September marks a time of transitions, for our forests and in many other ways. Summer vacations have wrapped up, house projects are completed in preparation for the coming fall and winter, kids are back in school, and our forests are changing as fall approaches.

As the days get cooler, Oregon’s forests are transformed with vibrant autumnal colors. The golden hues of aspens, the fiery reds of maples, and the rich oranges of oaks create a stunning contrast against the pines and firs. The fall season reminds us of the forest’s vital role in providing habitats, clean air and natural resources, and of the need to continue to be good stewards of these amazing landscapes.

OFRI is also marking a time of transitions, with the ramping-up of our K-12 programming, landowner conferences and workshops this fall, and a diversity of public education events to explore, many of which you can learn more about in this edition of eNews.

For the forest,

Jim Paul

Executive Director

Last month, OFRI’s K-12 education program hosted a tour for 19 teachers in the Tillamook area, highlighting the interrelationships between pollinators and forests.

OFRI partnered with Lindsay Davis from Hampton Lumber to learn more about how the company is planting native flower seed mixes in burned slash areas to help provide pollinator habitat. Wildlife biologist Jon Cox from Cafferata Consulting provided additional insights on native bees and how they thrive in recently logged, large open areas.

The teacher tour kicked off with nature journaling about pollinators. At some of the field stops, the teachers completed visitation studies to observe what kinds of pollinators were visiting which flowers. At the end of the day, OFRI provided resources and planning time for the teachers to prepare lessons about pollinators and forests for their classrooms.

The tour was part of a regional experience OFRI hosts every summer, designed to provide professional development to Oregon educators about topics related to forestry and natural resources. Each year, the event is held in a different part of the state.

The OFRI board of directors will host a public tour next month in Portland that will focus on the connections between sustainable forestry and sustainable architecture, including planned stops at the new wood-dominated Portland International Airport terminal and the mass timber manufacturer Timberlab.

The full-day tour will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18, departing and concluding at the Century Hotel, 8185 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd., Tualatin. It will follow a regular board meeting and reception on Oct. 17, also at the Century Hotel. More information about the board meeting, reception and tour, including detailed agendas, will be available on the board meetings and materials page on OFRI’s website, OregonForests.org.

The focus of the reception and tour will be to explore the intersections between Oregon’s forests, housing needs, mass timber innovation and climate, and how OFRI can provide outreach and educational resources that help the public understand the complexities of these topics. Along with stops at the Portland airport and Timberlab’s Northeast Portland manufacturing facility, the tour will visit the Port of Portland’s T2 Building Innovation Hub, a former marine terminal on the Willamette River in Northwest Portland where mass timber panels for modular homes will be manufactured.

Planned tour speakers include representatives from the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, Sustainable Northwest, the Port of Portland and Timberlab.

Tour participants must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, along with required personal protection equipment (PPE). Members of the public who plan to join the tour must provide their own transportation, lunch and water. The tour is free to attend, but registration is required to guarantee access and PPE gear, as well as to arrange for any special accommodations. To register, contact Kathy Storm at storm@ofri.org.

A crew of Salem High School students from the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps recently helped with necessary maintenance to the Rediscovery Forest, the OFRI-managed demonstration forest at The Oregon Garden in Silverton.

The crew, based out of the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, spread gravel on trails, weeded and spread mulch around Christmas tree seedlings.

OFRI and partners are hosting an educational field tour for forest landowners on Oct. 9 in Corvallis that will explore alternative approaches to woody debris management that are less polluting than traditional pile burning.

The Alternative Approaches to Woody Residue Management tour will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will visit a suburban forest parcel that is undergoing fire risk reduction and habitat restoration work and will include demonstrations of woody debris mastication and the use of an air curtain incinerator. Presentations during the tour will cover the topics of fire risk reduction, invasive insect sanitation, cost share options, biochar production, smoke management and public health protection.

The tour is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. Learn more and register to attend here.

OFRI is co-hosting the tour in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Small Woodlands Association and SilvaSaunterra.

Blog: “Reflecting on my social media intern experience”

As he wrapped up his internship with OFRI this summer, our former social media intern, Trey Pokorney, reflected on the experience in a blog post. Read his thoughts on the OFRI blog.

Forestry center hosting monthly “Forest Storytime”

The World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum in Portland is hosting a forest-themed story time on the first Saturday of each month. The Forest Storytime, which is included with museum admission, is dedicated to forests and forest-related books. Coloring pages will also be available. More details about upcoming Forest Storytimes are available on the World Forestry Center website.

Forestland investment conference to be held in Portland Sept. 24-26

For the 22nd year, the World Forestry Center will host its signature forestland investment conference this month in Portland. The CANOPY: Forests + Markets + Society conference, which will be held Sept. 24-26, will convene investors, land managers, advisors, carbon project developers and others to discuss the latest in forestland investment. Learn more about the conference and register on the World Forestry Center website.

Tree School Field Day planned for Oct. 5

The Oregon State University Extension Service will host a series of field classes on Oct. 5 at Hopkins Demonstration Forest in Oregon City. The Tree School Field Day will cover topics such as bigleaf maple sugaring, forest health and creating habitat piles to support forest wildlife. More details and registration are available on the OSU Extension website.

Course covers basic forestry

A five-session basic forestry course offered by the Oregon State University Extension Service starts Oct. 10 in Stayton. The Basic Forestry Shortcourse, which will also be held on Oct. 17, 24, 26 and 31, is designed for new woodland owners and anyone who could use a refresher on the basics. It will cover topics such as how to get to know your land, examine your forest and take care of your woods. More information and registration are available at the Basic Forestry Shortcourse event page.

State grants support forest stream habitat improvements

The Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program (SFISH) recently funded its first-ever round of projects, awarding more than $5 million in grants to 20 recipients throughout Oregon. The program, which is administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry, collaborated with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and key stakeholders to prioritize forest road improvement projects that improve fish habitat on forestlands owned by small forest landowners. Learn more about the grant program on the SFISH webpage.

CANOPY: Forests + Markets + Society

September 24-26, Portland

Emerald Ash Borer Workshop for Small Farm and Woodland Owners

October 2, Philomath

Tree School Field Day

October 5, Oregon City

Forest Storytime

October 5, Portland

Alternative Approaches to Woody Residue Management

October 9, Corvallis

Basic Forestry Shortcourse

October 10, 17, 24, 26 and 31, Stayton

Wood & Other Wonders Market

October 13, Portland

OFRI Board of Directors Meeting and Reception

October 17, Tualatin

OFRI Board Tour

October 18, Tualatin

Land of the Lichen

October 30, Portland

Forest Storytime

November 2, Portland