us allowing camp- ic Northwest structure their recreational ized-use permit holders was allowing the wildlife patterns. ing unless it’s structured and by permit. A programs, I chatted with representatives cutting of two cords of firewood, and in One interesting difference is that free-for-all doesn’t work.” from Weyerhaeuser, Port Blakely, and 2016, camping was added. “Weyerhae- mountain biking and hiking aren’t as pop- In addition to hunting, kayakers and Hancock Natural Resource Group. user was not in favor of camping in the ular recreational activities in the South. motorcyclists can also secure permission beginning, but we’ve worked through that “I’m teaching my southern colleagues to use specific tracts for special events. Weyerhaeuser and it hasn’t been an issue for us.” about these other cool recreation opportu- One unique type of recreation that the Each region within Weyerhaeuser’s tim- This year, permit holders can also nities that we have out here in the North- company’s Morton Tree Farm hosts is berlands portfolio has its own recreation- purchase a two-day guest pass for a non- west,” said Metcalf. hang gliding. According to Stanley, Dog al access program. For the Northwest family member. Metcalf said that this ad- Although the program is only six Mountain is a world-famous hang-gliding Region, which includes Washington, Or- dition was in response to feedback, pri- years old, Weyerhaeuser has built a loyal site, and Port Blakely continued the lease egon, and Montana, nearly two million marily from the hunting community. customer base. “People do appreciate the agreement with the hang-gliding group acres of timberland are available to ac- The fees collected from the permits opportunity to get out on the landscape,” after it purchased the tree farm. Not only cess. As the Northwest recreation access are used to pay security staff who patrol she said, adding that the company is will- is the group respectful, “they have our manager, SAF member Michelle Metcalf the units daily, gate and lock maintenance ing to listen to new recreational ideas the phone numbers, and if they see smoke, is responsible for overseeing them all. (new keys are issued each year), and per- public suggests. “If we can make it work they call it in,” Stanley said. “It’s worked Public access onto Weyerhaeuser tim- mit packets that include a paper map and with our existing uses, we’re more than really well.” berlands has evolved over the years, she permit. Within the permit agreement, it is willing to investigate ways to give it a try.” “If there’s an organized group of peo- said. What used to be open-access roads made clear that permittees are responsi- ple who approach us and say, ‘We’re inter- became gated because of garbage dump- ble for their safety and surroundings, and Port Blakely ested in xyz,’ we’re open,” Warjone said. ing and vandalism. Gates were then only Metcalf said that “we’ve been fortunate to It’s toward the end of my discussion with “If they got insurance, and we think it’s opened during hunting season. Several not have any issues.” Court Stanley, president of Port Blakely not going to harm the resource or cause years ago, in the Southern Timberlands When there is an active harvest unit, Tree Farms; Mike Warjone, vice-president issues with sediment in streams or cause a Region, Weyerhaeuser’s recreational ac- the hauling route is posted and the road to of operations; and Teresa Loo, Port Blake- fire danger, we’ll entertain any idea.” cess program started a recreational ac- the unit is closed to permit holders. Even ly’s director of environmental affairs and On its New Zealand property, Port cess lease program, and “they had great if there isn’t an active harvest in an area, community relations, about the compa- Blakely also allows free access, but the success with it, so we rolled it out in the forestry vehicles have the right of way, ny’s approach to managing public access company does issue permits to track us- West,” Metcalf said. which is addressed in the permit rules. Al- and recreation that we return to my first ers. In New Zealand, “they’re more re- Weyerhaeuser elected to use a fee- though CBs aren’t required, the channels question: What is Port Blakely’s philoso- spectful of private property,” Stanley said. based annual permit model for motor- are posted. “We do our best to keep our phy on public access for recreation on its “It’s pretty well-known it’s private forest- ized access that currently costs anywhere customers notified and safe,” Metcalf said, 140,000 acres of timberland in Washing- land.” from $225 to $395. Permits are available “and most are repeat customers who are ton and Oregon? Group activities, such as motorcross, for specific areas, with the number issued familiar with a working landscape.” “We’ve never discussed it intentional- are allowed, and unlike in the United determined by the carrying capacity of Prohibited recreational activities in- ly,” said Loo. “But my sense is that public States, hunting season is year-round. the land. Included with the permission to clude target shooting, Metcalf said. “Safety access, the way it’s evolved, is part of our One concern with allowing free pub- access the land is the option to camp, re- is a core value at Weyerhaeuser. Whether culture and part of our overall belief. It lic access is the dumping of trash. Dump- move two cords of firewood, and partake it’s the clays left behind or the spent shells, goes in hand with our environmental ed- ing is an issue, Warjone admitted, but the

6 The Forestry Source people dumping aren’t the members of the fine for me. They’re not going to go off the public using the landscape for recreation. road and tear up the soil.” “Port Blakely has a pretty high percentage To manage the liability of having the of urban interface as a percentage of our public on its tree farms when there are ac- land base,” he said. “So we have quite a bit tive logging operations, signs are posted of trash dumping to contend with.” and roads are closed. During the summer, One change that Warjone has ob- security contractors are on patrol, and the served over the years is the public’s accep- woods are shut down when the company tance of gates. In the ’70s and ’80s, when decides the fire danger is too great, even the gates went up, there was opposition if the state hasn’t ordered a general shut- and that generation has moved through, down. he said. “Now people understand that a When the conversation circles back managed industrial forest is not a public to the discussion of access by fee, Warjone forest.” said that “it’s surprising to me how long it’s An issue that the company is cur- taken for fee access to catch on here. Pret- rently addressing is what happens when ty much the rest of the country is using a person inadvertently crosses the bound- that model … it can be a big part of your ary of Port Blakely’s property and onto revenue stream if you operate a tree farm that of an adjacent landowner. “We have a in the Southeast.” checkerboard ownership with Green Dia- “It’s our choice anyway to invite peo- mond, which can be problematic at times ple in,” Stanley explained. “On the flip One recreational activity popular on Port Blakely’s Morton Tree Farm: hang gliding. Dog Mountain is a world-famous hang-gliding site, according to Court Stanley, president of Port Blakely. Photograph courtesy because people will be hunting on our side, every landowner [can manage as of Monique Taylor. property and not know they’ve left Port they choose]—it’s their property. We’ve Blakely and are on Green Diamond,” ex- chosen to go our own way.” ownership of the tree farm. licenses. Four dollars from every hunt- plained Warjone. “We want to have access for the pub- ing license are diverted to the Access and As for the number of people who Hancock Natural Resource Group lic for a variety of reasons,” Anderson ex- Habitat grant program, and its goals are recreate on their lands, neither Stanley or When Hancock Natural Resource Group plained. “It might generate revenue, and to improve habitat and provide access to Warjone have a definitive number. “We (HNRG) purchased a 197,000-acre tree it definitely creates goodwill. It’s easier to the public. know it’s a lot,” said Stanley, and Warjone farm in Oregon’s coast range six years ago, work with folks than against them.” It took more than a year to work remarked that on one particular weekend Jerry Anderson, CF, said that the locals That being said, he cautioned that through developing the grant proposal out at the company’s seed orchard, a game feared that their public access would be “having the public on your property does and getting it approved by the ODFW camera captured 70 people using the trail. lost. “There was concern we would go to cost money. We have to maintain the commissioners. With HNRG receiving With advances in technology comes a lease access–only program or no access,” roads, maintain the gates, and maintain $190,000 each year for the next three new forms of recreation, such as electric said Anderson. “Instead, their worst fears the signs.” years, the result for the public is: “Before bikes, and already Port Blakely has a re- weren’t realized.” To help offset these maintenance the Access and Habitat program, our pol- sponse. “We do not consider an electric As region manager, Anderson and his costs, HNRG pursued an Access and icy was to have open lands when it’s not bike a motorized vehicle,” Warjone said. team have the discretion to set recreation- Habitat grant through the Oregon De- fire season and then completely closed to “Suddenly, people are getting much deep- al policy, and he honored the recreational partment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). er into the forest than they used to. That’s policies in place before HNRG assumed The program is funded through hunting VIEW Q Page 23

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July 2019 7 SELIN post-WWII era of the 1950s and 1960s Q From Page 1 (Collins and Brown 2007). Rising visita- tion and competing public demands on to the public” (Waugh 1918, 5). To do so, the National Forest System have stretched he recommended that the Forest Service the capacity of the agency to respond to should employ men suitably trained in these emerging social trends. For exam- recreation, landscape engineering, and re- ple, dramatic increases in the amount of lated subjects. If Waugh’s report ushered dispersed recreation use (for example, in the era of professionally and scientifi- camping outside of a designated camp- cally managed outdoor recreation on na- ground) that occurs outside developed tional forests, it begs the question of how recreation sites have severely tested the well the institution has met his challenge. agency. For example, the rising use of One hundred years later, what is the cur- off-road vehicles to access remote regions rent status and what are the prospects for of national forests has prompted a Trav- the Forest Service’s managed recreation el Management Program to clarify policy program? Are there internal reforms that about where motor vehicles are allowed could help the agency more effectively or prohibited on national forest lands (US achieve its mission with respect to recre- Forest Service 2008). User conflicts be- ation? tween motorized and non-motorized visi- tors are on the rise. The Forest Service’s Managed Recre- The face of national forest visitors is ation Program also changing as America becomes more These questions frame the objective of diverse. According to the Pew Research this essay. I examined the Forest Service’s Center, by 2055, the United States will Figure 2. The Cost of Wildland Fire as a Percentage of the Forest Service’s Annual Budget (US Forest Service managed outdoor recreation program by not have a single racial or ethnic major- 2015b) reading relevant agency reports, reviewing ity. Over the next 50 years, the majority for the annual day of the year when their dividuals and communities by providing the academic and professional literature, of US population growth will be linked to recreation project budgets get stripped quality recreation through partnerships and speaking with field-level recreation Asian and Hispanic immigration (Pew Re- and the funds transferred to the wildfire with local recreation service providers. managers, as well as recreation directors search Center 2016). The Forest Service budget. Interestingly, the Framework does not at a regional and Washington office level. and other federal land management agen- In addition to a declining number of attempt to operationally define “sustain- While I reviewed many constructive com- cies are working hard to employ conserva- full-time employees, an overall flat agen- able recreation,” leaving flexibility in how ments about recreation and the Forest Ser- tion professionals and provide recreation cy budget in recent years, and wildfire- the Forest Service regions and individual vice, the final conclusions of this essay are opportunities that are responsive to these related budget disruptions, deferred main- national forests interpret and implement my own. Any acclaim or criticism should demographic changes. For example, a tenance costs for developed recreation the Framework. Instead, it identifies 10 be directed my way. matter as simple as the design of a typical sites and trails have ballooned: In 2016, focus areas in which to achieve the agen- It’s likely that Waugh would struggle Forest Service campground can be prob- these costs stood at $672 million (US For- cy’s sustainable recreation goals. These to wrap his head around the scale of rec- lematic. A typical campsite often caters to est Service 2017a). Put into perspective, focus areas include standard sustainability reation investment that the Forest Service the typical atomic family of the 1960s— only a quarter of Forest Service trails are programs, such as restoring and adapting has made since 1918. For one thing, the two parents and three children taking a being managed up to standard. What does recreation settings, implementing “green” US population has grown threefold since 1–2-week summer vacation (think Chevy this all mean for the Forest Service’s man- operations, forging strategic partnerships, 1918, from 103.2 to 325.4 million resi- Chase’s family in National Lampoon’s Va- aged recreation program? It means that promoting citizen stewardship, develop- dents. The number of recreation visits cation). Campsite design for the future the agency has a diminished capacity to ing a stable financial foundation, and de- to the country’s 155 national forests has will need to be responsive to the cultural respond to society’s growing demand for veloping a recreation workforce. grown from about five million visits in needs of more-diverse visitors. Along with high-quality recreation opportunities on In his video introduction to the 1925 to 149 million visits today (US For- traditional campsites, the Forest Service the National Forest System. It means that Framework, former chief Tom Tidwell est Service 2017a; see Figure 1). Overall, may need to develop more “large group” many of these public demands go unmet, placed the goal of sustainable recreation the Forest Service today manages more campsites to accommodate the shifting resulting in dissatisfied visitors, unman- within the context of strained federal than 158,000 miles of trails, 115,000 cultural needs of visitors, as well as add aged recreation sites, deteriorating infra- budgets, backlogged maintenance, and overnight and day-use developed sites, other modern conveniences such as elec- structure, and ecological damage. Clearly, unmanaged recreation (US Forest Service and more than 380,000 heritage sites. In tricity, wi-fi, and cell service. the agency’s recreation program is at a 2012). “We need to go beyond current addition, the agency manages 36.5 mil- crossroads and in dire need of a strategic, funding sources,” he said. The chief is- lion acres of designated wilderness, 122 Internal Agency Challenges focused investment. Faced with these sig- sued a call to action to Forest Service part- waterways in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Given these pressing societal challenges, nificant challenges, the Forest Service has ners to help implement the Framework System, and 136 National Scenic Byways one anticipates the Forest Service would adapted and implemented several new and added that additional Web resources, covering more than 9,100 miles. More be mobilizing capital and human resourc- recreation programs designed to address tools, and cases would be available soon. than 230 million Americans live within es to meet these outdoor recreation needs these challenges. Now-resigned Forest Service chief 100 miles of a national forest or grassland. of the future. However, internal bud- Tony Tooke picked up this mantle from get figures suggest otherwise: a decline A Framework for Sustainable Recreation Chief Tidwell, publishing five agency Societal Challenges of about 15 percent in the budget of the The Forest Service’s Framework for Sus- priorities that included: “Enhancing rec- With the scale of this recreation infra- Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Pro- tainable Recreation (FSR) was released reation opportunities, improving access, structure and need to accommodate cur- gram from 2001 to 2015 (US Forest Ser- by the Washington Office in 2010 as an and sustaining recreation infrastructure.” rent and potential visitor use, agency lead- vice 2015b). According to one recent For- eight-page document communicating the (US Forest Service 2017b). Thus, enhanc- ers rightly tout the Forest Service as the est Service report, this program’s budget broad challenges and opportunities facing ing recreation opportunities continues to largest, most diverse provider of outdoor declined by nearly $95 million between the Forest Service’s managed recreation be a strategic priority for the Forest Ser- recreation opportunities in the world. The FY 2011 and FY2016, an 18 percent de- program (Selin 2017; US Forest Service vice. agency has certainly built a strong tradi- crease (US Forest Service 2017a). In ad- 2010). The Framework is couched in the Over the past five years, the agency’s tion of scientifically and professionally dition, the number of full-time employees context of a history of innovation and national office has developed an FSR Im- managed recreation resources since Frank in the Forest Service’s managed recreation growth, as well as the significant challeng- plementation Guide that provides guid- Waugh’s 1918 recreation report. How- program has declined by nearly 30 per- es to providing quality recreation in an era ance, tools, and lessons learned to Forest ever, it is presently grappling with many cent since 2002. While many causes can of population growth, urbanization, pub- Service regions and individual national thorny recreation challenges as it strives be attributed to this recreation budget lic health concerns, an out-of-touch-with- forests to use. Over the past three years, a to achieve its motto of “Caring for the land decline, the elephant in the room is the nature American public, and declining number of Forest Service regions have de- and serving people” during an era of un- vast financial investment the Forest Ser- public revenues to maintain and enhance veloped their own sustainable recreation precedented social and economic change vice is making in fighting wildfires. Fig- recreation facilities and opportunities. It strategies, tiered to the national FSR, and (US Forest Service 2015a). Population ure 2 illustrates how much of the overall articulated a vision and guiding princi- individual forests are now striving to im- growth and increased urbanization have Forest Service budget is getting consumed ples that emphasize re-connecting people plement their own as well. According to severely tested the Forest Service’s recre- by fighting wildfires (US Forest Service with their national forests and inspiring Tinelle Bustam, national assistant director ation infrastructure and management sys- 2015b). Anecdotally, Forest Service recre- responsibility to care for them. The vision of recreation, tourism, and public services, tems, which were developed during the ation staff has described how they brace strives to bring health and vitality to in- efforts to “modernize, streamline, and ad-

