A High School Forestry Curriculum
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INSIDE OREGOn’S FORESTS A high school forestry curriculum Inside Oregon’s Forests A high school forestry curriculum ©2015 Oregon Forest Resources Institute Page i Acknowledgments This high school course curriculum guide is the result of the vision and support of many different educators and resource specialists, whose commitment to education about Oregon forests profoundly impacts students and communities throughout Oregon. We are grateful to Dr. Wynn Cudmore of the Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources at Chemeketa Community College for the course materials that form the backbone of the curriculum. Thank you to Rod Bardell and Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension for use of images and content. OFRI Board of Directors Jennifer Beathe, Starker Forests, Inc. Calli Daly, Georgia-Pacific, LLC Dave Furtwangler, Cascade Timber Consulting, Inc. Anne Hanschu, Little Beaver Creek Tree Farm Jim Hunt, Campbell Global, LLC Ray Jones, Stimson Lumber Co. Bill Kluting, Carpenters Industrial Council Thomas Maness, Oregon State University College of Forestry Greg Miller, Weyerhaeuser Jennifer Phillippi, Rough & Ready Lumber Randy Schild, Tillamook School District No. 9 Dave Schmidt, Schmidt Family Forests, LLC Ron Stuntzner, Stuntzner Engineering and Forestry Curriculum Advisory Group and Review Team Simon Babcock, Philomath High School Stormy Ballenger, Logos Public Charter School Mackenzie Behrle, Molalla High School Bernie Bochsler, Contract educator Ron Boldenow, Central Oregon Community College Alix Brant, Oregon Forest Resources Institute Lynne Claflin, Butte Falls Charter School Mitch Coleman, Dayton High School Ron Crouse, Marion Soil and Water Conservation District Tim Eggleston, Banks High School Page ii Reynold Gardner, Oregon Department of Education Amy Goulter, Stayton High School Braden Groth, Elkton High School Amber Horn, St. Helens High School Ben Kercher, Glide High School Jim Kiser, Oregon State University Jared Larson, McMinnville High School Lori Loeffler, Tillamook High School Rex Lowther, Scio High School Sarah McArthur, Silverton High School Emily Parent, McNary High School Marilyn Rice, Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District Misty Scevola, Alliance High School Max Sherman, Tillamook High School Peter Siderius, Newberg High School Leslie Smith, Estacada High School John Stables, Amity High School Scott Stockert, Marshfield High School Alison Stolfus, Silverton High School Clair Thomas, Tillamook High School Chris VanNess, Logos Public Charter School Rob Waibel, North Clackamas High School We would also like to thank Oregon FFA and Heath Curtiss, board member, Oregon FFA Foundation OFRI Project Team OFRI Staff Paul Barnum, Executive Director Norie Dimeo-Ediger, Director of K-12 Education Programs Julie Woodward, Forest Education Program Manager Mike Cloughesy, Director of Forestry Curriculum Writer Leslie Comnes, Writing for Education Page iii About the Oregon Forest Resources Institute The Oregon Forest Resources Institute is a state agency whose mission is to advance public understanding of how forest stewardship meets the social, environmental and economic needs of both present and future generations. OFRI works closely with the scientific, academic and educational communities at Oregon State University, the Oregon Department of Forestry and other agencies to ensure its K-12 resources are accurate and objective. ©2015 Oregon Forest Resources Institute Oregon Forest Resources Institute 317 SW Sixth Ave., Suite 400 Portland, OR 97204 971-673-2944 LearnForests.org Page iv Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3 Resources ................................................................................................................................ 8 Section 1 – Oregon’s Forest Heritage ....................................................................................... 17 1: Introduction to Oregon’s Forests 2: Changes in Oregon’s Forestland 3: Oregon’s Forest Resource 4: Who Owns Oregon’s Forests? 5: Oregon’s Federal Forestland 6: Interview a Forest Landowner Section 2 – Forest Basics .......................................................................................................... 59 7: Tree Biology 8: Forest Types in Oregon 9: Tree Identification and Survey 10: Measuring Trees Section 3 – Environmental Importance of Oregon’s Forests ...................................................... 87 11: Forests and Drinking Water 12: Watershed Survey 13: Forests as Habitat 14: Habitat Edges 15: Forests and Carbon Section 4 – Economic Importance of Oregon’s Forests .............................................................. 