At the beginning of this year, Oregon put into place new forest practice rules intended to better protect our state’s salmon, steelhead, bull trout and amphibians. The process to initiate these rules was called the Private Forest Accord, a 2021 compromise agreement made between representatives of Oregon’s timber industry, small woodland owners, and conservation and fishing organizations.

The Private Forest Accord updated the Oregon Forest Practices Act (OFPA), which was the first law of its kind in the U.S when it was enacted in 1971. The OFPA was designed to protect Oregon’s forestlands and has been expanded and modified over the years as our understanding of forest sustainability has evolved in response to current research.

The new rules aim to strengthen protections for aquatic species on private forestlands. The updates will safeguard aquatic habitats by:

• limiting logging and other forest management activities in expanded buffer zones around streams
• improving slope stability
• increasing standards for forest roads to minimize sediments in streams 

All Oregonians depend on our forests for clean water and air, and for wood and other forest products. We all benefit when forests are managed sustainably. The Private Forest Accord represents Oregonians’ care for and dedication to our forests, as well as the compromises that are sometimes involved in managing them.

Please use the Private Forest Accord classroom connections listed below as springboards to explore the relationship between forests, clean water and aquatic habitats, and to learn what people are doing to ensure their sustainability.

Read about the Private Forest Accord and analyze how it protects aquatic habitats and species:

• Finding Common Ground. OFRI.
• “Private Forest Accord Summary.” OFRI.
• “A Habitat Conservation Plan.” OFRI. 

Examine the relationship between healthy forests and clean water:

• “Forest Fact Sheet: The Forest Water Cycle.” OFRI.
• Video: Oregon’s Forests and Water. OFRI.

Map your local watershed to identify how forests may impact your water supply:

• Oregon Water Map Viewer. Oregon Explorer, Oregon State University Libraries & Press and Institute for Natural Resources.
• Data explorer: Forests to Faucets 2.0. USDA Forest Service.

Explore some of the factors forest managers must consider in order to sustainably manage forests:

• “Forest Management.” Inside Oregon’s Forests high school forestry curriculum, OFRI.
• “If I Were the Boss.” Explore Your Environment, Project Learning Tree.

Conduct a macroinvertebrates survey in your local stream to determine its water quality:

• Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Stream Survey. Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University.
• StreamWebs. Oregon State University Extension.

Go on a virtual field trip to learn about Oregon’s salmon, which depend on clean water from forests:

• Salmon Watch Streaming. World Salmon Council.

The listed resources can help support the following standards:

• Science: Disciplinary Core Ideas: LS2.A and ESS3.C.
• Science: Performance Expectations: 3.LS4.3., 7-LS2-4., 7-LS2-5. and HS-LS2-7. 

The Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program

This program is held in OFRI’s 15-acre Rediscovery Forest inside The Oregon Garden in Silverton. This is a perfect setting for learning about forests and other natural resources. The program uses learning stations and hands-on activities to teach students in grades 4-6 why forests are important. The topics covered in program lessons include plant and animal adaptation, forest food webs, healthy forests and wildlife habitat. The curriculum is aligned with Oregon’s science standards and the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan. This field program lasts about four hours. The cost is $3 per student, but scholarships are available.

Register or learn more at https://learnforests.org/all-resources/oregon-garden-natural-resources-education-program

Oregon Envirothon

Envirothon is a high school competition that tests students’ knowledge of environmental sciences, will be held this year on May 3 at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Students who participate in Oregon Envirothon engage in hands-on activities and field experiences to gain knowledge in each of the five sections of the Envirothon competition: forest ecology, soils and land use, aquatic ecology, wildlife ecology and a current issue. This year’s current issue is renewable energy. The winning team from the Oregon Envirothon will advance to the North American Envirothon competition in New York for a chance to win prizes and scholarships. 

For registration and further details: https://learnforests.org/all-resources/oregon-envirothon

Registration closes April 12, 2024.

High school curriculum updated and online

Inside Oregon’s Forests, a high school forestry curriculum, is now available in an updated digital version. It’s designed to help students build an understanding of Oregon’s forests through 12 weeks of engaging, standards-based lessons that explore the environmental, economic and social importance of Oregon’s forests and the principles behind forest management.  

The new edition includes:

• updates for cultural relevance and inclusiveness
• revised and updated background information
• up-to-date maps and additional resources to support the lessons
• updated web links and student pages
• updated connections to Oregon’s science, English language arts and mathematics standards, and to the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan

All Inside Oregon’s Forests modules are available for free at https://learnforests.org/all-resources/inside-oregons-forests-a-high-school-forestry-curriculum-updated-digital-version. You may also download a set of resources to support teaching the curriculum, including a glossary, supplies list and correlations to Oregon standards.  

Green jobs: Connecting science with career opportunities 

This revised workshop is now offering expanded curriculum! Hear firsthand from natural resource professionals and STEM researchers how their careers relate to your lessons in the sciences, sustainable forestry and conservation. Also included will be a focus on the green career pathways of Black professionals in the U.S. All participants will receive at no cost: Project Learning Tree’s Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers curriculum and Project Learning Tree’s The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers guide.

Date: April 20, 2024

Location: Eugene

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Integrating climate education and student action into classrooms

High school educators, are you interested in bringing climate-based student leadership projects and actions into your classrooms? Please join ONREP, plus SubjectToClimate and the Our Future Student Leadership Network, to learn more about how secondary teachers across all subject areas can find lesson plans and other resources and integrate action items into the classroom, in partnership with a student climate leadership network.

Date: April 23, 2024

Location: Online

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Exploring watersheds with Project WET 

Learn how to enhance your students' understanding of watersheds and how various factors affect their health and functioning. Participants will receive Project WET’s Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0 and three ready-to-use classroom activities.

Date: April 27, 2024

Location: Silverton

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Garbology: Understanding our waste system 

This workshop includes a unique tour of Metro's transfer station. Educators will learn about garbage history and its impacts on people and nature. Participants will receive two Project Learning Tree guides.

Date: May 17, 2024

Location: Portland

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Overnight adventure: Exploring cultural and ecological significance of fire

This multi-day, overnight workshop at the Fish Lake Historic Site explores the relationship between humans and fire through the centuries. Highlights include demonstrations, guest speakers, field trips, work sessions and more! You will receive curriculum and resources, plus learn about activities to share with your students.

Cost is $25.

Date: July 31 to August 2, 2024

Location: Fish Lake Remount Depot, McKenzie Bridge

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Field-based science inquiry

This three-day workshop will provide hands-on opportunities in the field, as well as classroom time to develop curriculum tools and strategies that promote K-12 student-driven, field-based science inquiry projects. Attending teachers can also apply for a $2,000 grant ($6,000 if you work collaboratively with at least two other teachers) for classroom equipment and resources for field-based inquiry investigations from the Diack Ecology Education Program. This training is sponsored by the Diack Ecology Education Program of the Oregon Science Teachers Association and the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School, a public charter school in Salem, Oregon that focuses on field-based environmental science. Lodging and meals are provided.

Date: August 5-7, 2024

Location: Molalla

Registration & details: Contact Mike Weddle at mkweddle@comcast.net

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) supports the forest sector and the stewardship of natural resources by advancing Oregonians’ understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of our forests.

Learn more at OregonForests.org/about-ofri

For information about OFRI's educational programs, contact:

Norie Dimeo-Ediger

Director of K-12 Education Programs

503-880-5411

dimeo-ediger@ofri.org

Rikki Heath

Environmental Educator

503-799-4792

heath@ofri.org