8 The Forestry Source mensional unit, but rather a complex procedures. The GS-0023 Outdoor Recre- amalgam of programs that included man- ation Planner Series should be used more agement of developed sites, dispersed commonly within the Forest Service. No recreation, trails (both motorized and one would consider hiring a professional non-motorized), wilderness areas, recre- recreation manager to fill a forest soils po- ation special uses, education and inter- sition. The opposite is just as true. pretation programs, and compliance with 4. Expand performance-based pro- federal laws, such as the Federal Lands gram criteria. The Forest Service is still Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). very widget-oriented in how it rewards Several felt like Forest Service personnel program performance. For example, in were placed into these staff roles with the recreation area, a national forest unit limited recreation professional experience with more campgrounds receives more al- and inadequate field training to perform located funding, regardless of the use, rel- at a high level. Further, they felt that this evancy, or value of these recreation facili- lack of professional capacity was contrib- ties to adjacent communities or to visitors. uting to a troubling situation in which What is needed are performance alloca- recreation facilities and resources were not tion models linked to desired sustainable being managed to a professional or federal recreation outcomes, such as percentage standard. of satisfied visitors to a unit or percent- age of developed sites or trails managed Whitewater rafting through the Ocoee River in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. (US Department of Agriculture Photo by Lance Cheung) Synthesis to professional standards or the value of Weaving these disparate threads of evi- volunteer and partner time and resources vance Forest Service Recreation” are being their impact. However, few national for- dence together, it becomes increasingly contributed to a unit. In short, a perfor- implemented at the national office as well ests have the resources to provide such clear that the Forest Service’s managed mance allocation model that rewards inte- as across regional and local units (T. Bus- taxpayer-funded shooting ranges, so the recreation program is indeed at a cross- grated and sustainable program outcomes tam, personal communication, May 11, challenges multiply. roads or tipping point in its ability to rather than dated output criteria. 2018). One interesting theme mentioned provide the American public high-quality 5. Restore scientific and technical How successful FSR has been in ele- by recreation managers was the need for recreation opportunities on our National capacity. Forest Service research and de- vating the capacity of the Forest Service’s a more strategic approach to managing Forest System. For the program to deliv- velopment capacity in the recreation area managed recreation program to meet the for increased visitation, one that reflects er on the FSR promise of reconnecting has diminished over the past two decades. public demand for outstanding recreation a decision-making framework that better Americans with their national forests and As recreation managers grapple with in- opportunities is open to question. Several takes increased use and limited recreation inspiring responsibility to care for them, creasing public demand for services, as agency reports have concluded that FSR carrying capacity into account. Rather the following administrative and legisla- well as with a backlog of infrastructure has not been fully implemented due to than adopting a passive or reactive stance tive changes are needed: maintenance needs, a resurgence is need- the lack of a focused financial investment toward increased use, a strategic approach 1. Act now. Leadership is listening. ed in data-driven and evidence-based (US Forest Service 2015b, 2017a). Clear- might mean limiting the scope of what Former Forest Service chief, Tony Tooke, management and planning strategies. ly, as Chief Tidwell indicated, the agency recreation activities are allowed on nation- recently set five national priorities for the Presently, a national-level, collaborative is hoping to leverage federal investments al forest lands—target shooting, for exam- Forest Service (US Forest Service 2017b). initiative en titled “Re-framing Recre- with partner contributions—both finan- ple. However, managers acknowledged One of these is “enhancing recreation op- ation—A Strategic Initiative to Strength- cial and in-kind—to fully implement that wide open spaces and freedom are portunities, improving access, and sus- en Capacity for Recreation Research and the Framework. Indeed, entrepreneurial part of America’s identity, which could re- taining infrastructure.” According to the Management” is at work to implement a national forests are supplementing their sult in public opposition to these policies. former chief, these priorities give urgency research agenda designed to build recre- federal allocations with a diverse mix of However, these issues will proliferate, be- and focus to critical agency needs, foster ation program capacity at all scales. New leveraged funds, including volunteer do- cause as long as one person’s rights end an ideal work environment, and set ex- conceptual frameworks and planning nations, fee income, concessionaire con- where the next person’s rights begin, staff pectations for how the agency wants to tools are planned to support recreation tributions, and grants and agreements. are going to need to address this. engage community partners. managers struggling to balance competing The degree of leveraged funds varies sig- Most recreation managers were sup- 2. Provide a strategic, focused, fi- demands and interests. nificantly from forest to forest. portive of FSR’s emphasis on enhancing nancial investment in the Forest Ser- 6. Provide real-time monitoring What will it take to fully implement recreation opportunities through inno- vice Managed Recreation Program. One and assessment data to support for- sustainable recreation across the National vative community partnerships. When need look no further than the Collabo- est-level recreation decisions. Recre- Forest System? What internal and external asked to describe an innovative recreation rative Forest Landscape Restoration Pro- ation managers need reliable and valid reforms could help the Forest Service real- program, many mentioned such partner- gram (Schultz, Coelho, and Beam 2015) real-time data on local visitor behavior ize the vision articulated in FSR? How can ship programs as urban youth engage- to find evidence of how a strategic finan- patterns and management preferences to the agency best engage citizens to achieve ment projects or visitor centers managed cial investment can leverage desired pro- support informed decision-making. Pres- its objectives? Forest Service managers jointly with community partners. Respon- gram outcomes. The Forest Service has yet ently, this level of data support is largely have many creative ideas to contribute. dents were passionate about the power of to demonstrate the same strategic finan- missing. Several forest-based pilot proj- these programs to catalyze citizen stew- cial investment in its managed recreation ects are exploring the possibility of part- Managers’ Testimony ardship and strengthen the capacity of the program. Whereas FSR provided needed nering with visitors to provide recreation Agency recreation managers, not surpris- Forest Service’s managed recreation pro- direction for the Forest Service’s managed managers with smart phone–based data ingly, had many ideas for how to improve gram. On the flip side, several recreation recreation program, a strategic financial on visitation patterns. State natural re- recreation management across the Nation- managers sounded a note of caution about investment did not accompany the na- sources agencies are already doing this al Forest System. When asked for strate- community partnerships and volunteer tional implementation of this program. It with hunter and creel surveys. The Forest gies to increase the capacity and relevance programs. A general sentiment expressed is high time the agency did so now. Service needs to jump on board. of the Forest Service recreation program, was that securing community partners 3. Professionalize the recreation 7. Adopt new service delivery mod- recreation managers frequently mentioned and volunteers did not relieve the Forest program. A majority of entry-level rec- els that support innovation and capacity the challenges faced by a diminished rec- Service of the professional responsibility reation staff positions within the Forest building. New service delivery models are reation workforce struggling to manage of properly training, supervising, and re- Service are recruited using the Forestry needed to unleash the creativity and in- an increasing load of public use, resource warding these individuals. In essence, it Technician (GS-0462) job series. This se- novation needed for national forest–based damage, and internal agency reporting takes a certain degree of program capacity ries requires a practical knowledge of the recreation opportunities to be packaged as and monitoring requirements. The issue to professionally manage these communi- methods and techniques of forestry and the world-class attraction they should be. of target shooting on national forests lo- ty engagement programs. Other cautions other “biologically-based” resource-man- According to Tinelle Bustam, national as- cated near urbanizing areas was offered as raised included concerns that partnership agement fields. Using this job series, sistant director of recreation, tourism, and an example. Increased target shooting is programs, facilities, and communications many recreation staff positions are filled public services, “We have crafted a model causing resource damage, interfering with be managed to the same professional stan- with applicants lacking professional train- of shared stewardship where we recog- the recreation experience of others, and dards as those of other federal natural- ing in outdoor recreation planning and nize that as an agency, we can no longer becoming a personal safety risk. Proposals resource programs. management. The outdoor recreation care for the land alone, we are not the to mitigate target shooting impact include Several recreation managers wanted management field has its own accredit- only ones who care, nor are we the only giving the shooters a designated place to to communicate that the Forest Service ed baccalaureate and graduate programs, shoot, thus concentrating and restricting “recreation” program was not a one-di- professional societies, and credentialing SELIN Q Page 23

July 2019 9 COMMENTARY

Wilderness Recreation: Misnomer or Intention?

By Cindy and David Chojnacky However, on-the-ground wilder- ness management seems to aim at pro- ilderness always generates tecting wilderness from visitors—at least strong opinions, such as based on our experience in visiting more Wthose expressed when the than 60 wilderness areas since 2012. administrator of The Smokey Wire: Na- This focus results in removing signs, tional Forest News and Views, a blog on trail markers (cairns), campsites, and natural-resources topics, suggested other visitor aids to meet some notion of the creation of “wilderness lite” areas, a primitive experience. Wilderness visi- where mountain bikes would be allowed tor guidelines often spell out prohibited (Friedman 2019). Many responded. activities, but agencies devote little effort A well-respected conservation- to redirecting or mitigating environmen- ist commented that “wilderness is not tal impacts through better dispersal of about recreation” (Wuethner 2019). visitors. Two recent examples: Our comment noted that “mountain bikes are a nice way to more quickly ac- • On a weekday in Virginia’s Shenan- cess wilderness and provide more wil- doah National Park (SHEN), a derness experience for these users, but 200-car parking lot on the park’s A wilderness area entry point. Photo courtesy of Cindy and David Chojnacky. wilderness is not for users; it only allows east side overflowed into a private visitors. Therefore, to use wilderness for lot at the trailhead to “Old Rag,” Natural conditions would be improved facilities to support a livestock grazing the benefit of mountain bikers violates a a popular hike within the wilder- by removing invasives and restoring program, will be permitted to contin- basic premise of wilderness” (Chojnacky ness (60 percent of SHEN). A few ecological processes. If agencies refrain ue in National Forest wilderness areas, and Chojnacky 2019). miles south, confused backpackers from allowing nonconforming uses, this when such grazing was established prior The preamble to the Wilderness Act wandered up Whiteoak–Cedar Run enhances the undeveloped aspect of wil- to classification of an area as wilderness” of 1964 indicates that we all were a bit Canyon, where NPS had closed derness. (Forest Service field managers, (House Report 96-17). It also specifies off base. all creekside campsites—the only for example, must seek exemptions to that wilderness designations cannot be The Act states that Congress’s policy desirable terrain for camping. We permit use of helicopters for inventory used to reduce or phase out grazing. is: found that wilderness trails north or wildlife monitoring; or chainsaws for So, we have an interesting conun- “[T]o secure for the American people of these areas and accessible from creating fire-line or temporary clearing drum. Congress said in 1964 that the of present and future generations the ben- Old Rag trailhead were lightly used. of post-fire or post-insect downfall in purpose for wilderness areas is for the efits of an enduring resource of wilderness. NPS issues day-hike maps from wilderness.) Solitude is thought to be im- use and enjoyment of people, and a key For this purpose there is hereby established Skyline Drive visitor centers, but proved by reducing visitor encounters, reason to maintain wilderness unim- a National Wilderness Preservation System provides little information to crowds signs of modern civilization inside wil- paired is for future use and enjoyment. to be composed of federally owned areas accessing the park/wilderness from derness, recreational facilities, or man- Yet Congress left the door open to ex- designated by Congress as ‘wilderness ar- population centers to the east. agement restrictions on visitor behavior. empt a number of existing uses express- eas’, and these shall be administered for the • The popular Sawtooth Wilderness Congress itself has muddied the ly prohibited by the Act; some may use and enjoyment of the American people in Idaho, managed by FS, is heavily wilderness-use waters. The Wilderness enhance visitor experience, but many in such manner as will leave them unim- backpacked in the summer season; Act of 1964 expressly prohibits specific undermine wilderness character and paired for future use and enjoyment as wil- most visitors camp at the same uses that would impair wilderness char- dampen the visitor experience. derness, and so as to provide for the protec- dozen lakes (of more than 100) in acter or leave a human imprint, such as Nevertheless, the Wilderness Act tion of these areas, the preservation of their a few areas and hike less than 25 constructing temporary roads, installing outlines a balance for wilderness stew- wilderness character, and for the gathering percent of 350 trail miles. Kiosks at structures, using motor vehicles or mo- ardship. Since wilderness areas should and dissemination of information regarding popular trailheads spell out prohi- torboats, landing aircraft, and using any be managed for the benefit of wilder- their use and enjoyment as wilderness.” bitions, and much of the agency’s form of mechanical transportation, in- ness visitors now and forever (to “ensure (italics ours) fieldwork seems to be removing fire cluding bicycles. The Act then proceeds a continuing resource of wilderness”), Congress established public wilder- circle rocks, without creating any to allow exemptions for uses already wilderness should be protected unim- ness areas “for the use and enjoyment new campsites, so that visitors are established, including motorboats, air- paired—as managers have focused on— of the American people.” According to channeled to the few flat, dusty craft, water developments, grazing, and but also managed for what visitors want Webster, “use” is the act or practice of lakeside sites. mineral exploration, plus mechanized and need. employing something, as well as power and motorized uses to support these op- to use something, the legal enjoyment of Perhaps some of the emphasis on erations. Many enabling acts for public What Visitors Want property, and so on. Recreation is “ac- protection of public wilderness areas wilderness areas have included these Wilderness field managers naturally tivity done for enjoyment when one is from visitors stems from wilderness exemptions. Hence, we have the Frank want to know more about visitors: In a not working.” So, use and recreation are managers’ focus on “wilderness charac- Church River of No Return Wilderness 2014 survey concerning research needs primary purposes of public wilderness ter.” This concept, first created by an in- in Idaho with airstrips, fly-in lodges, to aid wilderness management, some areas. In fact, a major reason they are to teragency group of wilderness managers and motorboats on some river stretch- 126 respondents (out of a total 368, be kept “unimpaired” is for future use and researchers in the 1990s and updat- es. In other wilderness areas, we find about one-third) supported an inven- and enjoyment as wilderness. ed twice since, is loosely based on Wil- commercial outfitter camps, permittees tory of “visitor use, preferences, and The four federal agencies charged derness Act language and includes five using bulldozers to improve stock tanks, impacts” (Watson and Armatas 2017). with wilderness administration tout wil- attributes: Wilderness is untrammeled, ranch roads to access wilderness, and of Wilderness researchers have seen the derness recreation. The Forest Service natural, and undeveloped; provides op- course, livestock grazing, which some- need to understand human benefits and (FS) administers public wilderness areas portunities for solitude (primitive or un- times results in creeks, springs, and use of wilderness (Landres et al. 1994; as part of its Recreation Heritage and confined recreation); and has other fea- campsites littered with manure piles. Watson 1995), have studied wilderness Volunteer Resources. The National Park tures of value (Landres et al. 2015). Congress is so committed to wilder- experience (Watson 1995, 2007), and Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Manage- For each attribute, the group in- ness grazing that it further clarified the have created guides on how to inven- ment (BLM), and US Fish and Wildlife cludes examples of management that original Act’s language in the Colorado tory wilderness visitor use and prefer- Service (FWS) all offer information on sustains or improves it. For example, National Forest Wilderness Act of 1980. ences (Watson et al. 2000). Early work opportunities for wilderness recreation, for untrammeled conditions, managers A committee report on the bill stated that focused on recreational impacts of vis- and an interagency website offers an would not manipulate ecological sys- “the legislative history of this language itors, and most visitor use/preference article on its benefits. (www.wilderness tems (e.g., stock lakes with fish, con- is very clear in its intent that livestock work has been based on a few heavily .net/NWPS/valuesRecreational). trol predators, or suppress wildfires). grazing, and activities and the necessary used areas (Watson and Armatas 2017).

