SAF 2005 Tri-Society Annual Meeting
Inland Empire, Oregon and Washington, April 13-15, Lewiston, ID
Corps of Discovery: Foresters Walking in the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark
Look to Lewiston in 2005
by Michael Sterner
"When fire gets a good start in the dry fire-killed cedar and white fir of the Selway and burning conditions are just right, the whole United States Army, if it was on the ground, could do nothing but keep out of the way....No new element has been introduced. Not a single one of the greater fires which have swept the [Selway] country since 1910 has been man-caused. And even 130 years ago we have Lewis and Clark's testimony that the Indians habitually set fire for such a trivial purpose as to insure fair weather for a journey."
Elers Koch. 1935. "The passing of the Lolo Trail," Journal of Forestry 33 (2), in Forty Years a Forester. Mountain Press. 1998
Forest fires, human intervention and modern forestry weave a rich history in the Inland Northwest. The SAF Tri-Society Annual Meeting of the Oregon, Washington State and Inland Empire will take place on April 13-15 in Lewiston, Idaho. The theme is "Corps of Discovery: Foresters walking in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark." As Elers Koch, a USDA Forest Service forester from 1903 to 1943 notes, the natural processes in forested ecosystems pose tremendous challenges for management. A single solution or prescription is not likely to work in all stands in all forests.
For those of us who work in and around the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the tri-society meeting offers a diverse program that looks at past forest condition, today's forests, and ahead to the forests of the future. Three main subjects for the meeting are: Forest history: Lewis and Clark to present conditions; applying fire ecology to Northwest forests; and managing for healthy forests with Healthy Forests Restoration Act case studies.
The first day will open with a welcome by Terry Shaw, meeting chair, and local government and Tribal leaders. Speakers on the first day are Gail Wells, a natural-resources writer, speaking on Pacific Northwest forests at time of Lewis and Clark arrival; Jeff Blackwood discussing healthy forests and forest management issues; Penny Morgan, fire ecologist professor at the University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, speaking on historic conditions of fire; and John Olson, Potlatch vice president, Resource Management Division, Potlatch's multiple certifications and their link to healthy forests and other forest management issues.
An evening icebreaker includes hors d'oeuvres, poster session, vendors and a slideshow, "Across the Snowy Range," by Jim Fazio, professor and author, from the University of Idaho. The second-day program will be filled with field trip options, see accompanying story in this issue for details. In brief, participants have four field trips to choose from: (1) Lewis and Clark History Field Tour; (2) Managing Healthy Forests; (3) Jet Boat and Archeology Tour; and (4) Forest Industry Mill Tour. As field trips are on a first-to-register basis, sign up early to ensure your field trip preference. An evening awards banquet will feature keynote speaker Jamie Pinkham of the Nez Perce Tribe.
Day three features a presentation by SAF Executive Vice President Michael Goergen, followed by concurrent break-out sessions on the three main subject areas of the meeting. The luncheon keynote speaker is former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. This past summer Kitzhaber testified to the Oregon Board of Forestry, where he stated: "It is in our best interest to think about how we might move beyond the polarization and political gridlock to a public land management strategy which is truly sustainable - not just from an ecologic or an economic standpoint, but from the standpoint of political sustainability as well. Resolving these problems requires a new vision." Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about former Governor Kitzhaber's vision for overcoming the management and policy obstacles in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
The afternoon features an interview-style discussion with landowners, managers and researchers on emerging issues facing the private forestry sector. Panel presenters and the audience will be engaged to explore public expectations, changing values, forest certification and regulations. This wrap up to the meeting will leave everyone with something to think about and a renewed enthusiasm for forestry in the Pacific Northwest.
The meeting setting will provide ample inspiration for the subject at hand. Lewiston is located at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Public and private forestlands surround the area. Fish and wildlife are abundant, as are recreational activities. Hell's Gate State Park is only three miles from town and a 25-mile greenbelt with walking and biking paths is accessible from Lewiston. Lewiston is just over 300 miles from Seattle or Portland.
Come to Lewiston and renew acquaintances and collaborate with foresters from around the region, learn the latest on forest research at the science poster display, and visit vendor exhibits.
Michael Sterner, a Portland Chapter member, is chair of the Tri-State Annual Meeting Public Relations Committee. He can be reached at (503.478.0800 or msterner@iforest.com.