FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWS A Newsletter for Department of Forest Ecology and Management Staff, Students and Alumni
Vol. 6, No. 2 July 2003
cation of two new books, one an edited doing the job I always wanted when I News from textbook by Ray Young and Ron Giese was in school!” She says her biggest containing chapters prepared by many of challenge is not her job, it’s raising the Chair our faculty. The second is a new envi- teenagers! Mary Ann’s e-mail ronmental history by Nancy Langston address is: based on her research on the Malheur I’ve just read through the galley proof
Alumni Update, continued We’d like to hear from more of you. New Winter Break Study Abroad Program Gives What sort of job has your forest science Students a Taste of Samoan Culture or recreation resources management edu- cation led you to? Clip out and com- Prof. Raymond Young, together with ideal venue to study the development plete the form on the back page of the the Office of International Studies and of cultural practices and plant utiliza- newsletter and drop it in the mail to us. Programs, has organized a three-week tion in a traditional culture. Students Send us an e-mail to at:
Donald Field Named Distinguished Rural Sociologist Congratulations to Prof. Donald R. Field who was awarded the Distinguished Rural Sociologist award by colleagues in the Rural Sociological Society and Natural Resources. His News From Our Emeritus Society (RSS). He other administrative and academic posi- Faculty will receive the award in July at the RSS tions include: Associate Dean in CALS, annual meeting in Montreal. The award Associate Director of the Wisconsin Gordon Cunningham announcement states: "Much of what we Agricultural Experiment Station, and know as the field of natural resource and Prof. Cunningham retired from the Director, School of Natural Resources at department in 1983. His appointment environmental sociology is due to his the University of Wisconsin-Madison. scholarly and administrative efforts." was 75% Extension and 25% Resident Prior to his move to the UW, he held teaching (mostly Short Course). He stays Along with numerous publications, he positions with the National Park Service, founded the International Symposium on involved with the forestry community by University of Washington at Seattle, and promoting the Wisconsin Woodland Society and Resource Management and Oregon State University. co-founded and co-edited the journal Owners Association which he helped continues on page 3 FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWS Page 3
Emeritus Faculty, continued from page 2 where Renie is active at the Waterloo- organize in 1979 and conducts Tree Area Historical Society (in her home- Farm reinspections in southern town) and in the past two years Ron has Department News Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Tree Farm invested over 500 hours in the Archives Committee. Since moving to Oakwood- Conservation Lab at the Wisconsin West, a retirement community in Historical Society. Madison, last September, Prof. The Wisconsin Historical Society and Introductory Forest Science Cunningham takes non-drivers to med- Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Book Now Available ical appointments. He has also offered recently gave Ron an award for the best The Third Edition of Introduction of to help manage the Nature Conservancy family history/genealogical book pub- Forest Ecosystem Science and woods (oak-hickory) on the property. lished in 2002. The book, The August Management, He and his wife, Vera, volunteer at Ferdinand Windau Family, is about edited by Prof. church, UW Hospital, and the Red Cross Ron’s maternal great-grandfather, who Raymond A. where he facilitates a Once-A-Week migrated to Wisconsin from Darmstadt, Young and Prof. blood donors' club, but says he’s been Germany. Ron and Renie received the Emeritus Ronald restricted to three donations per year same honor in 2001 for a family history L. Giese, is now since turning 80. He and Vera are also book they published about Renie’s fami- available. The active in PLATO (an Extension learning ly. group) and Second Winders title of the new edition of the (Elderhostellers who meet for lunch Jeff Martin every three months). Plus they manage introductory to exercise at the "Y" three days a week When Jeff retired from the Department forestry book and take daily walks. of Forest Ecology and Management in has been changed from previous editions 1999, his life-long interest in photogra- to reflect the many changes and Ron Giese phy became his main focus (pun intend- approaches to forestry during the past 12 ed). His company, JMAR Foto-Werks years since publication of the second Ron (former Chair and Professor
Langston’s New Book Explores lessons from their successes and fail- administers a research program funding the History of Adaptive ures." Says Prof. William Kittredge in exploration of critical environmental Resource Management comments about Langston’s book: ". . . issues related to electrical power genera- she gives us more than history, she also tion and transmission in Wisconsin. proposes a useable problem-solving Nancy Langston, associate professor in Gower and Kruger are collaborating with model. This book is a gift. The Forest Ecology and Management, has a scientists from Michigan Tech American West and the world need many new book titled University, the U.S. Forest Service, the more like it." The book is 230 pages Where Land and WI Department of Natural Resources long and is published by the University Water Meet: A and Stora Enso North America. Kruger’s of Washington Press as part of their Western research team will generate predictions Weyerhaeuser Environmental Series Landscape concerning the effects of altered atmos- (ISBN: 0-295-98307-8). Transformed. The pheric chemistry, especially increased book explores the levels of carbon dioxide and ozone, on environmental growth and carbon