February 14, 2001
Sustainable timber harvests, habitat in Washington is topic Feb. 28
The Washington Department of Natural Resources is in the process of re-calculating the amount of timber that might be sold from state timber lands and is expected to revise the 650 million board feet per year that has been used as a target since 1996. The environmental, economic and technical considerations when calculating a sustainable harvest level will be considered by five regional experts in Seattle Feb. 28, from 1 to 5 p.m., as part of the Denman Forestry Issues Series offered by the University of Washington’s College of Forest Resources.
Legislators, county commissioners, environmental groups, foresters and other citizens are welcome to attend the Feb. 28 presentation, at no charge, in Kane Hall, room 45 (the UWTV studios). There is no admission charge but those interested need to register at forestce@u.washington.edu or (206) 543-0867 because attendance is limited to 70 persons.
Citizens in Forks, Colville, Longview and Eatonville can watch the Seattle presentations and question the experts at live broadcasts of the symposium at the Olympic Natural Resources Center, Forks; Stevens County Learning Center, Colville; the Vocational Building on the Lower Columbia College campus, Longview; and Pack Experimental Forest, Eatonville. Those interested need to register using the above information because attendance is limited to 30 persons at each site.
State forestlands produce many values, such as habitat for wildlife, sites for recreation, and timber harvests that provide jobs and revenue for schools and universities. Speakers Feb. 28 include a long-time Pacific Northwest forester from Corvallis, Ore., with advice about determining a harvest level that the public will find credible; a UW wildlife expert to explain the non-economic side of “sustainable” harvests; and a UW forest economist who says that, even as we increase protection for ecosystem values and wildlife, there may be ways to maximize revenue.
The agenda is at http://www.cfr.washington.edu/outreach/denman/feb28.html
The Denman Forestry Issues Series was inaugurated by Kristiina Vogt, dean of the College of Forest Resources, as a dialog about sound stewardship of the region’s natural resources. The series is possible with support from Richard and Mary Ellen Denman of Seattle.
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For more information:
Bruce Larson, professor of forest resources, (206) 543-2765, bclarson@u.washington.edu
To register to attend:
Call (206) 543-0867 or e-mail forestce@u.washington.edu