10 The Forestry Source However, after 50 years of wilder- scope of management knowledge and ness management and research, visitor funding to address. Why not put energy wants and needs are apparently not yet into better information and minimally well understood, and funding for re- designed access routes to disperse wil- search into these issues (as well as for derness visitors to less-visited wilder- managing wildernesses and their users) ness areas? is well below what we see as adequate. Future experience—that is, the “en- What could be done in the meantime during resource of wilderness”—can be to balance wilderness preservation with the measure for considering proposed public “use and enjoyment”? To some new wilderness recreational uses. Our extent, we can watch how visitors are essay was prompted by a question of voting with their feet (or perhaps hooves mountain-bike use in wilderness areas. in traditionally used areas). Well-known Mountain bikes directly violate Wilder- areas with good trails, such as the bet- ness Act prohibitions against mecha- ter-known portions of the Sawtooth nized use, were not an exempted use in (Idaho), Eagle Cap (Oregon), or Su- the original act (since they didn’t exist perstition (Arizona) wilderness areas, at the time), and would probably create More than 100 years old, Webb Lake Ranger Station is still used today as a Forest Service administrative are overused. Wilderness-management more trail-maintenance problems. In site in the Scapegoat Wilderness, on the Lolo National Forest in Montana. US Forest Service photo by Brandan W. Schulze. agencies seem to understand this, since our experience, few wilderness trails are scarce resources have been deployed to at the standard to accommodate moun- 340, Rocky Mountain Research Sta- Mental Model of Science Informed these areas. Perhaps this indicates visi- tain bikes without damage, and too tion, Fort Collins, CO. 114 p. by Public Lands Managers: Increas- tors want decent access (trails) and in- many trails already are rapidly declining. Landres, P.B., D.N. Cole, and A.E. Wat- ing the Chances for Management formation. Trails get enough of a beating from tra- son. 1994. “A Monitoring Strategy Based on Science.” J. Contemp. Some temporary nonconforming ditional permitted uses such as stock. A for the National Wilderness Preser- Manag. 8(4): Article ID 1929-0128- uses of wilderness areas might be justi- better solution for mountain-bike users vation System.” P. 192–197 in Inter- 2017-04-01-17. fied in order to test whether providing is an intermediate category of protected national Wilderness Allocation, Man- Watson, A., D. Cole, D. Turner, and P. these would disperse visitors to less-used areas that include either jeep routes or agement, and Research, Hendee, J.C., Reynolds. 2000. Wilderness Recre- areas. For instance, hundreds of miles trails closed to motorized use but open and V.G. Martin (eds.). Internation- ation Use Estimation: A Handbook of of legacy trails are being lost due to cli- for mountain bikes. al Wilderness Leadership (WILD) Methods and Systems. USDA Forest mate change–related fires, erosion, and Perhaps a fresh look at the Wil- Foundation, Fort Collins, CO. Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS- pest infestations, and there is precious derness Act of 1964 in all of its con- Watson, A. 2013. The Role of Wilder- GTR-56, Rocky Mountain Research little funding for trail restoration. Short- tradictions is in order. And since over- ness Protection and Societal En- Station, Ogden, UT. 198 p. term limited use of chainsaws could be used wilderness seems to be the focus gagement as Indicators of Well-Be- Watson, A., B. Glaspell, N. Christensen, allowed in wilderness where recently of management concern, perhaps it ing: An Examination of Change P. Lachapelle, V. Sahanatien, and downed trees from climatic events (fire, would help to make simple changes to at the Boundary Waters Canoe F. Gertsch, 2007. “Giving Voice to pests, microbursts) have blocked visitor the wording on traditional wilderness Area Wilderness.” Soc. Indicat. Res. Wildlands Visitors: Selecting Indi- access to hundreds of miles of trails. The registers usually present at heavily used 110(2):597–611. alternative is what we witnessed on the areas that currently ask information on Watson, A., and C. Armatas. 2017. “A CHOJNACKY Q Page 16 George Washington and Jefferson Na- group size, use, and number of days, to tional Forests in Virginia, where downed gauge wilderness user experience. In- trees and resulting brush closed trails in stead, they could ask the question (for the Ramsey’s Draft, St. Mary’s, and Stone yes/no check), “Do the following wilder- Mountain wildernesses; lacking a certi- ness features improve or hamper your fied sawyer, the districts just left trails wilderness visit?” followed by a list of closed or took them off the system map. recreational features (trails, signs, trail We realize that our thinking may fly marker cairns or blazes, campsites, pit FIA in the face of the “wilderness-character” toilets, shelters); nonconforming but approach of management agencies—and allowed uses (cattle grazing, outfitter also those of nongovernment entities is- stock use, airstrips); solitude concerns suing legal challenges to government (seeing other people); and historical fea- THE GOLD STANDARD actions in wilderness areas apparently tures (fire lookouts, old cabins, corrals). based on similar notions of maintaining Since public enjoyment and use are key untrammeled and undeveloped wilderness purposes of public wilderness areas, this An Investigative Report Concerning character. But as hard-core wilderness is at least a small place to start. World-Class Research Underway at the visitors, we are not convinced that re- moving all aspects of civilization or stop- Cindy and David Chojnacky are the U.S. Forest Service’s Research Stations: ping all nonconforming administrative founders of the Wilderness Need Associa- Portland, St. Paul, Knoxville, activities is in the best interest of visitor tion (wildernessneed.org). use and enjoyment of wilderness areas. and Ogden Congress, author of the unique US Na- References tional Wilderness Preservation System, Chojnacky, C., and D. Chojnacky. Feb has built into the original legislation the 19, 2019 Comments in The Smokey www.evergreenmagazine.com option for uses that can negatively im- Wire: National Forest News and pact wilderness character but benefit a Views, tinyurl.com/y3f3uako. special interest. Perhaps administrative Friedman, S. Feb. 18. 2019. Comments uses and features that benefit visitors in The Smokey Wire: National For- should also be considered. est News and Views, tinyurl.com/ We would like to see more support yy68yu9z; and Feb. 20, 2019, ti- for a balanced-use approach that allows nyurl.com/yyl7ahyg. wilderness-management measures that Landres, P., C. Barns, S. Boutcher, T. enhance visitor experience while cer- Devine, P. Dratch, A. Lindholm, L. tainly attempting to protect future ex- Merigliano, N. Roeper, and E. Simp- perience—realizing that some permitted son. 2015. Keeping It Wild 2: An Up- What do you want from your forest? uses are detrimental and some big-pic- dated Interagency Strategy to Monitor ture natural impacts (like fires, insects, trends in Wilderness Character across and invasives) may initially impact vis- the Wilderness Preservation System. itor experience but may be beyond the USDA Forest Service RMRS GTR-

July 2019 11 Training the Next Generation of Recreation Leaders

By Andrea Watts

internship experience into a full-time job system. These days, everything is a little over the years. more fragmented. Some are still getting jobs out of the chute with federal and state Your program has an international ele- parks and land-management agencies, but ment—one class is Sustainable Tourism students are finding jobs in the commer- in Patagonia. Why include an internation- cial or nonprofit sector and working in al element, and does that enhance the experiential-education programs. students’ academic experience? Everything has become more global and This is a tangent question, but what was connected these days, so we’re trying to your reaction to the television show prepare our students to work in that con- Parks and Recreation? nected globalized environment. Of our It’s always good to get exposure, and then five full-time professors, more than half of you usually get a bump in enrollment as a them have strong international interests. I result of that. Recreation is a very applied did a Fulbright year in Finland and taught field and is often a “discovery major,” so in a forestry school. Robert Burns [direc- the exposure helps. tor of the Forestry and Natural Resources Division] has worked on visitor-moni- University of Maine toring programs around the world and is UM offers a bachelor of science degree in helping Brazil’s Forest and Park Agency parks, recreation, and tourism. The University of Maine’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism program includes a field-practice course during develop visitor-monitoring and profession- which students learn about search and rescue and trail maintenance at Acadia National Park. Photographs al park-management programs. We bring How did the Parks, Recreation, and Tour- courtesy of John Daigle. knowledge and tools and share these with ism program develop? international audiences, and then we bring Daigle: The program itself began in 1972 s was mentioned in the introduc- wood science and technology; and ener- back international best practices and share and started, like a lot of initial outdoor-rec- tion on page 1, the recreation gy land management) in our division; the them in the United States. reation degree programs, within forestry Aindustry is expected to increase coursework and goals were separate. In and natural resources–management pro- in the next decade, both in terms of the 2005, we started getting serious about be- How has enrollment fluctuated over the grams. Ours started within the School number of people recreating and the jobs ing integrated. The five faculty who teach years? of Forest Resources, because there was a needed to meet demand. To learn how in our program, we all have at least one Back in the 1970s and 1980s, we were growing demand for outdoor-recreation universities are training the next gener- degree in forestry and natural resources. really big, with 250 students, and when management, both at the state and federal ation of recreation professionals, I chat- we were just accredited by NRPA, we were level. Recreation is a relatively young pro- ted with Steve Selin, a professor at West What courses does your curriculum in- much broader. Students would go into fessional field that really emerged in the Virginia University (WVU), and John clude? natural resources, the Forest Service, or 1960s, when federal agencies specifically Daigle, a professor at the University of Our core required courses have been con- work for public land–management agen- managed their lands for outdoor recre- Maine (UM); both of these universities sistent over the years. Students take some cies, but we also had a therapeutic rec- ation. offer SAF-accredited recreation programs. courses with the forestry and wildlife stu- reation program. We’re actually smaller What is important to our program (“Implementing Sustainable Recreation on dents, such as dendrology, forest ecology, now, because we chose to focus on natural is that it has a very strong component of the National Forest System: Aligning the and silviculture. But then our students get resources–based recreation and tourism; natural resources–management, because Reality and Promise,” an essay by Selin a big dose of human dimensions and out- plus, there’s lot more competition for ma- we are in the School of Forest Resources. from SAF’s new book, 193 Million Acres: door planning, GIS systems, and natural jors. We’ve been steady—right around 90 Students come out having a good founda- Toward a Healthier and More Resilient US resources–communication skills. Within students—for the last four to five years. tion in resource management. To me, it’s a Forest Service, appears on page 1.) the program itself, they take an Introduc- good foundation to have in outdoor rec- tion to Recreation, Parks, and Tourism When students graduate from WVU, what reation–management, in terms of under- Our conversations have been edited class, which gives them the idea of all careers can they chose among? standing the environment in which that’s for clarity and length. the different career tracks. Students also We are definitely training professionals taking place. learn how to work with partners. It used and leaders to work in the outdoor-recre- We have a bachelor of science in West Virginia University to be Forest Service recreation staff would ation and public land–management fields. parks, recreation, and tourism, but stu- WVU offers a bachelor of science degree in do everything themselves, but these days, Our students have gone on to be national dents can go in three different directions. recreation, parks, and tourism resources. you have to work with others. Students parks superintendents, directors of coun- One is the parks and recreation manage- learn how to build collaborative relation- ty park systems, recreation staff officers ment, which has always been a core piece When did your program start? ships, manage volunteer programs, and for national forests, and extension leaders. of the program. We created two concen- Selin: Our Recreation, Parks, and Tourism work through other people, as well as do- A lot of our students end up working in trations: conservation law for those who Resources program goes back to 1947, ing the job themselves. public affairs, where there’s a lot of inter- are more interested in law and policy as- but it wasn’t in the Division of Forestry An important aspect of our curricu- action with people. We’ve placed a num- pects, and nature-based tourism. and Natural Resources, as it currently is. lum beyond the core classes is the three ber of students in programs like the Park It started in the Physical Education De- areas of concentration that students can Service’s Rivers Trails and Conservation What prompted the creation of these two partment, and it was more focused on pursue. One is the traditional parks and Assistance Program. other concentrations? recreation within physical education in outdoor recreation concentration; a sec- I tell incoming students and par- We found, for students who are interest- schools, like K-12. It wasn’t until 1969, ond one is sustainable tourism develop- ents that all our students and faculty and ed in conservation law, that they needed when the college was going through a ment; and the third one is the adventure alumni are passionate about connecting more background in sociology and crim- major reorganization, that the entire de- education or experimental education, like people to nature. Public engagement has inal law. For the nature-based tourism partment transferred to the Division of Outward Bound or Adventure STEM. become a more-important part of a nat- concentration, we had students who were Forestry and Natural Resources. We’ve We’ve got a couple of faculty who are in- ural-resources professional’s job descrip- very interested in business development. always been accredited by the National terested in sustainable-tourism develop- tion. That’s something we all share across We worked with the Maine Business Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), ment in the United States and globally, our program. School, so students receive a minor in and since 2008, also have been accredited and that’s a growing area and students are business administration as part of their by the Society of American Foresters. interested in it. What is the career outlook for the recre- bachelor’s degree. The other neat thing Somewhat unique to our program, ation industry? about that concentration is that they can How has the program evolved over the we have a 400-hour internship capstone I think it’s very robust and more diversi- go back to school and get their MBA in years? our students complete after their junior fied than it used to be. When recreation one year. That’s a real attractive feature for Before 2008, the program wasn’t well in- year. Most of them do it in the summer, was better funded within the Forest Ser- some students. tegrated with the other natural resources– when they work for a parks, recreation, or vice and other public land–management Because we’re an accredited program management majors (wildlife and fisheries conservation organization. We’ve had so agencies, a lot of our students could be resources; forest resources management; many students who have translated that guaranteed to get a job within the federal EDUCATION Q Page 19

