Free Workshop: How to Steward a Climate-Resilient Forest in the San Juans

80 Old Macdonald Lane,Shaw Island WA 98286

15 October, 2022

Description

This free workshop is made possible with financial support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Western Extension Risk Management Education. At this workshop at a Shaw Island family forest, local and regional foresters will introduce forest owners to a set of simple, hands-on strategies for increasing their forests' resilience in the face of a warmer and drier climate. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the ecological and social risks facing San Juan County forests due to wildfire, drought, disease, and insect infestation. We will discuss how to evaluate the current health of a forest based on desired future conditions, when thinning might be appropriate, how to select trees for thinning, and utilizing woody biomass to create wildlife habitat structures and value-added products like biochar. Topics Instruction will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on activities, including: Stand Assessment 101: How to "read" and understand what is happening in your forest from an ecological perspective. Topics include species competition, tree canopy classes, and timber quality.Forest Management Goals & Options: Discuss strategies for reducing fire risk, improving timber growth and quality, and increasing resilience to climate change. Tree Selection for Thinning: The rhyme and reason for thinning from below, thinning across diameters, tree spacing, and species selection.Tree Marking Exercise: Practice marking trees for thinning. Tree Felling 101: Participants observe basic tree felling techniques. Open face & boring cut for larger diameter trees. Felling small-diameter trees. Dealing with a "hang-up". Limbing & bucking.Utilizing Cut Material: Strategies include lop & scatter, habitat piles, creating biochar, making constructed habitat logs, firewood, chipping, etc.Funding Forest Stewardship: How to fund your forest health work through cost-share programs. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch and water for the day. Coffee and snacks will be provided in the morning. More information about workshop activities will be provided closer to the workshop. Masks are not required, and the workshop will take place entirely outdoors. We respect anyone's preference to continue wearing a mask for whatever reason. This event is being held in a privately-owned forest on Shaw. Free Site Visits Participants can sign up for a limited number of free two-hour site visits with Director of Forestry Kirk Hanson of Northwest Natural Resource Group, Carson Sprenger of Rain Shadow Consulting, or Kai Hoffman-Krull of San Juan Conservation District. During the site visit, the forester will help landowners refine plans for managing their forest and answer site-specific questions. To register for a free site visit, please email [email protected]. Speakers Kirk Hanson | Northwest Natural Resource Group Kai Hoffman-Krull | Restore Char & San Juan Conservation District Carson Sprenger | Rain Shadow Consulting Workshop presented by Northwest Natural Resource Group Rain Shadow Consulting San Juan Conservation District This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA.