News for forest resource professionals published by the Society of American Foresters January 2018• Vol. 23, No. 1 SAF Convention 2017: Managing Forests in a Changing World By Steve Wilent t is impossible to adequately cover an SAF National Convention in a few Ipages in The Forestry Source. A con- clave with so many interesting speakers, scientific and technical sessions, tech- nical tours, panel discussions on policy, and other events cannot be easily sum- marized. This article offers a look at the perspectives on forest management of the three Plenary 1 speakers, which represent IN THIS ISSUE the breadth of Southwest history: Native Americans, who have lived in the region Presidential Priorities for millennia; the descendents of Spanish A conversation with new SAF President Dave settlers, whose families have lived in New Lewis about his vision for SAF in 2018 and Mexico for centuries; and more recent beyond, plus the results of the SAF election immigrants from the United States. Else- held in October. Page 2. where in this edition, look for photo es- says from three of the technical field tours: Haglöf’s Vertex Laser Geo Restoration of Interior West Frequent-Fire This Field Tech review looks at the latest in Forests, Rio Grande Bosque Ecology, and Haglöf’s line of hypsometers, the Vertex La- the Jemez Mountains Forest Restoration ser Geo, which can make both laser and ul- Project (pages 6 through 8). On page 10, “Sure, let’s talk about fire a little bit, but let’s focus on water. If the state doesn’t have water, we don’t have trasound measurements. Ultrasound lets you you’ll find Andrea Watts’ report on the development, we don’t have businesses, we don’t have schools, playgrounds—the whole works,” said Kim Kostelnik, a natural-resource consultant and technical assistance provider for the New Mexico Forest measure distances by positioning an ultra- Town Hall, during which SAF’s leaders sound transponder at one point and the Vertex Industry Association. Photo by Josh Zytkiewicz, Focal Flame Photography, www.focalflame.com. gave presentations on the state of our or- at another point. The Vertex Laser Geo gives you four options for measuring tree heights ganization and goals for its future. And a Tony Tooke’s talk at the annual Breakfast and gets high marks for its accuracy and ver- brief summary of US Forest Service Chief with the Chief is on page 11. CONVENTION Q Page 4 satility. Page 12. The Beauty of Stratification Dr. DBH, also known as Steve Fairweather, ex- An Insurance Policy for a Rhode Island COMMENTARY plains stratification, one of the most powerful and easiest to apply tools for making sampling Watershed: Boosting Forest Health and more efficient. “There are a few formulas to learn along the way, but they are not difficult, A Failure of and the boost in information gained for a giv- Resilience en cost over a nonstratified sampling approach By Andrea Watts can be significant.” Page 15. s a forester managing 13,000 acres Imagination: of public woodlands surrounding Hagenstein Lectures, Western Edition Providence Water’s Scituate Reser- Why We Need A report on the second annual western edi- A voir in Rhode Island, SAF member Chris- tion of the Hagenstein Lectures, held at the topher Riely faced a common dilemma: a Commission World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon, How should he address regeneration fail- on October 15. The theme of the annual event is Emerging Voices in Forestry, and most of ure? Ten years earlier, a salvage harvest of to Take Action the speakers are under the age of 45 and are dead and dying oak was conducted, with “leaders working at the forefront of social, eco- the goal of promoting young native pines on Wildfire nomic, and environmental change.” Page 16. in the oak-dominated forest in a section By Dale N. Bosworth and of the watershed called Tunk Hill. The Jerry T. Williams Grants for SAF Projects rocky, well-drained soil made it a poor In 2017, 17 SAF units received a combined growing site, and the three Ds—defolia- t’s not the way we fight wild- $41,700 in funding from the SAF Foresters’ tion, drought, and deer—had resulted in fires in the West that’s the Fund to support local projects that promote a loss of both seedlings and the remaining Iproblem. The problem is the education to enhance public understanding of overstory trees. This combination created way we manage our fire-depen- forestry and the profession, support forest-pol- a stand that he described as “what more dent forests. icy activities, and generally strengthen local of the forest could look like if there is a Since 2000, 154 wildfires in units to achieve the mission of SAF. Page 18. Students from Jorge Alvarez High School, in Prov- storm or hurricane.” idence, Rhode