News for forest resource professionals published by the Society of American Foresters February 2019 • Vol. 24, No. 2 National Academies: Biotechnology Has Potential to Mitigate Forest Threats By Steve Wilent ccording to a report issued in Jan- uary by the National Academies of ASciences, Engineering, and Medi- cine, “Biotechnology has the potential to help mitigate threats to North American forests from insects and pathogens through the introduction of pest-resistant traits to forest trees.” The report, Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Consider- ations, recommends research and invest- IN THIS ISSUE ment to assess and improve the utility of biotechnology—genetic engineering and Dead Wood Is Good Wood similar technologies—as a forest-health Gillian Martin, director of the Cavity Conser- tool (see tinyurl.com/ybor9ou4). vation Initiative, based in California’s Orange At the request of the US Department County, becomes animated when she talks of Agriculture (USDA), the US about dead wood in urban areas: “We have Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lost an appreciation of the importance of dead and the US Endowment for Forestry and wood to wildlife, not only to cavity-nesting Communities, the National Academies birds but wildlife [in general]. In my presen- assembled a Committee on the Potential tations, I tell people, ‘Nature designed trees William A. Powell, a professor at SUNY ESF, has produced transgenic American chestnuts (Castanea den- to have two lives: one as a living healthy ma- for Biotechnology to Address Forest tata), called Darling 215 and 311, center, that are resistant to chestnut blight. Left: a blight-resistant Chinese ture tree and one when it starts to decline.’ Health to investigate the potential use of chestnut (C. mollissima). Right: a blight-susceptible wild American chestnut. All of these seedlings were The habitat value of a tree when it starts to inoculated with the blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. Powell’s research shows that the transgenic decline skyrockets and serves more species of American chestnuts may have even higher resistance to the blight than the Chinese chestnut. See www.esf n .edu/chestnut/resistance.htm wildlife—assuming it’s in an ideal location— BIOTECH Page 4 than the tree ever did when it was alive and healthy.” Page 8 THE FUTURE OF SAF Biometric Bits SAF Receives Are there any similarities between terrestrial lidar scanning (TLS) tools and the relascope? $15K Weyco Grant Far more than you might think. Zack Parisa he Society of American Foresters explains. Page 10 Bringing Music and Nontraditional recently received a $15,000 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Forest Restoration in Malawi Thinking to the Forestry Profession T Fund. The funds will be split between Malawi’s government, which is determined to By Andrea Watts combat forest loss and degradation, recently SAF’s Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar Pro- announced a $7 million program for forest gram and the Kurt Gottschalk Science restoration. Page 11 Fund (KGSF). “I speak for our leadership in ex- OSB Plants in the West? pressing tremendous gratitude for this Why aren’t there any oriented-strand board 2019 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving (OSB) plants in California? And is there a Fund,” said SAF CEO Terry Baker. “SAF business case for building one? Roy Ander- aims to make the most of Weyerhaeuser’s son, vice-president of the Beck Group, has generosity in 2019. We are honored and answers. Page 12 pleased that Weyerhaeuser leadership rec- ognizes and appreciates the Mollie Beattie The Effects of Fire Suppression Program and the Gottschalk Science Fund New research shows that, as forests in the as programs that merit support.” West became thicker over the past century The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund is due to fire suppression, trees were forced to primarily intended to support US and Ca- use progressively more of the heavier stable isotope of carbon for photosynthesis, which nadian communities where the company indicates increasing drought stress as trees re- has a significant presence or business in- stricted the passage of gases into their leaves. terest. Grants also are awarded to national Page 14 projects and research programs that are After a decade as a musician in a punk rock band, Jordan Luff was inspired to pursue a career in the natural- directly related to the sustainability and resources profession. He enrolled in Haywood Community College’s forestry program, and the course on den- importance of working forests. DEPARTMENTS drology hooked him. Now he is a grad student at the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment “Weyerhaeuser is excited to provide and Natural Resources. Photograph courtesy of Jordan Luff. this funding towards the Kurt Gottschalk 13 Forest Industry News Science Fund and Mollie Beatie Scholar 15 Commentary: FIRz he Forestry Source launched a new a master’s degree student at the University Program,” said Eric B. Sucre, a production 16 SAF News department in the January edition: of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environ- forestry research manager for the com- 17 People in the News TThe Future of SAF. Articles in this ment and Natural Resources. He joined pany. “Both of these funds align with our department will feature up-and-coming SAF in 2015 while attending Haywood company vision and core values. In the 18 In Memoriam student members who will continue SAF’s case of the Gottschalk Science Fund, fos- 18 Continuing Education Calendar legacy into the next 100 years. 