^The Montana Forester

Montana Society of American Foresters

Summer 1998

by Frank Cuff

Timber Jamboree ‘98 -the 40th Anniversary of Libby Logger Days -was a success. The Montana Logging Association and the Montana Wood Products Association held their annual meetings the same weekend and there was a great turnout. The Montana SAF display was set-up with forestry information and handouts, and pictures of local and state-wide SAF activities. It was good to see SAF members Bob Bosworth and Scott Kuehn competing in the professional logger sports activities!!

Green Certification continues to be a topic of great interest within the forestry field. The Forest Stewardship Council has begun developing regional guidelines for the Rockies for their certification program. A committee will be meeting over the next 18 months to develop these guidelines. Several professional foresters are on the committee. Montana SAF is officially represented by chair-elect Ed Leiser. Considerable time has been spent at the last two Montana SAF executive committee meetings debating what level of involvement, if any, we should have in the FSC process. We have contacted SAF representatives at the national office and at other state societies for suggestions and guidance. I’m sure the debate and discussions will continue in the future. At this time, the executive committee has voted to continue to be involved with FSC in the development of guidelines. SAF involvement in this aspect of the certification issue has generated some disagreement within Montana SAF. The primary reason for wanting to be involved at some level is to be responsive to member input we’ve received that wants SAF to take a lead role in forestry issues. We will continually evaluate the program and the level of involvement Montana SAF should maintain.

The SAF National Convention in Traverse City, Michigan is rapidly approaching. I will be attending the House of Society Delegates (HSD) Meeting on September 17,18 as the Montana SAF representative. Ed Leiser will be the alternate delegate. This will be an intensive two-day session that will deal with many grass-roots issues brought forward by individual state societies. Two issues that Montana SAF has proposed for discussion are forest certification and employer support of SAF involvement. At the end of the HSD meeting, the group will spend several hours helping construct a Habitat for Humanity house in Traverse City. The nation-wide focus on Habitat for Humanity by SAF is meant to show the relationship between sound forestry practices and the benefits of wood products. Montana SAF executive committee has set a goal of being a major sponsor of a Habitat house somewhere in the state in 1999.

Also of note regarding the National Convention, there will be a special archiving workshop on Saturday September 19. The SAF centennial will be in the year 2000, and the national office is encouraging state societies and local chapters to focus some effort on their history and it’s preservation. Contact me if you are going to Traverse City and would be interested in representing Montana SAF at this workshop.

By the time you read this, the 12th annual Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp (MNRYC) will have taken place. Montana SAF and its’ chapters contributed a total of $720.00 to the camp this year. This money is used to pay for student tuition and to support the camp’s general fund. SAF member Dale Kerkvliet is the forestry instructor. Foresters Wayne Maahs (camp director) and Glenn Koepke continue to be very involved in the camp. This worthwhile resource camp continues to be high on Montana SAF’s priority list for support!!

SAF elections are coming up soon. Cait has provided information in this issue on the three candidates running for SAF vice-president. We will be looking for candidates in Montana to run for chair-elect and secretary-treasurer for 1999. I would encourage as many people as possible to think about running for office at the state or chapter level. It is also very important to vote in these elections so your voice is heard.

The first copies of the "Montana Membership Handbook" have been distributed to the chapter chairs. Each chair will now make copies for the members in their chapter, as well as several additional copies to distribute at forestry offices in their area. The Montana SAF has budgeted money to help each chapter pay for some of the printing costs. The handbook is a very informative document and can be used to explain to potential new members what Montana SAF is involved in, and what has been accomplished in the past. Montana SAF membership is currently at 471. That’s up 12 members from this time last year!!

Policy work, led by Tim Love, continues at a fast pace. Tim met recently in Helena with Govenor Racicot’s natural resource policy advisor Julie LaPierre, and presented her with a copy of SAF’s "Briefings on Forestry Issues" document. Julie commented that Montana SAF’s comments on ICBEMP were helpful in developing the govenor’s response to this project. An SAF committee comprised of Tim, Greg Schildwachter, myself, Carl Fiedler, Gordon Sanders and John Casselli is reviewing the documentation on the westslope cutthroat trout and will develop comments on its’ possible listing as an endangered species. The plan is to have this work completed by mid-September. Montana SAF submitted comments on the proposed listing of the lynx at a F&WS hearing in Kalispell in mid-July (see comments printed on page ). The comments are brief, but the key message is that it doesn’t have to be an either/or situation regarding the lynx. Sound forest management practices can be a great benefit to lynx populations.

I was notified by the National Office that we were not awarded the $5,000.00 special Forester’s Fund grant for our communications plan. The executive committee has identified several other options to raise funds that we will now pursue. We can also refine our special grant request and resubmit it in 1999 for consideration.

