^the Montana Forester

October 2000 The Newsletter of the Montana Society of American Foresters

Annual Meeting Features Prominent Speakers

By Rick Franke

Participants in this year’s annual Montana SAF meeting were treated to many excellent presentations, including those from two well-known speakers.

“The Future of Forestry is Restoration”

On Thursday, September 14, we heard about restoration forestry from Dr. Tom Bonnickson, professor of forest science at Texas A&M University and author of “America’s Ancient Forests: From the Ice Age to the Age of Discovery.” Bonnickson presented evidence of historic forest conditions based on extensive research conducted for his book. He then led the audience through a comparison with today’s forests, concluding that we need to “restore a sample of what we once had.”

Bonnickson highlighted the important role fire historically played in North American forests, but recognized that fire alone will not restore healthy conditions. “Fires no longer burn the way they did historically,” according to Bonnickson. He is a critic of current silvicultural trends, noting that in reaction to public pressures, foresters are using thinning from below as a broad-brush approach to forestry across a wide spectrum of conditions. The result is unnatural, even-aged forests lacking historic biodiversity and resilience. Instead, Bonnickson advocates a forest-by-forest approach to restoration efforts, where management actions are tied to site-specific conditions.

“The future of forestry is restoration. It will work. We can recover the values of the past and provide for the future”.

“Green without Peace”

For 15 years, Dr. Patrick Moore was a driving force in Greenpeace. Today, he is widely denounced as a traitor in environmental circles. The opposition Moore faces stems largely from his stance on forestry: He is a staunch advocate of cutting down trees.

On September 15, about 300 people gathered in the University Theater for a public lecture sponsored by Montana SAF and the Plum Creek Lecture Series. Dr. Moore presented a message of responsible forestry together with a slide show used to illustrate his points. In short, Moore thinks we should be growing and cutting more trees, not less.

Too often, arguments levied against forest management by extreme environmental factions are based on emotion, not reason or logic. As an example, Moore cited the Sierra Club’s advertising campaign, which features a photograph of a recent clearcut and states, “You don’t have to be a professional forester to know this land is mismanaged.” Moore thinks nothing could be further from the truth. Picture a pastoral landscape with rolling hills and a pasture with freshly baled hay. This scene is very appealing to the eye, yet it represents forestland converted to a monoculture crop, yielding little biodiversity. In contrast, a clearcut is a temporary forest condition, not unlike that caused by natural disturbances. A forest will likely be reborn from the clearcut, even if man does not make a conscious reforestation effort. Yet, people are trained that clearcuts are bad because they are unattractive.

“Green without Peace” continued

Moore thinks many objections to forestry are ill conceived. He states deforestation is rarely caused by loggers, but is usually the intentional conversion of forests for farmland or, more likely, for development. Some environmentalists have proclaimed logging has caused thousands of species extinctions. Moore has asked for a single example and is still waiting for a response. According to Moore, if we are truly concerned about “thinking locally and acting globally”, we will promote the responsible harvest of trees and use of wood as a natural resource, since wood has many benefits over substitute products.

As a member of the environmental movement, Moore said he was against one or two things every day of his life for 15 years. He now seems comfortable in his new role in support of responsible forest management.

Centennial Time Capsule

By Scott Kuehn

For the past year, a small committee from the Missoula Chapter has been working on burying a time capsule as part of the centennial celebration. That committee was Scott Kuehn, Ernie Corrick, Ed Heilman, John Host and Dave Stack. It was looking for items that would be of interest in 100 years, not just forestry related, but what life was like for a forester in 2000.

Electronic items like CD’s and VHS tapes were avoided because there might not be technology in 100 years to play them back. All aspects of a forester’s life from Time magazines, to seeds of some important tree species were covered. We decided not to enclose some seed from Knap weed. Hopefully, by 2100, these plants will be history. No sense re-introducing them and starting all over. We also asked each Montana Chapter to add some items of local interest. For example, Libby sent some photographs of the chapter members, as well as some photo points for future reference. Dave Stack and State Forester Don Artley made predictions of what forest management will be like in the year 2100

The time capsule was researched extensively through the internet to learn about the do’s and don’t of preserving the contents for 100 years. There are certain kinds of plastic like PVC, that need to be avoided, but other plastics are acceptable. Metal objects like staples and paper clips can rust and need to be avoided.