Island, planted seedlings around the region have cost more than In 2015, Riely designed an exper- Providence Water’s Scituate Reservoir. Photograph $20 million each to control. Many DEPARTMENTS imental project that called for planting courtesy of Christopher Riely. of them cost several times more more than 1,000 conifers and hardwoods, than that. Together, these costliest 2 From the Leadership and to complement Providence Water’s prescriptions he had developed was con- fires, which were less than one- managed deer hunt and deer impact sideration of not only the desired future tenth of one percent of all western 18 SAF News monitoring efforts, used a pre-existing structure of the stand, but also the future wildfires in the period, cost more 21 Forest Industry News deer enclosure fence on one site to de- climate in which this stand would be than $9 billion to fight. If you 22 Continuing Education Calendar termine whether seedlings would grow growing. better within the enclosure. What set this COMMENTARY Q Page 3 23 Employment Ads plan apart from the previous silvicultural WATER Q Page 14 24 Forestry News Briefs FROM THE LEADERSHIP Published monthly by the Society of American For- esters (SAF), The Forestry Source (ISSN 1084-5496) provides SAF members and other natural resource professionals with news regarding developments A Conversation with New SAF President Dave Lewis within the forestry profession as well as the activities By Steve Wilent and policies of SAF. ave Lewis became SAF’s president I would start with the two things I The opinions expressed in articles, commentaries, and letters do not necessarily reflect the policies or as of January 1, succeeding Fred look for in any new employee—honesty views of SAF. DCubbage. Lewis is vice-president/ and a strong work ethic. I believe those principal at Southern Forestry Consul- are two traits that a person either has or Editor: Steve Wilent, (503) 622-3033, [email protected] tants Inc., of Monticello, Florida. I asked doesn’t have once they get become an Associate Editor: Andrea Watts, [email protected] him to talk about his vision for SAF in adult. I would follow that with leadership 2018 and beyond. skills. A good leader creates followers and Editorial Offices and Advertising Sales 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814 consensus, and can advance his or her Tel (301) 897-8720 • www.safnet.org Dave, what are your top priorities for 2018 agenda because people trust and believe as president? in them. Good people skills are essential Correspondence: Address all editorial correspon- dence to the Editor at the above address. Advertising This one’s easy. I’ll be focusing on the for the job. We also need a CEO who has inquiries should be directed to Christopher Whited at areas where I said I would when I ran for a forestry/natural-resources background (301) 897-8720, ext. 110. vice-president. I want to try to deliver on and who knows and understands forestry, the promises made in my “vision state- and that will be a requirement. Forestry Subscription rates: $61 for individuals in the US and Canada $116 in other countries); $116 for institutions ment” to work on two areas I identified as is a passionate profession that requires a in the US ($173 in other countries). Subscriptions my primary concern—declining member- leader who understands and can harness for members is included in annual dues. See tinyurl ship and the erosion of the professional that passion. The CEO also needs man- .com/m6xo2x9 for other rates and information. For in- formation regarding subscriptions, address changes, status of forestry. agement skills, some technology skills, an and purchasing single editions, call 866-897-8720. Regarding membership, SAF’s num- understanding of finances, the ability to bers have actually leveled off the past fundraise, and an ability and willingness Permission to reprint: Individuals, and nonprofit li- braries acting for them, are permitted to make fair few years after years of decline. But our to summon the power of the membership. use of the material in this publication; for example, demographics are a bit ominous––lots It is a tough job that requires an ex- copying an article for personal or classroom use. of “old-growth” and not enough “regen.” tensive and diverse skill set—you must For republication, or systematic or multiple repro- duction of copyrighted material, permission must be Our laser focus should be on young for- be a lot of things to a lot of people. But of the average balance of our total net as- obtained from SAF, with a fee for commercial use to esters, so we are re-engaging the SAF task I think it is a job that will be very attrac- sets over the previous three years for use be determined.