12 The Forestry Source RECREATION STEWARDSHIP Q From Page 5

this represents a different work culture, Integrated Fire and Recreation Internship Program and is leading the Forest Service to think more broadly about the skills needed to By Ginelle Heller and Kelly Balcarczyk be a natural-resources professional. For Forest Service employees accustomed to ue to ever-changing and more- agency-centric decisionmaking, sharing complex conservation and social leadership with a range of stewards might Dissues, interdisciplinary, partner- be a challenging transition. How can the driven approaches are increasingly im- Forest Service recruit and cultivate leaders portant to the way the US Forest Service who are collaborative team workers and (USFS) accomplishes its mission and stra- team builders and who share leadership, tegic plan. Under the USFS strategic plan, power, and decisionmaking space? How the agency and its partners are coming can the agency incentivize and reward up with innovative programs to leverage personnel for growing and advancing resources to ensure that landscape-level partnerships? And how can partnerships conservation efforts are a success. A great be sustained over time, given staff turn- example is the USFS Southern Region and over and a workforce whose capacity is al- Student Conservation Association (SCA) ready stretched? A commitment to shared Integrated Fire and Recreation Internship stewardship causes us to reflect on the (IFRI) program, which was developed in need to enhance our capacity to ensure response to the 2016 National Forest Sys- strong partner relations. tem Trails Stewardship Act. The act calls on USFS “to improve Shared Stewardship Networks trail maintenance by addressing opportu- Shared stewardship for recreation takes nities to use fire crews in trail maintenance many forms. Networks of partners operate activities that do not jeopardize firefight- on different temporal and spatial scales, ing capabilities, public safety, or resource and vary based on management needs. protection.” The goal of this call to action These are examples of the types of recre- Integrated Fire and Recreation Internship program participant Anna Sharier worked on a handcrew sup- is to help USFS tackle a $314-million porting suppression efforts on the 2018 Cabin Lake Fire in the White River National Forest. Photo courtesy of ation networks: backlog in trail maintenance and increase Anna Sharier. the number of trails meeting agency stan- • State offices of outdoor recre- dards (currently 25 percent, according to ation: Since 2013, about a dozen Forest Service Trails: Long- and Short-Term states have developed offices of Improvements Could Reduce Maintenance outdoor recreation, recognizing the Backlog and Enhance System Sustainability, benefits of a nature-based tourism US Government Accountability Office, economy and the need to facilitate 2013). sustainable recreation and tourism The intent of the IFRI program is to development. State agencies link complete mission-critical work in fire and statewide initiatives in outdoor recreation while providing young adults recreation, tourism, rural economies, with a high-quality internship experi- and resource conservation, focusing ence, giving them the training and skill on cross-boundary coordination of building needed to effectively compete investments and marketing. for permanent positions throughout the • State, regional, and local tourism agency. The USFS Southern Region and planning entities: Tourism planning SCA launched a 2018 pilot project that by local and regional entities, such as involved hosting a diverse group of 15 Integrated Fire and Recreation Internship program participants experienced a live-fire field exercise during chambers of commerce, destination young adults, 18–30 years of age, in inte- their training on the Pisgah National Forest. Photo: US Forest Service Southern Region. marketing groups, rural-development grated fire and trails internships through- agencies, and trade associations are out the region. The opportunity was of- fires. During the pilot project, interns to train the next generation of conserva- increasingly working to integrate fered to individuals who have completed served on fire crews and engines on large tion stewards while assessing the fit and and coordinate recreation-promo- a bachelor’s or associate’s degree and have wildfires in California, Colorado, and potential of individual interns. If intern tion efforts with land-management a background in natural-resources man- Montana. Interns were immersed in a and USFS interests align, then the Public agencies. agement. Upon completion of 640 hours fast-paced learning and work environ- Land Corps Hiring Authority can be used • Recreation collaboratives: Collab- of service in the IFRI program, interns are ment with firefighters from all over the to help interns gain permanent employ- orative groups consisting of conser- eligible for the Public Land Corps hiring country and abroad. After her wildfire ment with USFS. vation organizations, activity-based authority, which enables them to apply to experience, Anna Sharier, a former IFRI Whether it be digging a drainage groups, state and local agencies, federal land-management jobs with merit intern, said, “I loved it! It was hard work ditch to improve a trail or building a con- and community-based organizations status, thus providing the interns a bet- and really intense sometimes, but every trol line for a prescribed burn or wildfire, form to plan and manage outdoor ter pathway toward securing permanent day was an adventure, and I was always IFRI interns are advancing the USFS mis- recreation across boundaries to work employment. learning!” sion, one swing of the Pulaski at a time, toward common goals for recreation With the success of the pilot project, While this program supports the ac- and leaders with the program hope to infrastructure, planning, employment, the program is currently in its second year, complishment of the USFS’s mission-criti- grow and expand it to other regions with- restoration, communication, and with interns hosted across the Southeast cal work and incident response, it also has in the agency. public engagement. from the Ozarks in Arkansas to the Pied- the deep impact of developing our future • Trail partnerships: Many nationally mont of the Carolinas. The interns engage leaders for generations to come. Ginelle Heller is a fire and aviation designated trails and trail networks in resource-management projects, such as Throughout their internship experi- workforce development manager. Kelly L Bal- cross multiple jurisdictions and are trails management, developed recreation, ence, interns see firsthand what a career carczyk is a volunteer and service program supported by conservancy groups that habitat restoration, prescribed burning, with USFS could offer them. When asked manager with the US Forest Service’s South- formally facilitate partnerships among and the construction of fire-control lines about his IFRI experience, Rod Murray III ern Region. land-management agencies, private and firebreaks. When fire danger is high said, “IFRI taught me a lot about who I landowners, and tribal groups. and a wildfire breaks out, interns serve on wanted to be and helped me put together Link to SAF Journals • Public-private partnerships: Part- hand crews or with engines in the South- a more-concrete plan of how I wanted to Digital editions and archives of the Journal of nerships with government, nongovern- east. shape my career.” Forestry are available at academic.oup.com/ mental organizations, private-industry The IFRI program also provides in- In addition to helping interns, the jof and Forest Science at academic.oup.com/ forestscience. terns with experience on western wild- IFRI program gives USFS the opportunity STEWARDSHIP Q Page 18

July 2019 13 RECREATION

Boardwalk Built with Help from Mule Teams, Stewardship Agreement ederal land-management agencies sustainable options to reroute this trail to Forest and were tasked with transporting ational experiences on public land. rely heavily on volunteers and part- another location. After an interdisciplinary all materials into the project site so TNC The Nature Conservancy obtained a Fners to accomplish recreational proj- environmental analysis, the Forest Service staff and volunteers could construct the special-use permit to have a film crew on ects on public lands. In October 2018, decided on the installation of the step-and- boardwalk. site to document the project. See tinyurl nearly 400 feet of boardwalk were installed run boardwalk to address resource needs, Over the course of four days, all ma- .com/y57vamka. along the popular White Deer Lake Trail protect wilderness character, and improve terials were transported to the project site —Submitted by Melissa Simpson, Ag- in the McCormick Wilderness Area on the the recreational experience for visitors. and nearly all of the boardwalk was con- riculture Conservation Experienced Services Ottawa National Forest in Michigan’s Up- Federal regulations do not allow mo- structed by TNC. Some minor construction program national coordinator, US Forest Ser- per Peninsula. This is the first project com- torized- or mechanized-equipment use to complete this project remains, as weath- vice. pleted as part of a dynamic stewardship within wilderness, so the entire project had er conditions deteriorated and prevented agreement with The Nature Conservancy to be completed using traditional tools and installation of the final, short segment. The (TNC), which allows both parties to col- nonmotorized transportation. The project team worked in snow and rain, but were laborate on a variety of restoration projects area was located more than 3.5 miles from able to enjoy beautiful fall colors. across the Ottawa National Forest. Stew- the trailhead, so the Forest staff looked at This was a truly unique project on ardship agreements allow funds generated several options for transporting the materi- the Ottawa National Forest and required from timber sales to be used on natural re- als to the site. They considered hauling in a multitude of logistical planning and col- source–related projects on a national forest. materials with sled-dog teams, a mule pack laboration. TNC also coordinated the use The timber program on the Ottawa is very string, and volunteers. For the best site ac- of locally sourced cedar that was milled lo- active, allowing new funding opportunities cess and fewest trips into the wilderness, cally and prepared for the site. The work to enhance recreational resources through the Forest and TNC starting looking for a accomplished through TNC stewardship the use of stewardship agreements. pack string to work on the project. Work- agreement has provided multiple benefits Beaver activity within the wilderness ing with stock in the eastern US is not very to the Ottawa’s natural resources, as well as has caused severe flooding of the White common; the Hoosier National Forest in improved access for visitors who use this Deer Lake Trail over the last decade. Flood- Indiana has the only mule pack string east area and enjoy the wilderness experience ing, along with the topography in the area, of the Mississippi River, and the string was that McCormick Wilderness provides. This has caused visitors to create several social not available for the project. is a great example of what collaborating trails to avoid the flooding and navigate Through networking with Forest Ser- with partners and other national forests through the steep terrain. The increased vice recreational staff around the country, can accomplish to protect natural resources This mule is loaded and ready for the trail. Photo by presence of social trails was threatening a the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming and provide quality and sustainable recre- Creative Fauna. Regional Forester Sensitive Species Plant in and its pack string were called upon to as- the wetland and causing severe erosion in sist with the project. A team of four Sho- the area. Due to the topography and sur- shone National Forest staff, 10 mules, and rounding habitat, there were no safe or four horses arrived on the Ottawa National

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Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers build the boardwalk. Photo by Creative Fauna.

14 The Forestry Source COMMENTARY

No Walk in the Woods

By Nancy Myers

n June of 1991, I started out on the Lassen National Forest as a biological Iaid, calling northern California spot- ted owls so that areas could be set aside for the owls within timber-sale boundar- ies. The next season, I became a forestry technician and performed timber-sale improvement work, such as planting trees in clearcut areas and inspecting thinning projects. But I really wanted to work on trail systems. That’s why I sought out a posi- tion with the Forest Service in the first place. I spent almost 10 years working in the stock-options markets in Chicago and San Francisco and decided I wanted to do something “nicer” as my career. I had hiked on vacations on national-forest trail systems, and my desire was to help keep trails open and maintained, because I enjoyed them so much. However, with no experience, I could not obtain a job A trail on the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. Photo: US Forest Service Southern Region. in trails even at an entry level, but en- try-level positions in Wildlife and Timber visitor information. Each day, I would de- manent appointment in recreation, on vehicles have increased in size, some were available. On the Lassen National cide which trail I would hike and main- the Hoosier National Forest in Indiana. enormously, and our campgrounds were Forest, I would volunteer on days off to tain based on needs. I felt so good about Whew, that only took 10 years! I manage built in the 1970s, when small pop-up assist the trails technician with wilder- what I was able to accomplish, either by the developed and dispersed recreation, campers were popular. Campground ness patrol and trail work within the Car- myself or leading the interns. With trail as well as trails on the Tell City Ranger loop roads are narrow, and the campsite ibou Wilderness and other trails on the work, you see immediate results. District. At just over 200,000 acres, the spurs are not always long enough to ac- Almanor Ranger District. I tracked and Eventually, I got into more-devel- Hoosier is relatively small, compared to commodate these new vehicles. One of broke down wilderness campsites, did oped recreation on the Tonto National other national forests. At first, it took our solutions was to designate a partic- leave-no-trace education and light trail Forest on the Cave Creek Ranger District, some getting used to, as I was accus- ular campsite loop with 10 pull-through maintenance (cleaning waterbars, help- where I was responsible for four large rec- tomed to much-larger forests and more sites for longer RVs with electric and wa- ing clear blowdown with a crosscut saw), reation areas: two on reservoirs, one on visitors, but this forest has grown on me. ter hookups. These sites get a lot of use. installed trail signs, picked up trash, the Verde River, and a Civilian Conserva- We don’t have the pressure as on the Eventually, we would like to re-do the talked to visitors, and checked on future tion Corps recreation area. I was not very Tonto National Forest. Most of our visi- roads and spurs in the main camp loops, maintenance needs. I absolutely loved it involved in trails, except to help schedule tors are within a day’s driving distance— but of course, this costs a lot of money. and looked forward to my volunteer days and keep track of maintenance trips into weekend warriors—or people passing In addition to my current position, I in recreation. the Matzazal Wilderness and Cave Creek through on the I-64. I work with two completed two temporary promotion de- After leaving the Lassen, I obtained trail systems, order trail signs, etc. I was forestry technicians, who maintain trails tails as a recreation program manager on a position as a cooperative education stu- a volunteer coordinator, and I set up vol- and recreation areas. We also have a cad- the Monongahela and Lincoln National dent with the Forest Service’s Northeast- unteer projects on trails and recreation re of seasonal and Youth Conservation Forests. In these positions, I was respon- ern State and Private Forestry division areas and kept track of volunteer records Corps workers to help during the busier sible for the forests’ recreation programs. in Morgantown, West Virginia, where I and annual reports. summer season. These experiences allowed me to see the obtained a master’s degree in forest recre- On the Hoosier, some of the recre- recreation resource from the big-picture ation management. Between semesters, I A Whole Different Ball Game ation areas are much more developed standpoint, and I worked with the bud- worked with the state and private forest- I must say developed recreation was a than I was accustomed to. We have gets more than I was used to—it was ry field office. My desire to work on trails whole different ball game. Since the Cave three large recreation areas with electric eye-opening. was still very strong, so I volunteered Creek Ranger District is adjacent to the and water campsites, shower buildings, I didn’t get into recreation to work on the Monongahela National Forest Phoenix metro area, most of my time was a swimming beach, and other features, on budgets, but of course, the higher up in the Seneca Creek backcountry area, spent picking up after visitors and clean- including a historic house at one of the you go, the less you work on the ground. doing trail maintenance, installing trail ing recreation areas, including many lakes that serves as a meeting place and I don’t do trail maintenance anymore—I signs, picking up litter, breaking down toilets. My first supervisor dubbed recre- visitor center for educational programs. coordinate it and supervise it and con- campsites, doing trail inventory, and pro- ation work as “toilets and garbage”—and Of course, the more-developed areas tract it. The older I get, the less I am able viding visitor information. My coopera- he was right! This was the beginning of require greater maintenance and more to do the intensely physical work, but I tive-education position ended in 1995, the Fee Demo program, the precursor to funding to operate. Since we are a smaller still oversee and enjoy the accomplish- but a government shutdown blocked the Federal Lands Recreation Enhance- forest, our budget is tight. I have to pri- ments we make as a team. my hoped-for appointment to a perma- ment Act, and I had the opportunity to oritize what is going to be fixed or main- I recommend the Forest Service nent position. However, this turned out furnish campgrounds with amenities tained or enhanced or built. This can be as a great agency to work for. We have to be for the good, as I obtained my first from the program income. I did enjoy very frustrating, as I would like to see it our ups and downs, but on the whole, seasonal trails position on the Potomac that part of the job, but the litter pick- all in great shape, but that is not reality. it’s been a great experience working with Ranger District in the Dolly Sods Wilder- up and toilet cleaning got old. It’s not We have spent a lot of money on replac- dedicated people who have a passion for ness area and Seneca backcountry. This glamorous work by any means. It never ing old wooden vault-toilet buildings natural resources. You just have to learn was probably my favorite position in the ended, and accomplishments were short with either precast concrete buildings to be patient and persevere. Forest Service. I worked primarily by -lived—until the next group of visitors or constructed stone buildings. We have myself, with the exception of two Penn came. I admit, I started to develop a very many other aging facilities and nowhere Nancy Myers is a natural resources State interns for part of the season. I did negative view of the human race. near the funding to replace them. specialist on the Hoosier National Forest in trail maintenance, trail inventory, and In 2001, I finally achieved a per- Over the years, the recreational Indiana.