The time capsule purchased was stainless steel, guaranteed for over 100 years (like someone will be around to collect on their guarantee if it doesn’t work) and measured 12”x12”x20”. The committee sorted through all of the items and packed them tightly into the time capsule. All of the contents were sent back to the company and they spent days preserving all of the items. All of the paper was de-acidified, the pictures sealed and metal items enclosed in special plastic. After welding the lid shut, all of the oxygen was removed and the time capsule was filled with Nitrogen. This is to help prevent oxidation.

The time capsule was buried under the Slide Rock Lookout at SAF’s Forestry Interpretive Area at Fort Missoula on September 14. At the dedication, everyone took turns shoveling dirt and burying the time capsule for the next 100 years. A huge rock is being brought in to cover the time capsule. On this rock will be the bronze SAF plaque for every one to see.

To make sure the time capsule is not lost or forgotten over the next 100 years, Ed Heilman has been working on an easement from Missoula County of one square yard under the lookout. This will be tied to the deed and states that the county will protect the site, the time capsule and its contents.

State Awards and Special Recognitions

Centennial Award

A special achievement award called the Centennial Award was made this year. It was presented to two members to recognize their long-term service to the State Society and the positive model they have been to the members of SAF.

An Appreciation Award was presented to Gordy Sanders, Montana SAF Chairperson, and Procurement Manager for Pyramid Mountain Lumber Co. Gordy was recognized for his leadership of SAF during the Centennial year and for his efforts in coordinating the Forests for Humanity Project that culminated in the Habitat for Humanity “blitz” build at the State Convention. Gordy is well-known and respected across Montana and the Inland Northwest for his involvement in SAF, Tree Farmers, the Montana Wood Products Association, and as a spokesman for forestry and the forest products industry.

Text Box: Hayes award Steve Hayes, Montana SAF Secretary/Treasurer, and forester for Plum Creek Timber Co. was presented an Appreciation Award. Steve was recognized for his tireless efforts in keeping the day-to-day business of the Montana Society.

Forester of the Year Award

1999 Forester of the Year Award was given to Catherine Faulkner, Montana Forester newsletter Editor. Catherine was recognized for her hard work putting together the newsletter. Under her leadership, the newsletter is timely, easy-to-read, contains photos, and is a hallmark of the Montana SAF. Catherine has spent time getting advertisers to cover some of the cost to publish the newsletter. Catherine was also recognized for her efforts in the Libby Chapter which include working on Arbor Day activities and the annual 5^th Grade Forestry Tour.

Field Forester Award

The Field Forester award is an award established by National Chair Fred Ebel designed to recognize the work of those whose dedication to field work combines current science and technology with old-fashioned hard work to proudly represent the value of education and professionalism of the forester.

This year, the Society of American Foresters celebrates 100 years of service to the forestry profession. As part of the centennial celebration, and an ongoing national partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the Montana SAF wanted to show the relationship between forest resources and the need for affordable and decent housing.

Text Box: F4H cutting Text Box: F4H truck Text Box: F4H Home The Forest for Humanity 2000 project to construct a Habitat for Humanity home in Missoula involved private, non-industrial forest landowners, many who are members of the Montana Tree Farm Program, accredited/certified loggers and professional log haulers, lumber and manufacturing mills, and volunteers. Forest landowners from the Missoula area donated portions of their harvested trees. Local accredited loggers and professional log haulers donated their time and equipment to harvest the trees and transport them to local mills. The logging was accomplished using the latest “high-tech” computerized, “light on the land” cut-to-length equipment. The mills in turn donated time to process the logs into different products that were used in the construction of the new Habitat home. To complete the cycle, the new homeowners returned this fall to harvested areas to plant trees for the future.

The harvesting took place last spring and early summer. Eight loads of logs were donated. Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Plum Creek, Stimson Lumber, Eagle Stud and Smurfit-Stone Container manufactured the logs into building products. All culminated in a blitz build construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in Missoula on September 13-16. This project coincided with the National Tree Farm Convention and the Montana SAF State Convention, both held in Missoula that week.

Text Box: F4H roof on Text Box: F4H walls Starting early on Wednesday September 13, over 75 volunteers began building a new home for Gail Scoles and her three children. By noon, the exterior walls were up, and by 3 p.m. all of the inside walls were up, and closets, windows and doors were in place. By Saturday at noon, the roof shingling and the exterior painting was finished. Habitat for Humanity has taken on the responsibility of finishing the remainder of the home; i.e., electrical, plumbing and heating. SAF will have a work party to install the insulation and hang the sheetrock to help finish the home.