I hope all of you are enjoying the summer. The recent warm weather has been great for my tomatoes and corn -not to mention for swimming and boating too!! The late-spring and early-summer rains really gave this year’s tree seedling crop a boost and survival rates are high. Montana SAF will have a full-plate of issues and projects to deal with as the year progresses, including by-law revisions, the westslope cutthroat comments, our communication strategy, and FSC just to name a few. I look forward to seeing those of you who attend the National Convention in Traverse City!!

The Flathead Chapter of SAF participated in the 9th Annual Family Forestry Expo, May 4-11, 1998, at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest near Columbia Falls.

The Family Forestry Expo is a wonderful community event that provides a unique educational and fun experience for the people of NW Montana and all the fifth graders in the Flathead Valley area. It’s a great opportunity to show how wise forest management fits into the community and environment in which we live.

More than 1,200 fifth graders and 200 teachers and chaperones attended this year’s week-day eventsThe stud- ents toured one of the local mills and visited various forest education stations, including forest management, fire and fuels management, wildlife, fisheries, riparian, archeology, and plant identification. They saw the FVCC logger sports team, a back country camp with stock, ORV demonstration and responsibilities, logging equipment demonstration and a hands-on forest measurement station.

For the weekend, focus was on the entire family. Fourteen hundred visitors attended the weekend activities. There were demonstrations from stock and low impact camping to the FVCC logger sports team demonstrations to equipment demonstrations.

This year’s Expos was supported by 115 businesses and organizations, and 150 individual volunteers from the Flathead area including many Society of American Foresters members worked to make this a successful event.

On May 14 and 15 more than 400 Missoula area students participated in the second annual Forest Discovery Days sponsored by the Missoula Chamber of Commerce. The educational event was largely organized and staffed by Missoula Chapter SAF members.

This year’s event was held on State Trust Land in the Grant Creek drainage, just north of Missoula. Students traveled through four stations where they learned about fire ecology, wildlife management, timber harvesting and tree planting from agency and industry resource professionals. For many of the students, the highlight of the tour was the demonstration of a cut-to-length processor and forwarder operating at the site.

Teachers were given a video and curriculum materials before the field day with activities for learning about how trees grow, how we depend on forest resources, and how trees are manufactured into products. Each student received a tree cookie and a ponderosa pine seedling.

Besides teaching the students about sustainable and responsible forest management, roughly $5,200 in stumpage receipts were collected by DNRC. Revenue from State Trust Lands support public schools in Montana.

Complete minutes can be found on the website or by contacting Committee or Chapter Chairs

Scholarship

Bryan distributed a proposal for an annual scholarship for a student at the University of Montana, School of Forestry. Using the current Flathead Chapter Scholarship Fund as a model, it is proposed that a $200 scholarship be awarded annually. It would be funded by each chapter donating a minimum of $75 annually. Of this amount, $50 would go toward the scholarship and the remaining $25 into the general fund. Over time it is expected that the fund would be self-sustaining, as is the Flathead Chapter fund. The group felt that this was an excellent idea and it would be presented to the members at the chapter level.

BLM Resource Advisory Council

David Delsordo has taken a position with the Park Service in Seattle and will not be available to continue serving on this advisory council. The continuation of an SAF member representing Commercial Forestry is needed. A current issue on the table is travel management on public lands. The SAFexecutive committee nominated Greg Schildwachter to replace David. This is a two-year term that can be renewed for up to four years. Many thanks to David for the time and energy he devoted to this group.

Fred Ebel

Mr. Ebel announced his candidacy for Vice President in this next General Election. He is a private consultant, a University of Montana graduate, and a member of the Inland Empire Society with an impressive record of involvement with SAF. He spoke briefly of his views on forest management, the issues we all face in management of forest lands and candidly answered questions. Mr. Ebel circulated a petition amongst the group in order to obtain the required number of signatures to validate his nomination.

Forest Stewardship Council

Ed Lieser was asked to be part of a committee charged with developing regional guidelines for certifying forest products based on the implementation of ten standards and principles. SAF involvement in this issue is very contentious. While attending the National Leadership Academy, Ed Lieser had the opportunity to speak with other SAF members concerning their experience and opinion related to our pending involvement in the FSC. The feedback was mixed, however, folks from the national office encouraged SAF participation in developing standards for certifying forest products. In fact, there is a task force addressing this issue but it has not yet developed a position statement. Based on the feedback from the national office and voting results on a motion (7 in favor, 5 voted no), Ed will continue his involvement in FSC as a liaison, bringing back information to the executive committee for review. If at any time the standards being developed do not meet approval of the State executive committee, the involvement of SAF in this matter will cease.

Grant Proposal

Frank passed out a proposal for a Forester's Fund Special Grant to be used as seed money for implementing the communications plan. The proposal requests $5,000 to be used in increasing and improving our communications with the public on issues and opportunities related to forestry and resource management.

Member Handbook

Ed Lieser passed out copies of the completed handbook. Members of the executive committee are asked to copy and distribute copies to their chapter members. This is a dynamic document that will be periodically updated.

Next executive committee meeting is scheduled for Oct 9, 9am at the Smoke Jump Base in Missoula. Plan on the meeting lasting until 3pm. Lunch will be ordered in.

Continuing Education/CFE Program

Congratulations to three members on receiving their Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) certificate of accomplishments from the Society of American Foresters. They are David Jones and Eric Kurtz, CF of the Flathead Chapter and Dan Pittman, CF of the Eastside Chapter. These three individuals successfully completed and documented more than 150 hours of continuing forestry education course work and activities within the last three years.

Of special note, both Dan and Eric have received the Superior CFE award for obtaining more the 300 hours of continuing forestry education in less than five years. For this accomplishment they received a special certificate and will be recognized at the awards luncheon held during the SAF National Convention in Traverse City. I am also told that this is Eric’s sixth CFE certificate. Eric and Dan are also Certified Foresters.

Most of us receive training and education during the year and deserve recognition as well, but, we do not keep the records or file the applications. Please, take some time and begin your CFE application. For applications or more information about the CFE and Certified Forester programs please contact me.

- Dale Kerkvliet

Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp

There is a need for at least one additional instructor to assist Dale Kerkvliet. A motion was passed for the state society to contribute $100 in 1998 to the general fund of the MNRYC.

Policy Committee:

Chair: Tim Love

Greg and Tim summarized the status of regional issues and their involvement to date. Please contact them for more details.

Columbia River Basin Project: Rep. Rick Hill has sent a letter to congressional leaders with the SAF position. He predicts that no decision will come out this year. Most people admit the basic work represents good science and should be used in Forest Plan revisions.

Bull Trout: Tim and Greg attended the presentation by Bruce Babbitt and felt it resulted in strained state-federal relations due to Montana's lack of support for the listing. Greg noted that ongoing activities under current Forest Plans have received a 'likely to adversely affect' determination based on a recent FS biological evaluation. This impact on the bull trout is largely due to the inconsistent ways projects are being administered. The Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a biological opinion that will either agree or disagree with this assessment.

Westslope Cutthroat: Tim passed out a copy of the draft conservation strategy and management plan. This is the beginning of a one year assessment prior to any listing. SAF will participate in this dialogue and a committee has been formed to comment on the conservation strategy.

Flathead Chapter

The 1999 annual state meeting will be hosted by the Flathead Chapter and is scheduled for March 10-12 at Cavanaugh's in Kalispell.

July 1998, p.3

"This issue presents new approaches to selection systems. Running through all the papers is the premise that silvicultural practices and land management goals are inseparable, and as management goals change with society’s needs, silvicultural practices must change, too.

"Non specialists who need reason to fathom q factors and reverse-J curves should (read the article on "‘Selective Cutting’ in Douglas-Fir") to see why silviculture research matters. Robert O. Curtis discusses "selective cutting" in the 1930s in the Pacific Northwest, where the misapplication of a selection system led to the conclusion that clearcutting was the only way to regenerate Douglas-fir. Silvicultural practices based on insufficient study, he concludes, have unfortunate outcomes - in this case, a 40-year hiatus in research on systems other than even-aged and a consequent inability to meet changing objectives and address public concerns. "

Photo credits:

Cover:

Forestry Expo: Jim Kranz, Flathead Chapter.

Forest Discovery Days: Rick Franke, Missoula Chapter.

Items for inclusion in the newsletter can be sent to Cait Faulkner, at cfaulkne@plumcreek.com or c/o Plum Creek Timber Company, 126 Pipe Creek Road, Libby MT 59923

Items requiring permission from Chapter or Committee Chairs should come through those individuals.

Items for input on the website should be approved by Frank Cuff or Ed Lieser and should be sent to Sherri McWilliams.

- David Delsordo has taken a position with the Park Service in Seattle and resigned from his position on the Resource Advisory Council. Delsordo will remain a member in Montana, but will be limited in his ability to fully participate on the advisory council. Delsordo has been an excellent representative of the profession. Montana SAF thanks him for his input and wishes him well in his new endeavors.

-Sherri McWilliams had a baby girl on Saturday, June 27. The six pound, 12 ounce girl is named Kylie Brooks. Congratulations to the McWilliams family.

- Cait Faulkner had a baby boy on Thursday, July 30. The eight pound, seven ounce boy is named Declan Scott.

-Congratulations to David Jones, Eric Kurtz and Dan Pittman for completing 150 hours of continuing forestry education course work and activities within the last three years. In addition, Dan and Eric will be recognized at the SAF National Convention with Superior CFE award for obtaining more the 300 hours of continuing forestry education in less than five years.

Members of the Executive Council in attendance at the June 19th meeting were introduced to SAF Vice-President Candidate Fred Ebel. For the Montana SAF members to have an opportunity to "meet" all three candidates for this fall’s election, each candidate submitted a short introduction for publication in the Montana Forester.

Fred Ebel

Greetings to members of the Montana society. I am a candidate for SAF Vice-president. I have roots in Montana as a graduate of the University of Montana Forestry School and as a timberland owner. I have been involved with SAF at the chapter, state society and national level including a term on the Council. Currently, I am a member of the national ethics committee.

Today, our nation's forests are better cared for and producing more than we take from them each year. As foresters, we should be very proud of this because we all played a major roll in this success story.

Our tradition in science is the foundation and bulwark of our profession. Stewardship and sound forestry principles applied on the ground will continue to be the keys to successful forest management. There is simply no substitute for a well-trained, experienced forester in touch with the land he or she is managing.

For all of us the 21st Century will bring even greater challenges and new opportunities. The increasing demand for forest resources often conflicts with the changing attitudes for forest preservation verses producing the forest commodities we all use. In my judgment, resolving these differences will require intelligent, pro-active management of our forests plus effective communications. As professionals we have a responsibility to help shape public values based on sound science and long-term sustainability.

Public recognition, acceptance and support of our profession will be judged by our integrity and ethics. We must covet and maintain this status through certification standards and responsible credentialing.

I believe forest management should be focused on compatibility rather than single or separate use of resources. Managing for all resources is what the art of forestry is all about! If elected, I will work hard to assure that SAF is a catalyst to successfully reconcile societal needs and values with sound, practical forest management.

John Mount

I'm a 1961 graduate from Berkeley. I worked for the USFS on the Sierra National Forest until 1965. At that time I started my own consulting forestry business in Shaver Lake. I also started a small logging operation to go along with my consulting.

In 1979, I went to work for Southern California Edison. They own 20,000 acres which I manage. My responsibilities include all of the resources. We harvest about 6-7 million board feet and year and have about 500,000 visitor days use each year in recreation.

I have been a member of SAF since 1965. I have been active in Chapter activities and was Chair of the Northern California society in 1990. This past year I have been chair of the committee to write a position statement on the protection of the Pacific Salmon. I have had one article in the Journal, February 1996, titled; Incorporating Social Values Into Forest Management.

You can access more details about me and my work, including a profile, at www.campedison.com. Go to 'meet the staff' and then to more info on my candidacy for vice-president. Other programs on the main menu page of interest are forest or fire management and wildlife management.

Jerry Rose

I was born and raised on a small diary farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I spent much time in the woods as we supplemented our income by cutting pulpwood, posts and some saw logs. I became very interested in sustainability during those years. My dad and I talked a lot about "where we would cut next year" and other conservation issues.

I decided to study forestry at Michigan State University. I graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree, industrial option. I worked three summers for Kimberly Clark Corporation while in school. When I graduated, I went to work for the state of Michigan. I have spent more than 35 years in state government, finishing in Michigan in 1987 as Assistant State Forester, at which time I was appointed Director of Forestry/State Forester in Minnesota.

As I practiced my profession over the years, my interest in and understanding of sustainability has grown. I now feel very strongly that sustainability of our system has at least three very important components: (1) the need to integrate ecologic, economic and community consideration, (2) the integration must take place through collaboration of all who have a stake in the outcome, and (3) local communities must be a vital part of the process.

We often hear Aldo Leopold quoted. Recently, I ran across a statement made by Leopold that speaks directly to this: "One of the anomalies of modern ecology is the creation of two groups, each of which seems barely aware of the existence of the other. The one studies the human community, almost as if it were a separate entity, and calls its findings sociology, economics and history. The other studies the plant and animal community and comfortably relates the hodgepodge of politics to the liberal arts. The inevitable fusion of these two lines of thought will perhaps, constitute the outstanding advance of the present century."

I believe the forestry profession contains the rudimentary form of this fusion talked about by Leopold. We need to expand our efforts to more clearly articulate our core values and more fully facilitate this important fusion. If elected, I will provide leadership to help implement this concept along with the other important initiatives being pursued by SAF.