July 2019 15 MARTIN NOTEBOOK bicycles]. The public is telling us that they taining shrub-dominated habitat over the Q From Page 4 Q From Page 2 are interested in using e-bikes in different longer term. (Note that Faison’s letter erro- ways, so we have to determine what that neously refers to deer browse as an “ecologi- ally still in the planning stage, so I don’t means for our policies for public engage- sites and facilities for outdoor recreation cal process.” In fact, it is an ecological driver, have a list of accomplishments yet, but ment with national-forest lands. in the US than any other single organi- which is quite different from a process.) I will say that we are working with our As technology continues to evolve, zation. The agency manages more than The center of the debate appears to be partners in all of the 15 areas to figure out we will need to stay true to our mission of 158,000 miles of trails for walking, hik- whether or not moderate-browse impacts what our priorities are. And we’re looking ensuring that the public will always have ing, horseback riding, biking, and us- are a concern in the oak/hickory and ma- at alternative sources of funding, such as access to national-forest lands in ways that ing off-highway-vehicles, and more than ple/beech/birch forests of the Midwest and the National Forest System Trail Steward- are relevant to them. 27,000 campgrounds, picnic areas, inter- Northeast. The browse-impact definitions are ship Partnership Funding Program, which pretive site, and other facilities. foundational within silvicultural research for lets us leverage Forest Service money by Of course, many other agencies pro- the Midwest and Northeast. Moderate im- CHOJNACKY about seven to one—for every dollar of vide recreational opportunities: The Na- pacts are not considered conducive to regen- Q From Page 11 taxpayer money, our partners are able to tional Park Service reported nearly 331 eration establishment and development. For bring in seven extra dollars to apply to- million visits in 2017, more than double example, the definition of moderate impact ward trails. cators to Protect and Sustain Expe- the 149 million annual visits to National includes a lack of stump sprouts. Our tenet By the way, the US Forest Service riences in the Eastern Arctic of the Forest System lands. The Bureau of Land is that managers should work to balance deer manages about 138,000 miles of trails, Nunavut.” 2007. Environ. Manag. Management reported nearly 67.5 million food with tree-seedling regeneration to pro- and that’s the largest trail network in the 40:880–888. visits in 2017. vide both wildlife habitat and secure regener- nation. Watson, A., and D. Williams. 1995. Pri- State and local governments also pro- ation. Including moderate impacts is a signal orities for Human Experience Research vide a vast array of recreational opportuni- that forest managers should consider local What changes in recreation do you see in Wilderness. Trends in Wilderness Re- ties. A June 5, 2019, article in the New York impacts before making prescriptions. coming down the trail over the next 10 or search. Aldo Leopold Research Insti- Times, “Wherever You Are, There’s a State The open-source data set we used is 20 years? tution Publication #261. Volume 32 Park Nearby,” notes that there are 8,565 collected consistently across state boundar- What I hope won’t change is that recre- No. 1:14–18. state parks across the country. Cities and ies and is applicable for Faison’s objectives ation will continue to be the number one Wuethner, G. Feb. 18. 2019. Comments counties, too, are key recreation-site pro- because NRS-FIA [Northern Research Sta- way that people connect with their land in in The Smokey Wire: National Forest viders. My county, Clackamas County, Or- tion–Forest Inventory and Analysis Program] general, and specifically, with their pub- News and Views, https://tinyurl.com/ egon, operates 13 parks, including three has a vegetation profile collocated with the lic lands. I hope that that connection will y3f3uako. campgrounds and four boat ramps. tree-seedling and browse protocols. Anyone continue to lead to a deep sense of caring Add private landowners large and small interested in this topic can generate their for and stewardship of our lands in gen- to the list. American Forest Management, own map, assumptions, and conclusions for a eral. Rayonier, and PotlatchDeltic are a few of the range of forest understory–health issues. As technology changes, we will have Link to SAF Journals larger ones that open their lands for recre- Although the science problem, goal, and to continue to monitor trends and adapt, Digital editions and archives of the ation. See Andrea Watts’ article on page 6 for objectives are clearly stated in the report, they so that we can make sure that the way Journal of Forestry are available at a look at how Weyerhaeuser, Port Blakely, were not clear enough in the article. I hope people connect with their lands remains academic.oup.com/jof and For- and Hancock Natural Resource Group are that my attempt to edify this shortcoming relevant for them. For example, one of the est Science at academic.oup.com/ managing recreation on their lands. has satisfied Faison. I owe him thanks for his issues that we’re dealing with today is the forestscience. Recreation in forests and on range- patience and am honored he took the time to use of “e-bikes” [electric-motor-assisted lands still calls to me. I don’t keep camp- review the article. ing gear in my SUV, a 20-year-old Ford Explorer, but I head for a campground or a backcountry trail as often as work and family obligations allow. Two or three SILVIATERRA days amongst the trees never seem like BASEMAP enough.

LETTER Q From Page 2

that is, if you’re open to seeing them. Still, my overarching impression of ungulate browsing in New England is that, in most locations, it is of relatively low impact (just as McWilliams’ data show). Given how polarizing the topic of deer manage- ment is, it is unhelpful to give the impres- sion that intensive browsing is a dominant process across most of the region when you are in possession of a remarkable data set that says just the opposite. A collection of essays that examine the Edward K. Faison challenges the US Forest Service faces and Senior Ecologist Highstead propose solutions that would address Foundation them. Contributors include numerous Redding, Connecticut; highstead.net retired agency leaders, including two Forest inventory for every former chiefs, as well as longtime outside McWilliams responds: It comes as no observers. The purpose of the book is not Acre, Stand & Parcel surprise that Faison disagrees with conclu- to criticize the agency, but to offer sions in the article because we have different concrete proposals for how, ultimately, the objectives. The central restoration manage- agency’s operations might be made more in the US. ment objective described in “A Regeneration efficient and effective and its land- Indicator for Forest Inventory and Analysis: management activities maintained, History, Sampling, Estimation, Analytics, and expanded, and improved. In short, the objective of 193 Million Acres is to find Potential Use in the Midwest and Northeast paths toward a healthier and more resilient W W W. S I LV I AT E R R A . C O M United States” (Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-148) US Forest Service. was to create sorely needed young-forest habitat that would evolve into healthy closed- canopy forest. Faison is interested in main- www.eforester.org/store

16 The Forestry Source SAF Names Presidential Field Forester Award Recipients he Society of American Foresters he has worked for seven atocystis. He received the UH Cooperative throughout his management area. will honor one member from each years. He implements Extension Service Outstanding Extension Jeff is creative in working to provide Tof the 11 SAF voting districts with forest operations on Faculty of the Year Award in 2018. He has wildlife diversity in clear-cuts scheduled the Presidential Field Forester Award at about 15,000 acres of been an officer in the Hawaii Chapter of to be planted, such as by leaving scattered the 2019 SAF National Convention (www forestland in western Or- the Society of American Foresters, the Ha- snags lower than the helicopter spray .safconvention.org), to be held October egon. The largest block waii Forest Institute, and the Friends of height, leaving some individual white 30–November 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. of land is the McDonald Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. pine, or having the logger leave scattered The award recognizes foresters who have Dunn Forest, the major teaching forest As part of his extension job, Dr. Fri- trees harvested at 10- to 15-foot heights. dedicated their professional careers to the for the College of Forestry. The forest is day conducts applied research and has Jeff has always been a hard worker, application of forestry on the ground us- visited by more than 150,000 recreational published numerous scientific and exten- but as far as a co-worker is concerned, he ing sound, scientific methods and adap- visitors each year, so Steve’s work is often sion articles on Pacific Island dendrology, is the best. His unselfish work ethic rubs tive management strategies. in the public eye. agroforestry, forest health, silviculture, off on all employees. For Jeff, there is no SAF’s Board of Directors selects out- Steve previously worked for OSU’s forest soils, and forest restoration. thought of doing something at work for standing field foresters from the voting College of Forestry as a faculty research personal gain, but always for the whole districts they represent; each Board mem- assistant for a number of forest engineer- District 4 team and in the interest of long-term, sus- ber is given the option of soliciting nomi- ing professors. He was responsible for the Crystal G. Tischler tainable timber management. nations from state society chairs and, from field component of dozens of research Crystal is the New Mex- Jeff’s disarming and humble person- these nominations, selecting a nominee projects throughout Oregon. Steve shines ico forest health aerial ality allows him to work across organiza- for recognition, or using any other pro- in field sessions and tours, where he com- survey coordinator for tion lines to accomplish the greater good. cesses that would identify a worthy candi- municates to students and the public what the Southwestern Region Although he admittedly misses field- date based on the selection criteria. What is being done and why. of the US Forest Service. work, he genuinely enjoys mentoring and follows is drawn from information provid- Steve embodies the intent of this She has completed the coaching the younger foresters coming up ed by the districts. award: to recognize outstanding forestry continuing-education the ranks. If even a fraction of Jeff’s legacy contributions in the field. Besides running requirements for becoming a certified carries on with the younger generations, it District 1 on-the-ground operations, Steve tirelessly silviculturist, which requires completing will be a success for the industry. Robert A. Obedzinski, CF works to mentor OSU students and teach a demanding regimen of graduate-level Bob retired from the US Forest Service in the community about OSU’s use of forest coursework and defending a detailed silvi- District 6 2009 as a silviculture forester. He currently science, adaptive management, and forest cultural prescription. Crystal is currently Leonard J. Cronin, CF owns and operates Silviculture Solutions sustainability. working to complete her certification by Leonard Cronin has nearly 30 years of LLC, a consultancy based in Olympia, Steve received the 2016 Oregon State gaining practical field experience and is “boots on the ground” experience in the Washington. Bob is a dedicated, energet- Forester of the Year award, served as the developing her detailed silvicultural pre- Adirondacks and upstate New York. His ic, and self-motivated professional forest- OSAF State Chair in 2016, and represent- scription. She is pursuing this while con- leadership at Finch Paper, currently as er with 45 years of experience in forest ed SAF regionally as the Northwest Office currently helping with reforestation needs chief forester, has directly contributed to management and arboriculture, special- Chair for 2017 and 2018. He is a tireless assessments and developing silvicultural the excellent forest condition of the pre- izing in the development of management advocate of the Society of American For- project prescriptions throughout several viously owned company lands, most of plans, silvicultural prescriptions, and sale esters, sustainable forestry practices, and national forests in Arizona and New Mex- which are now owned by the state. preparation to meet objectives ranging adaptive management through engineer- ico. Len’s dedication to the profession from habitat and riparian restoration to ing enhancements. Besides being actively In her nearly 10 years as forest goes beyond his responsibilities at Finch. maximizing growth and yield on forests engaged in SAF, Steve is also heavily in- health aerial survey coordinator, she has He always takes time to mentor young of the western and eastern Cascades and volved in the Council for Forest Engineer- been responsible for aerial surveys and foresters just starting their career and is the Rocky Mountains. He is experienced ing and a variety of community groups, ground-truthing to compile the annual active in his promotion of the profession in the ecological systems of both xeric including youth education and a local Li- reports for forest insect and disease activ- throughout the community. He is actively and mesic forests in Oregon, Washington, ons Club. ities. She has been dedicated to making a involved in SAF, participates in education- Idaho, and northwest Montana. He has difference by consulting with other field al events at the Wanakena Ranger School, strong working knowledge of silviculture District 3 foresters to review and visit the survey and has made numerous presentations systems, insect and disease concerns, and James B. Friday sites to better improve the survey meth- on forest management to university, high the tools necessary to effectively manage J. B. Friday has been odology, and to transfer this information school, and elementary students. these forestlands, with extensive experi- practicing forestry since to local managers. As chair of the Adirondack SAF chap- ence in silviculture prescription prepara- he graduated from the Crystal earned a bachelor’s degree in ter, Len has organized numerous events to tion, watershed analysis, budget coordina- Yale University’s School forestry from Stephen F. Austin State Uni- advance the profession and provide those tion, forest inventory design and analysis, of Forestry and Environ- versity in 2001. From 2002 to 2008, she much-needed continuing-education op- timber sale preparation, logging systems, mental Studies in 1985. worked as a forester for Colorado State portunities to the membership. He also and planning. His first forestry job Forest Service, where she focused primar- has worked tirelessly as a member of the Bob has worked tirelessly for the was with the US Peace Corps, where he ily on the pilot Good Neighbor Agreement Executive Committee. In addition, Len American Tree Farm System. He trains worked as a village-level extension forester program. Her future career goals are to works on numerous aspects of the NYSAF foresters who are responsible for inspect- for three years in the Philippines, demon- stay with the US Forest Service and work annual meeting, including recruiting ven- ing individual Tree Farms so that they can strating agroforestry techniques and tree on a ranger district as a silviculturist or dors and sponsors. maintain their certification. He encourag- planting. After he finished his service, he continue aerial survey work in a different Len was recognized by NYSAF as New es foresters to work with landowners to joined the Peace Corps staff and spent a region or at the national level. York Forester of the Year in 2017, which achieve compliance with the standards of year teaching agroforestry extension to in- Crystal served as secretary/treasurer is intended “to recognize outstanding con- the system. As the certification standards coming volunteers. for the New Mexico Chapter of SAF in tributions to the practice and profession of are revised and updated, Bob makes sure Upon returning to the US, J. B. en- 2016 and 2017. forestry, the conservation and stewardship that the certifying foresters are up-to-date rolled at the University of Hawaii to study of forest resources in New York, and the in their understanding of the different agroforestry, conducted several agroforest- District 5 objectives of the Society of American For- standards and able to communicate them ry field studies on the island of Kauai, and Jeffrey Joseph esters.” Len was recognized again in 2018 to the landowners. received his doctorate in 1998. He then Before his promotion to with the NYSAF Society Commendation Bob brings a high level of profes- joined the faculty of the University as a the harvesting and sil- Award for his “extraordinary efforts and sionalism, as well as a sincere love of the first extension forester. In addition to his viculture supervisor for significant contributions in support of the forest. He embodies the Society of Amer- ongoing work in the Philippines, J. B. has Weyerhaeuser’s L’Anse, Society and/or the forestry profession.” ican Foresters’ mission through his com- carried out agroforestry and reforestation Michigan, unit, he spent mitment to helping others achieve their projects in East Timor and Micronesia. more than 30 years in District 7 land-management goals. J. B. received the State of Hawaii’s the field managing the Dennis M. Galway, CF Greatest Hits award for his work to study company’s timberlands. Throughout his Dennis Galway began his forestry career District 2 and combat a new and severe threat to tenure, Jeff has been known as a forest- in 1979 for the City of Newark as an as- Stephen J. Pilkerton, CF Hawaii’s most common native tree, Metro- er’s forester. He used his experience and sistant forester in the Newark Watershed. Steve is a forest engineer for Oregon State sideros polymorpha, or ohia, in the form of education to implement practical, prof- Following two years there, he became University’s (OSU) research forests, where a vascular wilt caused by the fungus Cer- itable, creative, and ethical management a section fire warden for the New Jersey