As part of a SAF Centennial Grant, Ian Marquand from KPAX TV in Missoula was hired to produce a video of the entire project. A rough draft of the video was shown at the SAF banquet. It was extremely hard not to well up with tears when Ian interviewed Gail after the first wall was raised. Ian has done an impressive job of documenting the harvesting and manufacturing of the trees and the construction of the new home.

Text Box: Tree planting The Scoles family will be back planting one of the harvested sites this fall, closing the circle from harvesting, manufacturing, and construction to creating a new forest for a new home in the future.

The purpose of the Forest for Humanity 2000 project is to create a model which can be replicated elsewhere that shows the relationship between good sustainable forest stewardship, the need for affordable decent housing, and the role timber products play in home construction.

The Montana Logging Association and the Flathead Chapter of the SAF have agreed to do another “blitz build” home next spring in the Flathead area.

Continuing on the Forest for Humanity project, landowners are asked to donate loads of fire-killed timber toward the construction of this next home. This is a great opportunity to recover some of the timber lost due this year's devastating fires and create a new home for a family out of the ashes.

If you are interested in donating fire-killed timber toward the construction of the new home, please contact Scott Kuehn at 542-3273.

Centennial Year 2000 Annual Meeting was a tremendous Success!. Thanks to the Missoula Chapater for sponsoring this though provoking and action packed event during the 100^th year as a Society. Attendance by National SAF president Fred Ebel, National Executive Vice Prsident Bill Banzhaf and District IV Council man Bob Sturtevant added a great deal to the character of the annual meeting. Thanks go to them for their support and enthusiasm for the activities of the Montana Society of American Foresters. They also provided significant feedback, such as:

“The program was great!”

“. . . more like a National meeting than a State Society meeting. Programs such as this really help stimulate interest and enthusiasm in our profession.”

“Great Job. . . everything from the technical sessions, to the Habitat House, to the barbeque seemed to go like clockwork and were top quality.”

Obviously, the success of the Centennial Celebration and all the activities incorporated into this very special year is due to the talent and dedication of a long list of SAF members. Special thanks go to Rick Franke (Missoula Chapter Chair), Steve Hayes (State Secretary/Treasurer), Scott Kuehn (Forests for Humanity Chair and Chair of the Forestry Interpretive Area at Fort Missoula), Greg Schidlwachter (Program Chair) and Dave Stack (State Chair – Elect).

In spite of an incredible program and great location, attendance was below expectations, due to “Fires 2000!” Mother Nature’s higher calling to nearly 100 years of interference with Her natural prescriptions demanded the dedication and professionalism of those unable to attend. As professionals, we are proud of those members who utilized their skills and abilities in protecting Montana’s soil and water resources through fire suppression, forest restoration and rehabilitation of burned over forestlands.

Montana’s Forest for Humanity project involving the sponsorship of a Habitat Home through a unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Tree Farmers has been very rewarding and has gained lots of media attention. The “Blitz Build” on September 13 was hugely successful, thanks to the 40-50 SAF members who showed up to “make it happen.” Media representatives from two TV stations, the Missoulian and KUFM radio were on-site doing interviews for quite some time. Because of numerous discussions and coordination with Spiker Communications, SAF public exposure was excellent. Coordinating activities with the National Tree Farm Convention in the media was very positive and beneficial for both organizations on TV, radio and in print.

As the Centennial year nears the November 30 date when Gifford Pinchot started its 100 year run, I encourage Montana members to get involved, take on the challenges and opportunities of Chapter and State Leadership responsibilities and attend the National Convention in November. Above all, take advantage of ever opportunity to advance the concept of active forest management, sustainable forests which provide a continuous supply of goods, services and benefits, and professionalism within our society, and have fun!

Nationally, SAF has become more active and involved in a variety of political and professional arenas. Our opinions are significant and sought after by leaders and officials across this great nation. All of this becomes even more feasible and effective with your support of the SAF Centennial Campaign, which is designed to further advance our profession and involvement, thus helping to create our future and the future of forestry. Join in the support for our professional vision. Your contribution will go a long way toward achieving the national goals. This campaign is designed to produce results we can all be proud of which advance our profession and increase our public exposure.

Greetings, Montana Society members! What a great annual meeting and Centennial Celebration you folks put on in Missoula. It was a packed schedule from the beginning of the Blitz Build through Saturday’s field session at Lubrecht Forest. The technical sessions were excellent and thought provoking. The special events were all …..special! We dedicated a time capsule, were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, heard a staunch environmentalist advocate forest management, experienced teary–eyed emotions from the Habitat for Humanity video, and rubbed shoulders with Tree Farm families from across the nation. What a meeting! Thank you for allowing me to share in this event. I am proud to be a member of a profession that produces such quality through volunteerism.