19 Employment Ads This month’s profile is of Jordan Luff, LUFF n Page 6 WEYCO n Page 3 20 Forestry News Briefs LETTERS TO THE EDITOR EDITOR’S Published monthly by the Society of American For- NOTEBOOK esters (SAF), The Forestry Source (ISSN 1084-5496) What Is It You Do Again? you do—and maybe even ask how and provides SAF members and other natural resource It was a great pleasure to read Dave why you got into the profession. professionals with news regarding developments Lewis’s comments regarding credential- within the forestry profession as well as the activities A Journey around and policies of SAF. ing and certification in the November Ryan Mansfield, CF issue of The Forestry Source (“Lewis: Cre- Bonney Lake, Washington The opinions expressed in articles, commentaries, the World in 80 and letters do not necessarily reflect the policies or dentialing and Certification Crucial to views of SAF. Future of Forestry Profession”). There Forests of the Northern Marianas is no light between our positions on As the former commonwealth forester Trees Publisher: Terry Baker, [email protected] Editor: Steve Wilent, (503) 622-3033, forging a path forward as forestry pro- for the Northern Mariana Islands (1984- By Steve Wilent [email protected] fessionals. I would add the following 1988), I was most interested in Andrea Associate Editor: Andrea Watts, [email protected] to Dave’s words to bolster our amazing Watts’ article in the January 2019 edition Editorial Offices and Advertising Sales forestry community: about the effects of Super Typhoon Yutu 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814 How many times have you been at on the Commonwealth of the Northern Tel (301) 897-8720 • www.safnet.org a social function and somebody casually Mariana Islands, or CNMI (“It Looked asks what you do for a living? You don’t like a War Zone. Recovery Efforts Under- Correspondence: Address all editorial correspon- dence to the Editor at the above address. Advertising quite know how informed that person is, way after Typhoon Yutu”). inquiries should be directed to Christopher Whited at so you try and simplify it for them. This During the time I was there, Super (301) 897-8720, ext. 110. process usually complicates their ques- Typhoon Kim passed directly over Saipan Subscription rates: $61 for individuals in the US and tion even more. Invariably, they walk in December 1986. [Kim’s wind speeds Canada $116 in other countries); $116 for institutions away still not knowing what exactly you reportedly exceeded 150 miles per hour; in the US ($173 in other countries). Subscriptions do, but they are pretty sure it’s something Yutu’s reached about 180 miles per hour.] for members is included in annual dues. See tinyurl .com/m6xo2x9 for other rates and information. For in- to do with trees. After the storm passed, I estimated formation regarding subscriptions, address changes, If you ask a person on the street that about 50 percent of the island’s trees and purchasing single editions, call 866-897-8720. what a lawyer does, you will likely get had been damaged. But I also noted that Permission to reprint: Individuals, and nonprofit li- an informed answer about defending native vegetation, which has evolved over braries acting for them, are permitted to make fair clients, lawsuits, and litigation. Ask time to withstand periodic typhoons, use of the material in this publication; for example, them what a doctor does, you’ll get an was clearly much less affected than natu- copying an article for personal or classroom use. For republication, or systematic or multiple repro- equally informed answer. Teacher? Same ralized and exotic species. duction of copyrighted material, permission must be result. When you ask them what a for- Also at that time, the Division of obtained from SAF, with a fee for commercial use to ester does, you may get a blank stare. Plant Industry nursery was primarily be determined. To request permission to republish or reproduce material, contact the Editor at the address Explaining this is something we could focused on producing plants for coastal above. Proper notice of copyright and credit to The all do a better job of when interacting protection and community beautification Forestry Source must appear on all copies made. with the public. projects. We did not envision a need for Permission is granted to quote from The Forestry Source if the customary acknowledgment accompa- Educating the public about our reforestation following Kim.