SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: WCC_OLD1003 : Coordination of Western Regional Extension Forestry Activities
- Period Covered: 08/30/2018 to 08/30/2019
- Date of Report: 08/30/2019
- Annual Meeting Dates: 07/23/2019 to 07/25/2019
Participants
Jones, Chris, University of Arizona McAvoy, Darren, Utah State University Johnson, Jim, Oregon State University Perleberg, Andy, Washington State University Cram, Doug, New Mexico State University Cheng, Tony, Colorado State University Fawcett, Jennifer, North Carolina State University Clifford Dils –USDA Forest Service Anne Mottek – Mottek Conuslting Mike Brandt – Local fire board Janet Brand t– Local fire board Dea Funka –Arizona Public Service Jim Tress – NEPA Contractor
Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting: After a round of introductions each member shared experiences with partnerships, and mistakes and failures experienced in partnerships. A common theme that resonated with the group was forest management before, during, and after wildfires, as well as fire education efforts, and fuel reduction efforts in the West. We also hosted an Extension event, Achieving Forest Health in Arizona: What is Sustainable and Executable?
- Panel Discussion and Q&A: State Senator Sylvia Allen, County Supervisors Tommie Martin (Gila), Art Babbott (Coconino), State Forester David Tenney, San Carlos Reservation Forest Manager Dee Randall, and USDA Forest Service Region 3 (Arizona/New Mexico) Forest Management Director Clifford Dils discuss: What are the best solutions and practical opportunities for managing for healthy forests in Arizona?
- Keynote Session: Allen Reidhead of Novostar Wood Products and Brad Worsley of Novo Power in Snowflake, AZ present on: What is Sustainable and Executable to develop wood products and energy while managing for forest health on public lands.
- Funding Mechanisms: The White Mountain Stewardship Contract, Flagstaff Watershed Protection Plan, and Four Forests Initiative (4FRI) Bridge the Gap are featured to present possible means by which forest health management can be accomplished.
On the final day, we had further discussions and a field trip to see fuels reduction and recreation infrastructure improvements on the local forest.
Accomplishments
A variety of cross boundary partnerships have resulted from the WCC.
The Southern Rockies Fire Science Network is an outreach program funded by the Joint Fire Science Program and is a direct partnership between Colorado State University, Utah State University, and the University of Wyoming. A variety of cross boundary projects have occurred under this banner including webinars, workshops, fuels reduction projects, biochar production projects and more. See http://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/ for details
Another cross boundary project is the Joint Fire Science Program funded study on the Cobehavior of Risk in Wildland Fire Management, a partnership between Oregon State University, Colorado State University, and Utah State University. Research is ongoing.
Doug Cram, Extension Forestry and Fire Specialist, New Mexico State University, is the next chair-elect.
A cross-boundary field day was held near Glenwood, WA, and delivered Ft WSU and OSU faculty, among others, to 120 NIPF owners from WA and OR.
A multi-state professional development workshop was conducted to Strengthen the skills of consulting foresters, state-employed service foresters, and other natural resource professionals who work with family forest owners; and, to serve as a forum to provide updates on emerging technology and knowledge applicable to family forestry.
Our next meeting will be held near Moscow, Idaho in 2020, by Randy Brooks.
Impacts
- The WA-ID Family Foresters Workshop Pre-Post Program Evaluation indicated that present knowledge of topics ranged from fair to good, and ended in good to very good.
- The WA-OR Forest Owners Field Day resulted in an 84% increase in particiapnt awareness of forest health improvement and fire hazard treatment choices; a 94% increase in attendance of an orgnaized, educational forestry program; and a 90% increase in ability to make forestry action decisions to mitigate fire risk and to execute practices that improve forest health.