131 16: Oregon’s Forest Economy 17: Oregon’s Wood Products 18: Biomass Energy from Oregon’s Forests 19: Forestry Careers: Find Your Path Section 5 – Forest Management. .............................................................................................. 155 20: What Is Forest Management? 21: Surveying a Forest Tract 22: Analyzing Forest Soil 23: Forest Density Lab Introduction – Page 1 24: Forest Thinning 25: Harvesting 26: Reforestation 27: Silviculture Tour 28: Developing a Forest Management Plan Section 6 – Forest Health and Forest Management Issues ........................................................ 229 29: Fire in Oregon’s Forests 30: Assessing Wildfire Safety 31: Evaluating Articles on Forest Issues 32: Forest Pests 33: The Effects of Climate Change on Oregon’s Forests 34: Community Views on Forest Management Issues Section 7 – Our Responsibility to Oregon’s Forests ................................................................... 275 35: Forest Sustainability 36: Service-Learning Project Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 289 Supplies List ............................................................................................................................ 295 Standards Connections at a Glance .......................................................................................... 299 Oregon Forest Literacy Program Concepts at a Glance .............................................................. 300 Introduction – Page 2 Introduction Years from now, as historians record the history of the Pacific Northwest, how will they treat us? Will they say we did all we could to live in harmony with the natural environment? That we lived in such a way to provide for our own needs without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to provide for their needs? We hope historians treat us favorably, but hope itself will not make it so. As citizens of an abundantly forested state, Oregonians have a special responsibility to be forest literate and to act in ways that protect forest resources. And as a forest resources institute charged with advancing public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products, we have a special responsibility to help teachers do the best they can to pass on forest literacy to their students. For this reason we created Inside Oregon’s Forests. If we all do our part in the present, there’s a good chance we will have done right by the future. - Paul Barnum, Executive Director, Oregon Forest Resources Institute Why a High School Curriculum on Oregon Forestry? All life, including our own, depends on forests. Forests help filter fresh water, supply oxygen, provide habitat for diverse animal and plant species and store atmospheric carbon. In Oregon, nearly 50 percent of our state’s 61 million acres is forestland. Our forests supply renewable resources for lumber, paper and heating, along with jobs that support families and communities. Because we depend so profoundly on our forests, being knowledgeable about them is crucial for all Oregonians. We need to understand not only how they work, but also how we are connected to them ecologically, economically and socially. To play an active role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Oregon forests, high school students need a deep understanding of both their dependence and effect on forests. Whether they later choose to enter Oregon’s forestry sector or not, students need the knowledge and skills to make thoughtful decisions that affect our forest. Introduction – Page 3 Curriculum Goals and Objectives The overall goal of this curriculum is to provide Oregon high schools with engaging, standards- based lessons that help students understand the environmental, economic and social importance of Oregon’s forests, as well as the principles behind the management of our forests. Through these lessons, students will be able to Explain basic tree biology. Identify the forest types in Oregon. Describe the environmental, economic and social benefits that Oregon forests provide. Explain scientific and economic principles involved in managing Oregon forests. Describe current issues facing Oregon’s forests. Identify actions they can take to help ensure the sustainability of our forests. How to Use the Curriculum This guide outlines a high school curriculum focusing on Oregon forests and forestry. It provides a comprehensive set of lesson plans, resources and tools designed to help students gain a deep understanding of this topic. With both classroom and field activities, it enables students not only to learn about the field of forestry in Oregon, but to practice it as well. This course curriculum is designed to be flexible. Though it is structured