July 2019 17 Forest Fire Service as he many thousands of acres of applied for- County, Georgia. He now provides con- Future Directions completed his bachelor’s estry, and many private landowners who sulting services to individual and institu- As the Forest Service charts its path to- of science degree in nat- have not only have well-managed forests, tional landowners in Alabama, Arkansas, ward truly sharing stewardship for rec- ural resource manage- but also a much better understanding of Georgia, and Tennessee. reation, it faces many philosophical and ment from Cook College their forests and the practical application John is a member of the Association pragmatic questions. How does the agen- at Rutgers University in of forestry. of Consulting Foresters and was twice cy truly share power in its stewardship, as 1981. In that year, he appointed by Georgia governors to serve it moves away from “we do it all” to “we started Galway Forestry Services, where District 9 on the Georgia State Board of Registration are all part of it”? Cultural change occurs he continues to practice. Dennis conducts Janet A. Egar for Foresters. He has served as chair of the slowly, and growing pains are to be ex- forest inventories, writes management Janet Egar began work- Environmental Committees of both the pected as the agency shifts the way it does plans, marks (and often cuts) forest stand ing for the Indiana Divi- Georgia and Alabama Forestry Associa- business and re-envisions its place among improvement, conducts competing un- sion of Forestry in 1978 tions and as executive committee chair of partners. How can the agency better ad- derstory vegetation control and pruning, as a YACC program the Auburn University Silvicultural Herbi- dress entrenched institutional memory and participates in other wildlife habitat– crew leader, then moved cide Cooperative, and served three terms and plan for succession in partnerships? management activities. up to timber techni- on the Harris County Planning Commis- What institutional frameworks are need- Dennis has a reputation for serving cian and later worked sion. ed to sustain partnerships that aspire to private landowners well and having a as a resource specialist for four separate Since his days a forestry student, be inclusive, so that public lands can be fiercely loyal client base. His devotion to state-forest properties before moving to John’s ethical standards and natural lead- truly democratic and egalitarian places? quality field forestry is best illustrated by the Cooperative Forest Management sec- ership skills earned the respect of his How can it address environmental in- his leadership in the American Tree Farm tion in 1993. For more than 25 years, peers across the South. justices related to the amount of social, System, where he currently serves as chair she has provided professional field-for- cultural, and financial capital that com- of the New Jersey Tree Farm Program Inc. estry assistance to landowners in south- District 11 munity partners bring to many shared Under his leadership, the program has ern Indiana as a district forester. She has Michael A. Blazier tables across the country? Do agency lan- focused on quality on-the-ground educa- influenced thousands of landowners and As a faculty member with guage practices alienate some partners by tional programs for private landowners, helped manage hundreds of thousands Louisiana State Univer- calling upon specific cultural models of and is where best practices can be shared of forested acres. Her legacy will improve sity, Michael Blazier is a human-nature relationships (such as the for each others’ benefit. Many of Dennis’s and enhance the forest of southern Indi- specialist in extension dominion implicit in the term “steward- clients have hosted Tree Farm Day events, ana for centuries. forestry who focuses on ship”)? How can the Forest Service share and Dennis’s quality silvicultural prescrip- Janet has earned recognition and herbicides, density man- decision-space with groups that have tions have served as well-regarded field awards from her peers and others over the agement, and agroforest- been historically marginalized and have tours. years. One of her most treasured awards ry. His career began in 1997, and since not seen public lands as theirs to share in Although Dennis has held a wide va- was her recognition as a Fellow with the then he has managed university forests at the first place? riety of positions within Allegheny SAF Society of American Foresters in 2006. the Hill Farm Station and the Calhoun Re- The Forest Service is grappling with and its New Jersey Division, he is clear- Some of the other honors she has received search Station, together comprising sever- these questions as it navigates how to ly his most passionate when engaging in include the Division of Forestry Employee al hundred acres of forests that are used share in stewardship networks that har- program work (specifically educational of the Year Award in 2004, District For- for research and extension purposes. Bla- ness local communities’ expertise and programs for field foresters) and policy ester of the Year in 1996 and 2000, and zier is a frequently requested speaker for interests. Recreation is a primary connec- work (where he is able to provide a voice the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners at extension meetings or technical talks tion people forge with public lands; it of- for field foresters). Association Professional Foresters Award for field foresters from all employment fers powerful inroads for engaging more in 2003. sectors. people in sharing in their stewardship. District 8 Janet has mentored several young for- Michael’s work focuses on intensive As people get to know and deeply value Jeffery L. Pardue, CF esters over the years. Some of these for- management, with respect to silvicultural special places on public lands through From a nomination letter esters have become valued employees of treatments for both hardwoods and soft- their outdoor experiences, these connec- written by W. Andrew Ca- the Division of Forestry and others have woods, typical of Louisiana. His work has tions can be a precursor for stewardship. sey, ACF, CF: I first met moved on the other employment. been applied by small landowners all the When communities and people who care Jeff in 1984, when I was a Janet Egar joined SAF in 1978 and way up to corporate landowners. In short, about their public lands become part of forestry student at North since then has served as Indiana SAF sec- his management strategies are being or a network of stewards, we gain capacity Carolina State University. retary, treasurer, vice-chair, and chair, as have been applied to thousands of acres of to complete shared objectives, but more We were introduced by a well as on the Nominating and Teller’s forests in the state and surrounding states. important, we build relationships and cul- mutual friend, and I soon found myself Committees. Janet became a SAF Fellow For his contributions to the forest- tivate a shared passion for our forests and working on holidays hugging trees while in 2006, and she served from 2007 to ry profession, Michael has been honored grasslands that endure well beyond specif- Jeff tallied. That work turned into a sum- 2011 as a member of the District Fellow’s through awards from Louisiana SAF, Okla- ic projects and initiatives. mer job and then, following my gradua- Committee. homa SAF, and Arkansas SAF. He has also tion from NCSU, a full-time position as been a Louisiana SAF meeting chair and Monika Derrien and Lee Cerveny are re- a forester. While my employment for Jeff District 10 has served as president and vice-president search social scientists at the Forest Service’s only lasted a year or so, our friendship has John R. Britt of the North Louisiana Chapter. He was Pacific Northwest Research Station. Michiko continued. John Britt earned a BS in forest manage- an associate editor of the Southern Journal Martin is the agency’s director of recreation, We have been competitors for more ment from Clemson in 1987, followed by of Applied Forestry and is currently an as- heritage, and volunteer resources. Matt Arnn than 20 years, with our own consulting an MS in forestry from Auburn in 1989. sociate editor of silviculture for Forest Sci- is a landscape architect based at the agency’s forestry practices, and for most of that He has been an innovative and effective ence. He has published 37 peer-reviewed national headquarters in Washington, DC. time, our offices have only been a few forester throughout his career. John be- research articles. blocks apart. Even as a competitor, Jeff gan his career with Mead Corporation has always taken time to discuss a silvicul- upon graduation from Auburn and re- SAF News tural concern or answer a question about mained with them for 17 years in roles The Forestry Source welcomes ar- the practical side of running a consulting of increasing responsibility. He focused STEWARDSHIP business. primarily on regeneration activities from Q From Page 13 ticles and ideas for the SAF News Jeff has been an active SAF member, 1992 to 2004, during which time Mead’s section, which is devoted to ar- both on the chapter and state level. He is performance in this area became one of groups, foundations, and investors ticles about the activities and ac- a North Carolina Registered Forester, an the best-recognized models in the South. help envision, restore, protect, and SAF Certified Forester, and a member of His management responsibilities included enhance public recreation resources complishments by SAF members, the Association of Consulting Foresters. regeneration and young stand silviculture through new models for financing chapters, or groups that highlight Most important, Jeff has been work- across 540,000 acres, including a 20-acre infrastructure projects. good forestry, enhance public un- • ing with private landowners to plan and seed orchard. In 2004, John stepped up to Public-public partnerships: derstanding of forests and forest implement forest-management practices the position of lead forester, which added Intergovernmental partnerships serve for almost 40 years. There is no more ef- timber harvest and budget duties. locally identified needs, supporting management, and provide service fective way to apply good forest-manage- With the merger of Mead and West- seasonal tourism and recreational to the Society and society. Contact ment practices than one landowner at a vaco in 2007, John departed and found- visitor volumes, investing in trail Steve Wilent, Editor, 503-622- time and one job at a time. For Jeff, that ed his own forestry consulting company, systems, and enhancing information adds up to a whole lot of worn out boots, John Britt & Associates LLC, in Harris services for visitors 3033, [email protected].

18 The Forestry Source RODRIGUEZ forestry, I’ve become the connection for What opportunities are available for stu- Q From Page 1 my parents to the outdoors. I have not dents to receive real-world training? been able to get them to a national park I hesitate to say it’s unlimited, but there are parks, because oftentimes there wasn’t yet, but I have taken them to many of the lots of opportunities here in Maine. There’s someone who spoke Spanish there. In state parks in Texas. I haven’t just affected a high demand for students from this de- all honesty, growing up, I disliked being my parents, but also my entire family. We gree program for summer employment at outdoors, because it was hot and humid. I go on regular fishing trips, nature walks, Acadia National Park and the state natural didn’t have an appreciation for nature, be- and occasionally, camping. We went from resource–management agencies, and there’s cause I had never experienced it enough being a family that stayed indoors to a a whole assortment of private industry fo- to develop a connection. family that frequents outdoor recreational cused on tourism. Students have opportu- It wasn’t until my senior year of high opportunities. nities to work in the summer, and that’s an school that I developed this connection important piece for student development to nature. I was in an AP Environmental How I would make state or national while going to school to get those summer Science class, for which we got extra cred- parks friendlier for my parents work experiences. it if we joined the Envirothon club. En- I think that minorities are so poorly Over the past few years, an intensive virothon has four main sections: aquatic represented in state and national parks one-week field-practice course has been ecology, soil/land use, wildlife, and forest- because often there are few programs or developed for students to meet and interact ry. Ironically, I was the person who spe- signage for them. I would love to see these with a variety of professionals in the field. cialized in forestry. Because of this club, I parks have someone on staff who is a na- We stay in Acadia National Park, and stu- was able to learn about these four topics tive Spanish speaker, because no matter dents learn different aspects of park man- through hands-on experiences outside of how hard you try, Google Translate will agement, such as trails management and An undergraduate at Stephen F. Austin State Uni- a classroom setting. This was the first time not always make sense. In state-park bath- versity, Rebeca Rodriguez is studying forestry with transportation management. We also have I ever touched a fish or held a frog. Our rooms, I have seen signage in Spanish that a concentration in forest recreation management. capstone courses that are required. Again, teacher taught us how to classify soil by makes no sense at all and the only way I An AP Environmental Science class in high school it’s an opportunity for students to explore touching it, but also tasting it if needed, could figure out what it was trying to say inspired her to study forestry, and an Environmental in more detail the aspect of recreation they Attitudes and Issues class in college inspired her and I learned how to identify trees and was by referring to the English signs. to connect people with the outdoors. Photograph want to do, whether working with a non- their uses. This is what helped me figure The Spanish programs do not have to courtesy of Rebeca Rodriguez. profit, a state park, or in one case, we had out that I wanted to major in forestry. be the equivalent of the English programs. a student who wanted to develop a recre- Starting small is totally fine—just put in eryone’s opinions on certain topics and ation program for a retirement communi- What she’s learned through the forestry the proper resources and time to get it seeing how everyone brought something ty. The capstone projects over the past few program done to the best of your abilities. If a new different to the table. That is what I think years have just been outstanding. While at SFA, I have had many opportuni- program is made for the Hispanic popu- diversity in natural resources should be, ties to learn about things I had never even lation, please advertise it somewhere they a group of people from all sorts of back- In addition to the two recent concentra- thought of before from professors who will be able to see it. These places could grounds, coming together to accomplish tions, has there been any coursework have spent years in the field and acquired include Facebook, the local library, or the same goal. that’s evolved over the years? real-world knowledge on their subject. even a grocery store. Use the connections One exciting area that we’ve been fo- One of the most important classes I’ve you have to help you; for instance, if you To connect with Rebeca Rodriguez, she cusing on is communication skills and taken was Environmental Attitudes and know a native Spanish speaker, maybe ask can be reached at [email protected]. building capacity for students to work Issues. This class sticks out to me because them to look over a document you wrote effectively with growing diverse human we learned that to change someone’s be- in Spanish if you are unsure about it. EDUCATION populations. Cultural diversity has been havior, you first have to change their at- Q From Page 12 an area where I’ve been reexamining our titude about the topic. It was in this class Her career goals and what she hopes to curriculum, specifically here in Maine in that I first realized what I wanted to do in achieve terms of being more inclusive of under- my life—I would love to educate people I think that recreation is one of the represented populations. We have sever- on the outdoors and, hopefully, get them best ways to get people outdoors into na- al Native American populations here in to acknowledge its greatness. ture. They get to do something fun while Maine who are closely tied to the land, In the summer of 2018, I worked at at the same time taking in the beauty and I’ve worked with several of the tribes, The Pines Catholic Camp as a camp coun- around them. I want to be a part of get- both with the research I do with planning selor. In this job, I learned how to com- ting the Hispanic community outdoors. I and management around the emerald ash municate with all different types of peo- would love to be that friendly face in parks borer, but also thinking through some of ple, as well as with different age groups. I for Hispanic families to feel welcomed and the coursework that I teach, such as incor- led recreational activities, such as zip lin- to know that they have someone who can porating traditional ecological knowledge. ing, kayaking, rock climbing, logrolling, understand them. This is why I want to That’s opened up doors for students, both and other fun summer-camp activities. go into environmental education or park in terms of working with diverse commu- I saw the importance of human dimen- interpretation; in these jobs, I can put on nities and communications and under- sions, as well as the importance of educat- programs in both Spanish and English to standing. It’s gotten really favorable feed- ing younger generations about natural re- reach a wide range of people. back from students within the program, sources. During the school year, the camp If I were to go back to school for my and I’d like to continue this aspect within puts on environmental retreats during master’s degree, I would want to focus our program. I think it’s a nice direction to which kids learn about forestry, archaeol- more on outdoor recreation and the hu- go in, particularly knowing the changing ogy, limnology, meteorology, entomology, man dimensions behind it, but focused human dynamics we’re going to be seeing and orienteering. After my graduation in more on the minorities in recreational ar- in the next few decades. August of 2019, I will work full-time at eas. Students in West Virginia University’s Recreation, The Pines. I hope that through this job I Parks, and Tourism Resources program have a num- What are the employment trends in the will be able to educate the next generation Why diversity is important in recreation ber of opportunities to learn the ropes of leading outdoor-tourism sector? groups in recreation activities. One of these is at of natural-resources specialists and gain and forestry Summit Bechtel Reserve, a new national high-ad- Nature-based tourism is one of our big- the experience I need to achieve my goals. Taking care of the environment is venture Scouting center located near Beckley, gest industries in our state: the forestry something we should all do, and it’s also West Virginia. The students shown here are leading industry and the tourism industry are the What my parents think about my study- something we need to educate the gener- a group of 6th graders on a canopy tour as part of top employers in Maine. I really feel that an Adventure STEM camp. Photograph courtesy of ing natural resources al public about. Outdoor recreation offers Adventure WV. tourism, particularly in the outdoor in- When I first started at SFA, my par- us a unique opportunity, in that it can get dustry, has grown and is expected to grow. ents were extremely confused because people outdoors without having to com- with SAF, we restructured the Parks, Rec- Unfortunately, the government spending I chose to go into the natural-resources mit too much. The Society of American reation, Tourism curriculum so it aligns hasn’t increased, but the demand is cer- field. When growing up, I was never one Foresters has given me the resources I better with the forestry program. After tainly there, at least here in our state. Aca- to show interest in the outdoors. They need to move forward in what I want to students receive their degree, they can dia National Park had a record number of questioned my decision for a few years, do with my life. I was a Diversity Schol- come back for an additional year and earn visitors last year, and when you look at and kept asking me if this was what I actu- ar in 2018, and at convention, I had the their master’s of forestry degree in one people who want to participate in outdoor ally wanted to do with my life. My answer opportunity to meet a very diverse group year, because they’ve already had quite a recreation, we see those increases happen- was always yes. Since I’ve been studying of people. I loved being able to hear ev- few forestry classes. ing in our state.