sequestration by history of western Land Tenure Change and Wisconsin's forests. riparian areas, Logging Sector Study to Begin focusing on fed- Gower’s research team will evaluate the eral wildlife Forests and forest products are essential carbon budgets for three Wisconsin refuge policy. In her book Langston to the economy of Wisconsin and forests and conduct life cycle analyses of argues that the roots of adaptive manage- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The forest product chains to identify manage- ment lie in the philosophy of American region’s dominant forest industry is built ment and industrial processes that can be Pragmatism, and she shows the ways that upon an accessible and low-cost supply modified to mitigate greenhouse gas a pragmatic approach to environmental of wood fiber. Although recent forest emissions and/or increase carbon seques- debates can lead to policies that benefit inventory data point to an abundant tration. Results will be incorporated into human communities as well as ecologi- resource, such data do not tell the full an ecosystem process model to simulate cal communities. Langston uses the story. Concerns have arisen regarding forest carbon budgets and product chains Malheur Lake region in southeastern sustainable timber supply amid contin- for future environmental management. Oregon as a case study. In the late 1800s ued rural population growth and and early 1900s the area was the West’s increased ownership parcelization. The largest “cattle empire.” The damage US Forest Service has awarded Mark Forestry Cooperatives: What from overgrazing became so great by the Rickenbach, Tom Steele, and others a Today’s Resource Professionals 1930s that the federal government grant to examine the economic, social, Need to Know acquired the area for one of the nation’s and resource consequences of land first ecosystem restoration projects. tenure change from the perspective of The Local Forest Cooperatives Working those who work in the forest --, loggers. Group (LFCWG), a partnership of the In his forward to the book Prof. William Over the next two years, Rickenbach and US Forest Service North Central Station, Cronon (UW-Madison) states: ". . . this Steele will survey and interview loggers the University of Minnesota and the intriguing and nuanced book explores the in the northern Lake States in an effort to University of Wisconsin, will sponsor a ways people have envisioned boundaries understand how business is changing and national satellite continuing education between water and land, the ways they what the changes might mean for future program on forestry cooperatives. Local have altered these places, and the often timber supplies. forestry cooperatives and similar organi- unintended results." He adds: "After zations have emerged as a tantalizing establishment in 1908 of Malheur innovation to improve stewardship of National Wildlife Refuge as a protected Grants Support Research on the woodlands. The satellite conference, breeding ground for migratory birds, and Impact of Carbon Dioxide, funded by the USDA, is intended to aid its expansion in the 1930s and 1940s, the natural resource, extension, and coopera- area experienced equally extreme intend- Ozone, and Carbon Budgets in Wisconsin Forests tive development professionals nation- ed modifications aimed at restoring wide to better understand this complex riparian habitat. Refuge managers Profs. Eric Kruger and Tom Gower opportunity. The conference date is Nov. ditched wetlands, channelized rivers, recently were awarded research funding 18, 2003. For more information, visit the applied Agent Orange and rotenone to from Wisconsin Focus on Energy (WFE) Internet site at:
Studies Focus on Impact of There is no charge for the sessions. The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) ‘Rural Sprawl’ However, all programs require advance is the largest native Wisconsin tree registration as space is limited. For fur- species, with the ability to grow over Prof. Volker Radeloff and Prof. Roger ther information and to register, contact 200 ft. tall and live up to 500 years. It Hammer (Dept. of Rural Sociology and Karla by telephone at (715) 358-5667 or was once a major component of northern adjunct faculty in FEM)) are conducting by e-mail at:
Kemp Offers Outreach Programs Kemp Natural Resources Station, locat- ed near Woodruff, Wis., is offering a number of outreach sessions this sum- mer. Most sessions are held in the sec- ond floor classroom above the Kemp Boathouse. Upcoming sessions include: • Aquatic Plants - July 16 • Beetles of Wisconsin - July 29 • Historical Patterns of Development in Northern Wisconsin - August 6 • Mushrooms & Fungi - August 19 (sorry, this session is filled) • Wisconsin’s Bats - August 26 • Wildlife Fireside Chat - August 27 Page 6 FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWS
continued from page 5 and white pine weevil have restricted Students Explore Wisconsin’s Forest History plantings of white pine seedlings in the past. Renewed interest in white pines age through any Northwoods local newspaper these days and has been steadily growing. White pines’ genetic diversity provides the potential Pyou’re bound to find stories about forestland and its relation- to increase height and volume growth as ship to people. Whether it be lakeshore development, wetland con- well as disease and insect resilience. version, forest management or conservation issues, it is clear that The research project currently underway natural resource professionals, both today and in the future, must be focuses on gaining a better understand- prepared to address these topics. This past summer two UW- ing of the extent and patterning of varia- Madison professors joined forces to help address this need with the tion in Wisconsin’s remaining white pine introduction of a new course, "Wisconsin’s Once and Future populations, and providing a Forests." source of improved seed for state