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John Innes | University of British Columbia  | Episode 14: A Global View of Forests Will and John Innes, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, explore the differences between forests in the UK and North America, the future of forests through the lens of researchers and educators, the surprising ways in which wood products show up in our day to day lives, and what sustainable forest management truly means. A true educator, the dean walks us through some of the more nuanced terminology— like deforestation and forest degradation— and how managing for future forests presents a unique challenge due to timing of social change and the length of time to grow a tree. “When we look at a forest I think what we have to think about is what do we expect from that forest today, and what would we expect from it in the future. We have to meet today’s needs but at the same time we have to meet tomorrow’s needs. And that’s kind of getting very close to the original definition of sustainability.” In this episode you’ll also hear about: the connection between childhood activities that get you “out there” and a sense of stewardship the relationships between a culture and its forest in different parts of the world forest product certifications, and how to know when a product comes from a well managed forest the range of forestry programs available at UBC and the diversity of the students internationally who register for them the importance of urban forestry and access to green space placing North American forests in a global context and what those outside the sector can do to be better stewards of the forest. “We need to tell people that we are the stewards of the forest, not the destroyers of the forest. That’s something that really we’ve not been very good at doing.” John Innes is Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. He teaches in the field of international and sustainable forestry. He is Chair of the Commonwealth Forestry Association (since 2010), Chair of the Standing Committee of the Heads of Forestry Commonwealth Countries, Chair of the Association of University Forestry Schools of Canada, a Board Member of the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations and Chair of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism. He is a member of the Advisory Group on Forestry Education of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Melbourne School of Land and Environment at the University of Melbourne and Honorary Professor at four different Chinese universities. John also serves on the Genome BC and National Forestry Sector Steering Groups, and the Forestry and Fibre Work Group of the BC Forest Sector Bio-Economy Transformation Council. John came to British Columbia in 1999, having previously worked as a Section Head in the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. Since arriving in BC, he has worked on a range of issues associated with forest management. He is actively involved with climate change research, particularly its effects on forest ecosystems and the development of appropriate management strategies for adaptation, and in 2007 was part of the IPCC team that shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. As Dean of the UBC Faculty of Forestry, he is encouraging greater international involvement of the Faculty, and entrenching its position as a leading Faculty of Forestry in the world. Under his leadership, the Faculty has taken significant steps toward broadening the curricula and academic content to reflect changing realities in the forest and conservation sectors, also enhancing interdisciplinary and continuing education for forestry professionals and scholars from around the world.   University of British Columbia, Faculty of Forestry | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group | Photo credit: Rae Tamblyn   The post 14: John Innes | A global view of forests appeared first on #forestproud.

TJ Struhs + Rae Tamblyn | Episode 13: Getting to Know #forestproud We’ve gone through several iterations as an organization over the past few years. After dedicating some time working with members in the sector—from the US Forest Service to the Nature Conservancy to university partners—we ultimately settled upon the #forestproud rebrand as an umbrella that covered all our members, diverse as they may be. Of course, #forestproud means different things to different people, and through this podcast we are working to connect those dots for our listeners by telling these diverse, important stories of the good work being done across the sector. In this episode, we explore exactly what that means for our team and our community with TJ Struhs and Rae Tamblyn. As the Director of Communications + Strategic Partnerships for NAFP, TJ’s fingerprints are all over the content produced for and by #forestproud. Prior to joining NAFP, TJ was an advocate for the forest products industry on behalf of the American Forest & Paper Association and the American Wood Council, focusing on issues related to energy, forestry, climate change, recycling, green building, packaging, tax, and transportation. With a degree in Political Science from Wheaton College, TJ has worked as a speechwriter for the National Park Service and led public affairs efforts for a next-generation LED lighting technology company. Rae is our Manager of Member Experience, managing and shaping the experience of members of the #forestproud community across the US and Canada. If you’ve interacted with us on social media, you’ve probably already met Rae. Like TJ, she has an active hand in #forestproud content production. Rae has a background in sociology and anthropology and used to work at the National Association for State Community Services Programs, focusing on anti-poverty efforts across the USA. This gives her insight into the connection between people, society, and the ways in which we interact with and manage our natural resources. She has a strong belief in the need for efficient communication and collaboration between organizations working on different aspects of a single greater goal: keeping forests as forests. Listen in to learn about: what it means to be a #forestproud member our Member Spotlights and why they are vital to our storytelling our previous series on wildfires and what lies ahead the interconnectedness of unexpected elements, like beer and wine and forests what a typical morning looks like for TJ and Rey, and their dream forest locations to visit   Mentioned in this episode: Naomi Mills, Smokejumper Whiteboard animation on wildfires #forestproud’s social channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram The post 13: TJ Struhs + Rae Tamblyn | Getting to Know #forestproud appeared first on #forestproud.