July 2019 19 SAF CHAPTER RESOURCES

Beginning the Diversity & Inclusion Discussion in Your Chapter By Andrea Watts everal SAF initiatives over the past winter annual meeting. This is an issue we’re going to keep constraints. The resulting program con- two years have endeavored to in- The previous chair, Jim Chattin, CF, on the table in Ohio. I’ve already talked to sisted of four main activities on the fol- Screase the diversity and inclusion of included a D&I session at last year’s an- our chair-elect, because this needs to be lowing topics: Respect, Identity, Privilege, our membership and the forestry and nat- nual meeting that opened the door on part of our thought process. Our dealings and “World Café.” While we each took ural-resources profession. These include this issue, and when planning this year’s with the rest of the world are part of the turns leading, all four activities required the creation of the Diversity & Inclusion meeting, I thought, “We probably need science. It’s great if we understand the sil- significant effort from the participants. (D&I) Working Group; D&I workshops to keep this on the table.” At the national viculture. I tell people I can turn an acre When presenting D&I material, it is held at SAF National Conventions; the convention in Portland, I attended one of into timber in six different ways, depend- important for facilitators and participants adoption of a statement on Diversity and the several sessions on diversity and in- ing upon what you want to do. Even if the to create and maintain a productive and Inclusion; and, most recently, the adoption clusion, and later learned that Jamie Dahl, science is great, however, if we can’t sell safe space where people feel comfortable of an anti-harassment policy (The Forestry who is a member of the Diversity & Inclu- the science to John Q Public, we’re kind to engage. We began the workshop by lay- Source, June 2019, page 2). In addition to sion Working Group, is a member of our of spinning our wheels. And part of that ing down some ground rules and provid- these national efforts, how can state soci- state society. I thought, “This is awesome” John Q Public sphere is the diversity and ing some background on norms and D&I eties and local chapters incorporate D&I to have her as a resource. I asked her in inclusion issues. terminology. With these in mind, we en- into their meetings? Two state societies are Portland if she would consider giving a couraged participants to think deeply and taking the lead. Last year, Allegheny SAF talk, and she said yes. Presenting R.I.P. Uniformity step out of their normal comfort zones, brought in Jamie Dahl and Susan Stout Jamie was a natural fit, and she pulled Jamie Dahl, Forest Outreach Coordinator, since you must be willing to lean in to to talk about D&I at its annual meeting. in Ryan Vogel to present a session titled Central State University Extension & McIn- some discomfort to grow in these areas. And, building on a D&I session includ- R.I.P. Uniformity (Respect, Identity, Priv- tire-Stennis Program, and Ryan Vogel, Grad- As facilitators, we are constantly learning ed at its 2018 annual meeting, this year, ilege). The discussion and presentation uate Student, Ohio State University: Our and growing as well, understanding that Ohio SAF presented an R.I.P. Uniformity were good. I received a lot of positive Approach to Presenting the R.I.P. Uniformity we too carry our own unique perspectives (Respect, Identity, Privilege) workshop at feedback, but quite honestly, I did get (Respect, Identity, Privilege) Workshop on life, whether they relate to us being its winter annual meeting. some negative feedback; some of the older In designing the workshop, we want- white, male, or otherwise. Acknowledg- In their own words, members of Ohio fellows complained. I say, if you just want ed attendees to be actively engaged. Since ing our own privileges and advantages SAF share why it’s important not to shy to go out and sit in the trees and stay there PowerPoint presentations are the norm at and how these shape our experience and away from D&I, and how this topic can be the rest of your life, that’s fine. But if you these and most professional conferences, worldview is really important. We did not discussed to empower members. want to interact with the real world, or the we wanted to do something different that go into this workshop with the intent to rest of the world, you need to be aware required no PowerPoint. We brainstormed necessarily “teach” participants, but rath- Why D&I? of these issues. These issues are in main- various D&I activities that we had partic- er, we aimed to create an environment in Jim Stafford, CF, Ohio SAF Chair: Why I stream media news and on the Internet. ipated in previously to decide upon four which attendees can see, discover, and wanted to include a session on D&I at the Forestry has its head in the sand. that would work within our given time learn on their own.

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20 The Forestry Source In the R.I.P. Uniformity (Respect, Identity, Privilege) workshop, Jamie Dahl and Ryan Vogel (standing on the table) led attendees through four interactive activities focused on the three areas. The fourth activity was a World Café–style discussion on how to engage SAF members and excite a new generation to care about forestry and natural resources. Photograph courtesy of Jamie Dahl.

Team facilitation and diverse per- ago, the field of diversity and inclusion feel comfortable voicing their opinion brace people of all backgrounds! spectives for D&I sessions are always best. was not nearly what it is today, and it is or joining the organization. Sometimes, Other SAF chapters, and the field of While we have both presented on D&I still growing and evolving. We’re excited knowing that an organization cares about forestry in general, could greatly benefit alone in the past, it is far better to do it to see what the world will be like 70 years all aspects of members’ lives gives them from learning more about diversity and with someone else. That is where part- from now, when children today growing the confidence they need to grow profes- inclusion. Our field is always changing, nerships for facilitation are key, so you up with diversity and inclusion principles sionally and talk about their views within with new problems and challenges aris- can help each other engage a broader tar- instilled in them at such an early age ma- the framework of a professional organiza- ing all the time. We need to make sure get audience and work together through ture and become the next generation of tion. our community is one that encourages its tough discussions. It is not a good idea to world leaders. members to be involved, to speak up, and leap into this kind of work without some Katie Reiderman, Ohio State University to take risks—no matter who they are or advanced training and experience under Take-Home Lessons and District 9 SAF Student Representative: where they come from—so that we can your belt. Still, no two workshops (even Dan Balser, Chief of Division of Forestry, Ohio When I saw the presentation title, I all face these problems and challenges to- those with the same lesson plan) will ever Department of Natural Resources: What at- expected the presentation to cover im- gether. No one should feel that they need go the same, since they inherently de- tendees learned from the presentation. portant aspects of diversity and inclusion, to hide their identity in fear of backlash pend on input from the audience, which When I saw the agenda, I had some knowing from previous presentations by and exclusion from others in their profes- is always comprised of different people at idea of what might be covered in the R.I.P Jamie and Ryan that they are excellent sion. That’s why it is so important for us different stages in their lives with different Uniformity presentation, because I had advocates for these areas. I was excited to treat everyone with a sense of respect, opinions. heard Jamie Dahl present at a previous to see how they were going to explain the have a listening ear to all perspectives, and We ended the workshop with a SAF meeting. What I didn’t realize was importance of respect, identity, and priv- to embrace diversity in our profession. World Café–style discussion, which was that the presentation would be very in- ilege. Not only is this good for the profession similar to the World Café discussions held teractive. The interaction led to a greater Throughout the OSAF winter meet- of forestry, but really, it’s a great thing for at past national conventions. While we understanding of the topics that were dis- ing, we covered current forest-science us to be accepting and including in our hope participants were able to introspect cussed. I think the session complemented topics and had a few ethics discussions. everyday lives. and reflect on their personal worldviews, the more-technical agenda items in that it The diversity and inclusion presentation self-awareness, and awareness of others, brought different ideas into the conver- complemented the more “traditional” for- Does your chapter have a diversity and we also wanted to provide some more-tan- sation. It allowed participants to look at estry topics by emphasizing the impor- inclusion program that you’d like to share gible next steps forward. After any train- issues through a different lens and gave tance of everyone’s viewpoint. With differ- with other chapters, or other best practices ing, it is useful to direct participants to attendees who might not normally speak ent problems arising in forestry every day, that have reinvigorated your chapter? We some action steps they can take to imple- up an opportunity to talk about how they such as invasive species and timber-har- want to share these ideas with other members. ment what they have just learned and fur- view these issues. vesting malpractices, its important to have Please e-mail your column ideas to wattsa@ ther broaden their horizons. For example, For me, I think it reinforced that as a diverse group of people coming together safnet.org, [email protected], or membership if aging demographics of a state chapter professional foresters and managers of to develop solutions to these problems. @saftnet.org. is a concern, what might SAF members people, we should be careful about as- The presentation really put me out of do on an individual level at their places of sumptions we make regarding colleagues my comfort zone in the best way possi- work or in their extracurricular activities and other individuals with whom we in- ble. It is so important to be mindful that Want to learn more about the to further engage early-career profession- teract. It takes time and effort to get to not everyone starts with the same oppor- Respect, Identity, Privilege, and als in SAF? What could the state chapter know someone and what special skills or tunities and chances, and I believe some- World Café activities, and other do to address this at meetings/events, with perspectives they bring to the table. This times it’s easy to forget that. We are all so D&I resources? All SAF mem- its Internet presence, or elsewhere? is true in the hiring process, stakeholder different, and we all come from different We too are still learning about di- meetings, and relationships with partners. backgrounds. It is invaluable to learn from bers are welcome to join the D&I versity and inclusion ourselves and have This kind of session benefits members each other and to help each other as much Working Group, and you may much room to grow. There are certainly by giving them a chance to think issues as we can, and to just be mindful of the also contact Jamie Dahl at jdahl@ opportunities for improvement in the way through from a different point of view. I challenges other people had to face to get CentralState.edu and Ryan Vogel at we act, speak, and think about people and believe it also gives some members and to where they are today. The presentation [email protected]. the world that we live in. Just 30 years prospective members an opportunity to really served as a great reminder to em-

July 2019 21 CONTINUING EDUCATION CALENDAR | July through September 2019 More Events at tinyurl.com/gnd78jh (www.eforester.org)

Continuing education events for July through September 2019. SAF Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits are available at all events. Visit SAF’s Continuing Education Calendar at tinyurl. com/gnd78jh for more information on these events and others that may have been recently added to the list.

CFE Providers: To obtain pre-approval of Continuing Forestry Education credits for an event, complete and submit the CFE Provider Application Form on the Certification & Education/Continuing Education page at eforester.org (or tinyurl.com/z2zqc3o). Submittal instructions are included on the form.

CFE Post Approval for Individuals: If an event was not preapproved for CFE credit, SAF will evaluate the meeting on an individual basis. This service is available to members and SAF-certified professionals at no cost; non-members are assessed an annual fee of $30. To apply, complete and submit the CFE Post Approval Form on the Certification & Education/Continuing Education page at eforester.org (or tinyurl.com/z2zqc3o). Submittal instructions are included on the form.

WEBINARS 8/28/2019, Big Reed Forest Preserve, Northern MISSISSIPPI 7/16/2019, Summertime Safety for Fieldwork, Old Woodlands Fort 7/16/2019, Oak Wilt: Biology, Distribution, and 9/19/2019, Managing Your Woodlot for Ash with 8/29–30/2019, The Business of Forestry: Annual Management Approaches EAB on the Doorstep, Vassalboro Meeting of the Mississippi SAF, Raymond OHIO 8/20/2019, Understanding Family Forest Landowners in the Lake States MASSACHUSETTS NEW HAMPSHIRE 9/13–16/2019, Deer Steward: Level II, Gallipolis 9/19/2019, On-the-Job Experimentation: How to Learn More from Your Daily Work 7/10–24/2019, Introduction To Plant Families, 7/10/2019, Soil Morphology/Describing Soils, PENNSYLVANIA Framingham University of New Hampshire 7/30/2019, Thinking Big: Introduction to Landscape CONNECTICUT 7/17/2019, Soil Morphology/Describing Soils, 9/18–19/2019, Advanced Tree Measuring Workshop, Ecology, Whately University of New Hampshire Cooksburg 8/14/2019, Silvopasture & Agroforestry 101: Healthy 8/14–21/2019, Advanced Plant Inventory 7/21/2019, Hobbs Fern Sanctuary, Lyman Soils Workshop, Union Techniques, Framingham 7/24/2019, Soil Morphology/Describing Soils, 9/9–23/2019, Field Identification Techniques, University of New Hampshire SOUTH CAROLINA Framingham GEORGIA 8/15/2019, Identifying Ferns of Northeastern New 9/13/2019, Conservation through Use, Framingham England, Portsmouth 8/22/2019, Project Learning Tree Workshop for 9/20–21/2019, Basic Wetland Identification and 8/22/2019, Identifying Late Season Grasses, Natural Resource Professionals, Columbia 7/9–10/2019, Wildlife Management Course, Athens Delineation, Framingham Portsmouth 7/23–24/2019, Recreational Pond Management, 9/5/2019, Invasive Ailanthus altissima: Targeting the Athens UTAH Tree of Heaven, Concord 7/26–28/2019, 2019 Annual Conference & Forestry MICHIGAN Expo, Jekyll Island 7/16/2019, Spotted Lanternfly & Other Invasive 8/8/2019, Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure, 7/10/2019, FCWG Learning Exchange Series: NEW YORK Landscape Tree Pests, Logan Peachtree Corners Carbon Market Opportunities and Project 8/20–21/2019, Forest Herbicide Workshop, Tifton Development Tools, East Lansing 7/10/2019, Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) VERMONT 8/27/2019, Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure, 7/31/2019, DEQ Stream Crossing Permit Training, Training Workshop, Middletown Valdosta Gwinn 7/15/2019, Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) 7/10/2019, Ash and Forestry Forum: Management 8/2/2019, DEQ Stream Crossing Permit Training, Training Workshop, Poughkeepsie within the Context of EAB, Craftsbury Bruce Crossing IDAHO 7/17/2019, Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) 7/27/2019, Plants of Black Gum Swamp, Vernon Training Workshop, Katonah 7/18–20/2019, 27th Annual Releaf Conference, 8/16/2019, Restoring Idaho Streams, Moscow MINNESOTA Newburgh WEST VIRGINIA 7/16/2019, Webinar: Oak Wilt: Biology, Distribution, 7/25/2019, Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) MAINE Training Workshop, Cornwall 7/29–30/2019, 2019 AHMI Summer Conference, and Management Approaches White Sulphur Springs 8/20/2019, Webinar: Understanding Family Forest 7/12/2019, Invasive Terrestrial Plants 101, Augusta Landowners in the Lake States NORTH CAROLINA 7/14/2019, Harvey Butler Rhododendron Sanctuary, 9/19/2019, Webinar: On-the-job Experimentation: WYOMING Springvale How to Learn More from Your Daily Work 7/11/2019, Alternative Income Streams for Forest 8/24/2019, Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Landowners, Mills River 7/20–29/2019, 29th Annual North American Sanctuary, Woolwich Dendroecological Fieldweek, Cody CLASSIFIEDS

Job ID 48943048 Harvesting Operations Manager Town Forester From the SAF Posted: June 11, 2019 Employer: Hancock Natural Resource Group Employer: Town of Erie Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Location: Erie, Colorado Career Center Customer Support Rep. Job ID 48817395 Job ID 48571359 Employer: PRT USA Posted: June 4, 2019 Posted: May 22, 2019 For the complete listing of these and other Location: Oregon/Armstrong, BC Job Function Arborist ads, visit http://careercenter.eforester.org Job ID 48930942 Procurement Forester Posted: June 10, 2019 Employer: WestRock Fire Ecologist Forestry Foreman/Heavy Equipment Min Education Associates Degree Location: Florence, South Carolina Employer: Missouri Department of Operator Min Experience 3-5 Years Job ID 47121289 Conservation Employer: Markit! Forestry Management Required Travel 25-50% Posted: May 30, 2019 Location: West Plains, Missouri Location: American Fork, Utah Job ID 48542629 Job ID: 48100042 Tax Law Forestry Specialist Director of Forestry & Regulatory Affairs Posted: May 20, 2019 Posted: June 15, 2019 Employer: Wisconsin Department of Natural Employer: Florida Forestry Association Min Education Master's Degree Min Education: Associates Degree Resources Location: Tallahassee, Florida Location: Peshtigo, Wisconsin Job ID 48680147 Research Forester Forester Job ID 48855438 Posted: May 29, 2019 Employer: Missouri Department of Employer: Templin Forestry Inc. Posted: June 6, 2019 Conservation Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Inventory-GIS Forester, Southern and Location: West Plains, Missouri Job ID 49005084 Forester/Potential Buyer Eastern US Job ID 48542624 Posted: June 14, 2019 Employer: WoodsRun Consulting Forestry Employer: GreenWood Resources Posted: May 20, 2019 Location: Elizabethtown, North Carolina Location: Lumberton, Texas/Spartanburg, Area Forester Job ID 48855437 South Carolina Portfolio Manager Employer: Stimson Lumber Posted: June 6, 2019 Job ID 48679788 Employer: GreenWood Resources Location: Newport, Washington Posted: May 28, 2019 Location: Portland, Oregon Job ID 49005032 Forester Job ID 48541997 Posted: June 14, 2019 Employer: Wisconsin Department of Natural Forester Posted: May 20, 2019 Resources Employer: Hancock Forest Management, Inc. Director of Acquisitions Location: Multiple locations, Wisconsin Location: Cathlamet, Washington Employer: Finite Carbon Job ID 48835742 Job ID 48571541 Location: Tallahassee, Florida/Portland, Posted: June 5, 2019 Posted: May 22, 2019 Oregon