nurseries. To This 3-credit interdisciplinary course examines the impact of histor- this end, open polli- ical and ecological factors in shaping Wisconsin’s forests. Profs. nated seeds from 234 trees from 50 Nancy Langston and Ray Guries together guided students, examin- natural stands were ing the social and economic forces that led to extensive forest collected across clearing in the 19th century, and the subsequent political, legal and Wisconsin in 1996, environmental forces that helped shape forest recovery during the 1998, and 2000. In 20th century. Eastern White Pine addition, the USDA Pinus strobus Forest Service provid- The legacy of destructive harvesting and failed attempts at agricul- ed seed from 142 Forest Service selec- ture still linger in many parts of Wisconsin, a legacy that is well tions in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. represented in Wisconsin’s environmental literature. This explo- ration of Wisconsin’s forest history followed several pathways, Beginning in 1999, two sets of seedlings, each a year apart, were propa- including a review of forces that shaped land settlement and forest gated. In the spring of 2002 the first set exploitation, and early efforts aimed at conservation. Students was planted near Lake Tomahawk, Wis. examined several important themes of forest loss and recovery A second "southern" trial was planted in articulated in the writings of Aldo Leopold, Sigurd Olsen, Ben the Black River State Forest this past Logan, Josie Campell, Ruth Engelmann, and other Wisconsin and spring. regional writers. Over the next 15-20 years, Guries and continues on page 7 other researchers will track the trees’ disease resistance, growth, and form Students explore the site where a logging camp once bustled with activity. characteristics to identify appropriate The site is located near Star Lake in Vilas County. sources of white pine seed for use in state nurseries. Long-term benefits include the development of two seed orchards for future seed production and genetic resource conservation of Lake States white pine. – David Stevens, Tree Improvement Specialist in the Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management and Greg Edge, Forest Geneticist and Nursery Specialist in the Wis. DNR Division of Forestry FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWS Page 7
continued from page 6 was a stopover point on the trip. While activity, Drs. Langston and Guries Also covered were several important at Kemp, the students visited Star Lake, painted a picture of what it looked like pieces of legislation that promoted pub- once a booming logging town. Between when it was a bustling logging town. lic acquisition of forestland and forest 1894 and 1908, this was the largest log- recovery, and more recent efforts aimed ging operation in northern Wisconsin, When the logging work was done, the at the creation of parks and protected producing roughly 1.5 billion ft. of pine camp was literally taken apart, board by areas such as the Kickapoo Valley lumber. Visitors today find a quiet town board, and moved to Columbus, Wis. Reserve. Controversies abound regard- with little evidence of such activity. Eventually it became too costly to move ing the best ways to ensure that forest homes this way, so loggers’homes were I tagged along with the group when they resources are sustainable and continue to later kept on railcars, making the move went to the Star Lake area. Our first stop provide an array of ecological, econom- more efficient. As we walked through was along a county road where, in a ic, and cultural services. These contro- the field, an occasional remnant of cleared field with scattered small trees, a versies were explored through selected human occupation surfaced in the form lone sign stood: "Star Lake – CCC readings, discussions, guest speakers, of old equipment, a rusted can, and an Camp – Company 650 – 1933-42." The student projects, and a field trip to apple tree. If a can were like a seashell, Civilian Conservation Corps was a New Wisconsin’s forests. perhaps holding it to ones ear would Deal Era program, providing jobs to reveal the sounds of the logging camp! The four-day field trip included stops at people nationwide. Here at Star Lake, Leopold’s Shack, the Menominee work included tree planting to promote This new course added an important Reservation, the Northern Highland- reforestation in the cutover area. dimension to the students’education. It American Legion State Forest, a rem- placed the science of forest ecology into nant of “virgin forest” in the Next we stopped along another quiet the real world context that shapes forest Chequamegon National Forest, visits to road, and tromped through a line of trees use. – by Karla Ortman (Reprinted with ghost logging towns in the cutover, the leading to an open field scattered with permission from Kemp’s Point, A Black River State Forest, and the young trees. As we peered out over this Newsletter of the Kemp Natural Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Kemp Station area devoid of buildings and human Resources Station, Vol. 3, No. 2)
Forest Ecology and Management Capital Fund
We invite you to join us in our efforts to establish a capital fund. Proceeds will be used to support student travel to professional meetings, help cover the costs of the summer field camp and the southern trip and to renovate work space in Russell Labs.
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If paying by check, please make your gift payable to UW Foundation Forestry Fund, University of Wisconsin Foundation, 1848 University Avenue, P.O. Box 8860, Madison, WI 53708-8860 Alumni Update We’d like to hear what’s new with you, your family, career, etc. Please complete and return the form below or e-mail the information to
Please return the above form to: Department of Forest Ecology and Management 1630 Linden Drive University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 53706