Colin Moseley | Green Diamond  | Episode 12: Five Generations of Stewardship We explore the many different ways that trees and forests are managed to produce different benefits and outcomes, the amazing range of forest products are sourced from one tree, and the extraordinary timeline over which forest owners and foresters address questions of forest health. Colin Moseley heads up Green Diamond Resource Company, a fifth-generation, family-owned forest products company managing forests in California, Washington, and Oregon. Colin is also Chairman of the Simpson Investment Company, one of the oldest investment companies in the Pacific Northwest and, coincidentally – the current Board Chair of the North American Forest Partnership. Colin is actively involved in the leadership of many different forest management and conservation organizations, and is one of the most respected voices in the forest community. When Colin thinks about forests, he thinks about the Pacific Northwest. He grew up there – hiking, fishing, and exploring the Cascade Mountains. Colin believes that whether it’s a forest that his company manages, the woods or forest in your backyard, or any other forest, it’s important to understand and take care of the forest and the resources that come from it. Motivated by a commitment to family, stewardship, and a desire to tell the whole story of the forest community, Colin feels deeply connected to Green Diamond and its work, as the company is now managed by the fifth generation of Colin’s family. He urges people to get out into the woods, whether that’s through public events, extension forestry courses, or learning from partners such as the Society of American Foresters, Project Learning Tree, and the American Tree Farm System.   Green Diamond Resource Company | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group   The post 12: Colin Moseley | Five Generations of Stewardship appeared first on #forestproud.

Katie Fernholz | Dovetail Partners | Episode 11: From Farm to Forest   The beautiful greens of native basswood trees in northern Minnesota’s forests first drew Katie Fernholz into the woods from her family’s organic farm, and the world of forestry. Basswoods have a dark, rich green, heart shaped leaf, and provide the perfect conditions for ferns, jack-in-the-pulpit and more to grow. But apparently they also harbor plenty of mosquitoes! Katie is a forester by training and has worked in development and on forest management issues in a range of roles. She brings a unique understanding of the complex interconnection between society and the environment, and the experience of her own personal journey –  from a family organic farm, to forestry school, to her current role as an internationally recognized leader in the responsible management of forests and farms and the Executive Director of Dovetail Partners, Inc. in Minnesota. Katie believes the greatest challenge facing our forests today is competition for forested land. For example, as food prices increase, land can become more valued if it is converted from forest land to farm land. Everything we derive from forests – including clean water and air – depends on our understanding of our forests and ensuring that they are valued. Katie encourages everyone to take an active role in caring for the forest environment. As she puts it, “If you care for the forest, it’ll take care of you.” Dovetail Partners | Katie’s Journey | Women in Wood Feature | My Land Plan | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group The post 11: Katie Fernholz | From Farm to Forest appeared first on #forestproud.

Mike Burnett + Jon Riley | Chelan County Fire District 1 | Episode 10: Building Communities, Living with Fire  Take a look at how fire-adapted communities are built. We explore the work the Chelan County Fire District is doing with communities and homeowners to assess and evaluate wildfire risks through the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program and to connect wildfire practitioners and researchers through the WiRe program . Chelan County Fire District 1 takes proactive steps to prepare, respond and recover from future wildfires. Captured above, a fifth grade class over looks the rebuild process of the Broadview Neighborhood following the 2015 Sleepy Hollow fire. – Photo credit Chelan County Fire District 1   Mike Burnett, Fire Chief, and Jon Riley, Community Wildfire Liaison, are both with Chelan County Fire District, a combination department of career and volunteer staff serving a population of roughly 45,000 and covering 72 square miles of developed urban areas, agriculture, industry, hydroelectric utilities, and mixed undeveloped lands in Wenatchee WA. Their topography varies widely along with their fuel types, from semi-arid, shrub-steppe environment (brush and grasses) to mixed ponderosa pine forest lands. The District responds to roughly 65 brush fires each year, and regularly send staff on state mobilizations, and national incidents.      Chelan County Fire District | WiRe Program | CPAW Program | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group The post 10: Chelan County Fire District 1 | Building Communities, Living with Fire  appeared first on #forestproud.

Carol Miller | US Forest Service | Episode 9: Wilderness Fires We take a closer look at the impact and behavior of wildfire in wilderness areas and what it can teach us about natural wildfire cycles on certain landscapes. We explore how new tools and technologies are giving us greater insight into wildfire behavior and forest health and how forest stewards are using this information to adjust forest management strategies.   Carol Miller is a Research Ecologist with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula, MT. She grew up in rural New Jersey and as a child had the opportunity to camp and hike in wild and spectacularly scenic places across the US and Canada. After a brief career as an engineer on the East Coast, she turned westward and to the field of ecology.  She earned a MS in Forest Science and a PhD in Ecology at Colorado State University where she developed and used a simulation model to study the interactions among climate, fire, and forest pattern in the national parks in the Sierra Nevada of California. After a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Montana, she joined ALWRI in 2001 to lead its wilderness fire research program.    U.S. Forest Service | Forestproud.org | The Raven Media Group    The post 09: US Forest Service | Wilderness Fires appeared first on #forestproud.