22 The Forestry Source SELIN VIEWS across the recreation service delivery spec- partnerships, landscape-level conservation, Q From Page 9 Q From Page 7 trum. The webinars sponsored by the So- operationalizing sustainable recreation, and ciety of Outdoor Professionals come to social network analysis methodologies. In par- ones with the skills to do so” (T. Bustam, mind, or the Conservation Connect Pro- ticular, he is interested in evaluating agency all access during fire season,” Anderson personal communication, May 11, 2018). gram of the National Forest Foundation. adoption of participatory planning and man- said. “Now we open it up for year-round For example, the Forest Service is build- 11. Engage youth in pathways to agement systems and processes. His work has walk-in access and [the public can] drive ing capacity by collaborating with entre- stewardship and conservation careers. been published across a broad range of disci- in on certain roads.” preneurs, nonprofits, and citizens through The Forest Service has made a significant plinary journals including the Journal of For- Of the HNRG timberlands across the public-private partnerships and a range investment in building internal capacity estry, Environmental Management, Annals country, access policies vary and do not al- of contractual agreements. The National to expand volunteerism and community of Tourism, Journal of Extension, and the ways provide free public access. In north- Strategy for a Sustainable Trail System (US service across the National Forest System. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. east Oregon, a similar Access and Habitat Forest Service 2016) is an excellent of ex- Nowhere is this truer than in how the grant exists to the one for the purchased ample of how the Forest Service is adopt- agency has engaged youth. By partnering References tree farm. In northwest Washington and ing a “shared stewardship” approach by with nonprofit organizations like the 21st Carhart, A. 1955. Timber In Your Life. J. B. the southeast US, public access is only al- working with a diverse and engaged pub- Century Conservation Service Corp (21 Lippincott Co., Philadelphia. lowed by lease. lic to address the challenges of managing CSC), the Forest Service has expanded its Collins, S., and H. Brown. 2007. “The Through the three-year Access and the largest trail system in the country to a capacity to engage youth in developing growing challenge of managing out- Habitat grant for the coast ranges timber- high standard. This strategic plan has led their leadership potential while simulta- door recreation.” Journal of Forestry, land, bow hunters now have access during to passing of the National Forest System neously nurturing public lands. Since the 105 (4): 371–376. September, when the timberlands used Trails Stewardship Act of 2016 and new program began in 2014, more than 30,000 Pew Research Center. 2016. “10 Demo- to be closed due to fire danger, and rifle resources allocated to address the backlog youth and veterans have engaged in trail graphic trends that are shaping the hunters can do their scouting prior to the of trail maintenance needs. These emerg- improvement, watershed protection, in- U.S. and the world.” Available at ti- start of their season. To address the poten- ing collaborative partnerships should be vasive vegetation, and recreation facility nyurl.com/h4c473e; last accessed tial risk of keeping the timberlands open continued and expanded at all levels of projects (US Forest Service 2017d). These Nov. 23, 2017. during fire season, HNRG restricts vehicle the organization. types of collaborative programs should be Schultz, C., D. Coelho, and R. Beam. 2014. access at a Level 3 fire risk, and closes the 8. Work toward a customer-service continued and strengthened. “Design and governance of multipar- woods completely at a Level 4 risk. and host-guest relationship with visi- 12. Make recreation a full agency ty monitoring under the USDA Forest The 15-year curfew of no public ve- tors. Superlative customer service needs partner. Based on the evidence presented Service’s Collaborative Forest Land- hicles allowed on the roads at night re- to be at the forefront of Forest Service rec- in this paper, a strong case can be made to scape Restoration Program.” Journal mained unchanged, and ATVs aren’t per- reation programs. Lessons can be learned make the recreation program a full part- of Forestry, 112 (2): 198–206. mitted except by special permit. HNRG from the tourism and hospitality fields, in ner in the Forest Service enterprise to care Selin, S. 2017. “Operationalizing sustain- also reserves the right to shut down roads which host-guests relationships are culti- for the land and serve people. Recreation able recreation across the National or areas during logging operations, Ander- vated. The Forest Service must move be- staff professionals should be included Forest System: A qualitative content son said, because “we don’t want a conflict yond a merely custodial relationship with as integral members of interdisciplinary analysis of six regional strategies.” between our operations and the public.” visitors, in which recreation managers planning teams at all levels of the organi- Journal of Park and Recreation Admin- Anderson said that the reaction to are viewed narrowly as enforcers of forest zation. Leadership support will be critical istration. 35(3): 35–47. the new access has been mostly positive. rules and regulations. Needed is a public to realizing this objective. US Forest Service. 2008. “Travel Manage- “We’re monitoring closely to see if it’s engagement model in which a visitor’s first ment Directives.” Federal Register. working, and so far, I think it has,” he recreation experience on national forest Conclusions Vol. 73, No. 237; available at tinyurl said, adding that there is work that can be lands is seen as an opportunity to culti- Adopting this action agenda will help to .com/yafeh8tm; last accessed Nov. done to improve the public’s experience. vate a lifelong relationship that culminates catalyze a proud, resilient, creative, en- 22, 2017. Better signage, for one, as to which roads in a strong protector and steward of the trepreneurial, and optimistic recreation —. 2010. Connecting People with America’s are open; HNRG currently uses the green nation’s National Forest System. workforce in the Forest Service. It will Great Outdoors: A Framework for Sus- dot system used on public lands in Ore- 9. Incorporate 21st-century com- also go a long way toward establishing the tainable Recreation. 9 p. Available at gon. munications. The Forest Service’s recre- National Forest System as a world-class tinyurl.com/yakwt32j. Last accessed And just as Weyerhaeuser and Port ation program can be an agency model for recreation destination. Every day, visitors July 9, 2018. Blakely will work with groups for specific deploying state-of-the-art digital commu- make important connections to nature on —. (2012). Chief Tidwell’s introduction recreational activities, so too does HNRG. nications to interact with visitors before, national forest landscapes. Nature con- to the Framework for Sustainable The Baber Mountain ATV club originally during, and after their forest-based recre- nections that transform their lives and Recreation. Available at tinyurl.com/ had an agreement with the Oregon De- ation experience. For example, the Rec- communities in many concrete positive y852y7uu; last accessed Nov. 24, partment of Forestry (ODF), Green Dia- reation One-Stop initiative is striving to ways. Nature connections that build life- 2017. mond Resources, and Plum Creek Tim- create a customer-friendly recreation por- long stewards and supporters of the na- —. 2015a. USDA Forest Service Strategic ber. After ownership changes, the land is tal with information needed to plan forest tion’s National Forest System. Plan: FY 2015–2020. Washington, now managed by ODF, Weyerhaeuser, and visits, as well as consistent and accurate One hundred years later, let’s em- DC. Available at tinyurl.com/ycs2s- HNRG, and HNRG has continued busi- information about forest-based attractions brace Frank Waugh’s challenge to make v4a; last accessed Nov. 22, 2017. ness as usual. Since the group had a good and local conditions. The Forest Service recreation a central priority of national —. 2015b. The Rising Cost of Wildfire Op- relationship with the previous owners, should be using the power of digital tech- forest administration. One of Waugh’s erations: Effects on the Forest Service’s “we have honored their lease.” Anderson nology to support highly interactive re- contemporaries, Arthur Carhart, cap- Mon-fire Work. Washington, DC. said. “I think it’s been a pretty good rela- lationships with visitors and to support tured it best: “Perhaps the rebuilding of Available at tinyurl.com/zt4elp8; last tionship.” other management and monitoring ob- the body and spirit is the greatest ser- accessed Nov. 22, 2017. Having spent his 34-year career in jectives. Again, Tinelle Bustam envisions vice derivable from our forests, for what —. 2016. National Strategy for a Sustain- Oregon’s coastal region and seeing the “shared online platforms and shared con- worth are material things if we lose the able Trail System. Washington, DC. transition from unfettered public access to temporary mobile apps where the Forest character and quality of people that are Available at tinyurl.com/y875enwq; highly restricted public access, Anderson Service and partners share content about the soul of America.” last accessed Feb. 5, 2018. is encouraged to see the public access re- priority recreation programs and opportu- —. 2017a. A sustainable recreation future. Draft turn, albeit in a regulated manner. “When nities” (T. Bustam, personal communica- Steven Selin is a professor in the School report on file. Washington, DC. 13 pp. I first started, it was wide open. People tion, May 11, 2018). of Natural Resources and program coordi- —. 2017b. Five national priorities build on could drive everywhere, do anything they 10. Build stronger “communities nator of the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism legacy, guide agency forward. Wash- want,” he explained. “This is the first time of practice” to catalyze learning among Resources Program at West Virginia Univer- ington, DC. Available at tinyurl.com/ I’ve been here that we’ve reversed that recreation managers. The Forest Ser- sity (WVU). He earned a bachelor’s degree yb9cqyyb; last accessed Feb. 5, 2018. trend a bit. Yes, the grant money helps off- vice already has several internal methods in forest management from the University of —. 2017c. USDA announces $20 million for set the cost of the program, but in lieu of of sharing recreation best practices. For Maine, a master’s in outdoor teacher education jobs for young people, veterans. Wash- that, the public gets more access.” example, RECTALK is a Forest Service from Northern Illinois University, and a PhD ington, DC. Available at tinyurl.com/ recreation staff listserv, on which recre- in recreation resource management from the yd3q4hhf; last accessed Feb. 4, 2018. (Editor’s Note: This is an extended ver- ation managers share problems and solu- University of Oregon. Selin’s research interests Waugh, F. 1918. Recreation uses on the sion of an article that ran in Western For- tions with colleagues across the country. include integrating human dimension knowl- National Forests. US Forest Service. ester, a quarterly newsletter produced by the Needed are broader and more integrated edge into conservation decision-making, public Washington, DC. Available at tinyurl SAF Northwest Office for the Oregon, Wash- “communities of practice” through which participation in planning, collaborative gover- .com/ybugdwxd; last accessed July 9, ington State, and Alaska societies (see tinyurl recreation managers can learn from peers nance processes, strengthening public-private 2018. .com/yykcj4wh).

July 2019 23 FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY NEWS of themill’s oldertissuemachines.About company alsoinJulywillshutdownone energy complexattheCrossett mill.The pulp mill,andasignificantportionofthe machines, extrusionplant,woodyard, October 2019,includingbleachedboard operations atitsCrossett, Arkansas,by ed. GPalsowillshutteritsbleachedboard employees ateachfacilitywillbeimpact- astrophic fire inMay. Approximately 100 Georgia, facility, whichexperiencedacat- abama, andwillnotrebuild itsThomson, in Hope,Arkansas,andMonroeville, Al- will shutdowntwoparticleboard plants Georgia-Pacific recently announcedthatit GP Closures intheSoutheast company, willsupplytheDLTs. core.”sist astheservice the southportionofbuildingandas- cast concrete wallsandbuttresses anchor neighborhood duringconstruction.Pre- crew, minimizingthedisturbanceto quick erection timeandasmallersite as floorsand roof. “Thesystemfacilitates foot by6.33-footDLT panelsthatserve beams andcolumnswillframethe40- mann MonsonArchitects, spruceglulam other three floorswillbeoffice space. will bedevotedtoretail spaces,whilethe floor ofthe65,000-square-foot structure dowel-laminated timbers(DLTs). Thefirst mercial buildinginNorthAmericatouse Des Moines,Iowa,willbethefirstcom- A plannedfour-story office buildingin DLTs: Dowel-LaminatedTimbers StructureCraft, aBritishColumbia According toproject designerNeu-

News for forest resource professionals published by the Society of American Foresters 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814 • www.eforester.org July 2019 • Vol. 24 • No. 7 in Canada’s them all,”according toaJune13article in B.C.andnotenoughsupplytofeed of forests. Now, there are toomanymills with record fires, destroyed hugeswaths to warmerwinters,whichincombination pine beetlepopulationexplodedthanks the making,asravenousmountain mately 200millionboard feet.” Canfor’s production outputbyapproxi- uneconomic. Thecurtailmentswillreduce are makingtheoperatingconditionsinBC markets andthehighcostoffibre, which curtailments arepoorlumber duetovery run from June17through July26.The zie. Thecurtailmentsare scheduledto and Plateau,sixweeksatMacken- curtailments offourweeksatHouston weeks ortheequivalent,withextended majority ofmillswillbecurtailedfortwo lumbia sawmills,exceptWynnWood. The be curtailingoperationsatallBritishCo- Corporation announcedJune10itwill Random Lengths other sources. Forexample,onJune11, months, according to shutdowns orcurtailmentsinthelasttwo mills inBritishColumbiahaveannounced At thiswritinginmid-June,atleast20 BC Curtailments business. to supportitsconsumertissueandtowel to operateandinvestintheCrossett mill ed Thecompanysaiditwouldcontinue ness andsalespositions,willbeeliminat- 530 jobsatthefacility, alongwith25busi- Now AvailablefromSAF Idaho,” by Rick Tholen Predicament on National Forests: Examples from “How Collaboration Can Help Resolve Process by AlSample "Anatomy of anEnduring yet Evolving Mission," Jerry T. Williams to Take Action on Wildfire,” by Dale N. Bosworth and “A Failure of Imagination: Why We Need aCommission healthier and more resilient US Forest Service. objective of 193 Million Acres isto find paths toward a maintained, expanded, and improved. Inshort, the and effective and its land-management activities the agency’s operations might be made more efficient but to offer concrete proposals for how, ultimately, The purpose of the book isnot to criticize the agency, former chiefs, as well as longtime outside observers. numerous retired agency leaders, including two that would address them. Contributors include the US Forest Service faces and propose solutions A collection of essays that examine the challenges www.eforester.org/store “It’s asituationthat’s beenyearsin Financial Post reported that“Canfor Random Lengths . Anotherfactor and ed timber. Photo:NeumannMonsonArchitects. A four-story officebuildinginDesMoines,Iowa,willbethefirstUSbuiltwithdowel-laminat- ican Wood FiberReview cent from 2017,according to were shippedgloballyin2018,up21per- More than22milliontonsofwoodpellets Pellets, Pellets graphic area.” Seetinyurl.com/y4doqopl. from provincial landinaspecificgeo- timber transfer theirlicensestoharvest a ‘publicinterest’ before theycansellor obligation forcompaniestodemonstrate is anewprovincial lawthat“creates anew from fossilfuelsandtowards renewable in 2018,drivenbyaEuropean moveaway in theUSSouthcontinuedatrecord pace global exportsin2018.“Pelletproduction and Russia—accountedfor69percent of ers—the US,Canada,Vietnam, Latvia, WoodPrices.com). The“bigfive”export- (NAWFR, www. North Amer- [email protected]. tact Breaking forest products industrynews?Con- years.” lion tons,more thandoublinginjusttwo the twocountrieswasjustover4.5mil- 2018, thetotalannualimportvolumefor quarter of2018,reported NAWFR: “In 993,000 tons,respectively, inthefourth reached record highsof339,000tonsand growth trend whenimportvolumes South Korea continuedathree-year wood pellets.” world’s largest producer andexporterof 50%, furthermanifestingUS’s role asthe exports from theregion were upalmost energy. From the1Q/18to4Q/18, Forestry Source Demand forpelletsinJapanand editorSteveWilent at