Rebecca Davidson | National Forest Foundation | Episode 08: Strange Bedfellows – A Story of Partnerships A closer look at partnerships as a forest management tool. We explore the creation of the Northern Arizona Forest Fund as a model for building effective partnerships between unlikely organizations. These ‘strange bedfellows’ are coming together and finding innovative solutions to protect, restore, and improve forest health in the face of a growing threat from wildfire.    Rebecca Davidson joined the National Forest Foundation in September 2016 as the Director for the Southern Rockies Region covering programs in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Rebecca has over 15 years of experience working on natural resource issues, across agencies and jurisdictions, including in multi-stakeholder collaborative and partnership endeavors. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Northern Arizona University, and a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School (VLS).  Prior to joining NFF, Rebecca worked with the Salt River Project and helped create the Northern Arizona Forest Fund, a program focused on building meaningful partnerships with diverse stakeholders to think about new/better/unique ways to get work done on the ground, rebuilding and restoring our forests. The crux of her work is bringing  ‘strange bedfellows’ together to tackle forest management and restoration projects. The Northern Arizona Forest Fund is a great example of harnessing different motivations to work towards a common goal. The program is now a model for creating new funding mechanisms through public-private partnerships to implement needed restoration efforts on Forest Service lands. This includes working to prevent catastrophic wildfires, and working to restore landscapes effected by fire.   Check out Rebecca additional work to protect and restore Arizona’s forests: Fire and Water: Restoring Arizona’s Forests (PBS Documentary) The Collaborative Road to Restoring Arizona’s Forests (Interview with Lin Sue Cooney) Tap to Top (San Tan Brewery / National Forest Foundation Video Short)   Photo credit: Header | Rae Tamblyn The post 08 – National Forest Foundation | Strange Bedfellows appeared first on #forestproud.

Craig Nelson | Okanogan Conservation District | Episode 07: Earth. Air. Water. Fire. We explore both the positive and negative effects of fire on our soil, air, and water. Too much fire causes environmental damage that will last for generations. Too little fire and the health of our forests suffers. What is the right balance? How much fire is too much? Craig has served as the District Manager of the Okanogan Conservation District since December 1996. He is a graduate of Central Washington University and the Washington AgForestry Leadership Foundation Leadership Development Program. For more than 75 years, the Okanogan Conservation District has worked with private landowners, public agencies, and NGOs to implement voluntary conservation programs. Located in North Central Washington State, the Okanogan Conservation District is more than 5,000 square miles and includes both high alpine wilderness areas that receive greater than 80 inches of precipitation each year, as well as dry shrub-steppe regions that receive less than 10 inches. National Association of Conservation Districts | Okanogan Conservation District | Forestproud.org  The post 07: Okanogan Conservation District | Earth. Air. Water. Fire. appeared first on #forestproud.

Paul Barnum | Oregon Forest Resources Institute | Episode 06: A Commitment to the Land A fifth generation Oregonian and Executive Director of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. OFRI is dedicated to advancing public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products, and encouraging sound forestry through landowner education. Paul sits down with Executive Director, Will Novy-Hildesley to talk about forest heroes and what makes someone #forestproud. They look at the role of landowners, the future of tall wood buildings, and the challenge of connecting people to the ‘whole story’ of our forests and the forest community. One of Paul’s hopes is that that small, medium and large landowners take people out on their land to share what they are doing to support their land and the future of forests. When people understand landowners’ commitment to the land, and that trees can be replanted or replenished, they feel more comfortable using the products and goods that come from a healthy forest. As Paul overheard someone say recently ‘When you buy a wood product, you are casting an economic vote to keep forests as forests’. Oregon Forest Resources Institute | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group     The post 06: Paul Barnum | A Commitment to the Land appeared first on #forestproud.

Jim Karels | Florida Forest Service | Episode 05: Playing with Fire.  We take a look at the politics of fighting wildfire and how state agencies and other organizations are pooling resources and coordinating strategies.  Jim Karels is the Florida State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. A native of Minnesota and graduate of the University of Minnesota, he has more than 35 years experience in wildfire suppression and land management. In addition to serving the state of Florida, Jim represents all 50 states on the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, Wildland Fire Executive Council and the National Association of State Foresters Fire Committee, providing support for the implementation and coordination of National Fire Management Policy across the United States.  Love what you’re hearing? Download and share on social:                   Florida Forest Service | Forestproud.org | Raven Media Group The post 05: Florida Forest Service | Playing with Fire. appeared first on #forestproud.