The September Source has a good summary of Council’s actions during our June meeting. Let me highlight a few items:

National Convention: It would be great to see you in Washington D.C. for our Centennial. The convention committee is organizing a special event quite a bit different from our usual national meetings. We will be taking forestry out of the meeting rooms into the Washington community. It will be an excellent opportunity to put the national spotlight on the forestry profession.

Elections: Please, take a few moments to vote, if you haven’t already. Not only are we deciding the future leadership of our society, but also, we are deciding on our Code of Ethics. Both decisions will be important in the years to come.

Finances: Council has made two decisions that foretell our financial condition. First, we authorized the staff to secure a line of credit to pay the bills through the end of the year. Secondly, we authorized the staff to reduce the budget by $260,000. These actions acknowledge that we are not meeting projected revenues. This is due to a continuing decline in membership and a lack of participation in the Centennial Campaign. Our membership dropped by some 450 members this year. Some of these people will re-join, but many will not. We need to stop this decline and turn it around into an ever-increasing membership.

Our members are asking for more benefits from the society. In response to those needs, Council initiated the Centennial Campaign. The money collected during the campaign was to create endowments to fund several new and ongoing programs. With faith that the membership would support these programs, some initial expenses were incurred.

Well, the membership has not supported the fund drive, and these activities will have to be put on hold, discontinued entirely or other activities cut to cover the new programs.

My plea is this: read Bill Banzhaf’s letter in the September Source and decide if you are able to support the Centennial Campaign. Personally, I pledged a monthly amount that I send in when I am paying the regular bills. I knew I could not send in a check for $1000.00, but I can send in smaller amounts each month, that when added up, will be a help to our society. Think about how you can help the future of SAF and forestry.

Long-term Fuels Reduction

Fred Ebel, President of SAF spoke toward constructive solutions to reduce the severity of fire across the landscape. The primary cause for the current round of wildfire problems is prevention and suppression of naturally occuring wildfires. There is growing recognition that reintroducing fire to certain forest ecosystems will be beneficial ecologically, and can reduce the severity and extent of wildfire. Appropriate strategies will require decades not years.

Forests have too many trees and other fuels, which aid the spread of fire into what would typically be fire-resistant trees. The kind of fire that benefits some of these systems is relatively frequent, low intensity ground fire that typically reduces fuel hazards, and leaves behind fire resistant trees. Since that type of fire is not present in most of these systems, material that would normally be burned off has accumulated to the extent that there is too much fuel, and wildfires grow too large to benefit. Forests must be treated with a variety of methods before successfully reintroducing fire.

Ebel quoted from the The Proceedings from the Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop (1991) that since topography and weather cannot be manipulated, land managers need to adjust fuels to reduce fire severity. Ebel also mentioned A Report to the President in Response to the Wildfires of 2000 recommending various methods for reducing catastrophic wildfire risk, including increased investments in hazardous fuel treatments, reinstating fire as a natural disturbance mechanism and accelerating federally mandated project reviews and public involvement requirements.

While forestry professionals have the ability to restore and maintain low-intensity fire in forest ecosystems, large fires will be a part of the future, Ebel said.

Wildland Urban Interface as a Priority

The Report to the President has identified the growing population in the West as a factor making wildfire suppression complex. The report says that of the 10 fastest-growing states in the U.S., eight are in the interior west with growth rates ranging from 2.5 to 13 percent. The growth of the wildland-urban interface has put more humans and structures at risk, and has increased the occurrence of human started.

Projects to reduce hazardous fuels, curb the spread of noxious weeds, or stabilize and restore damaged ecosystems need to cross ownership boundaries in order to be effective. It is appropriate to address hazardous fuels and other wildfire risks on private lands through federal cost-shared technical and financial assistance. Programs need to help communities plan and prepare for wildfire through education, outreach and technical assistance, and trained initial attack resources.

Economics

Reducing hazardous fuels anywhere on the landscape will be extremely costly. Most of the fuel reduction work will be removing small diameter trees that have little commercial value. These trees must be removed from the forest to improve forest health and decrease the occurrence of uncontrollable wildfire. On the plus side, logging and milling equipment can manufacture trees of small diameter. Milling facilities that use this size and type of wood exist in some communities. With a commitment of a stable supply from the National Forests, these facilities will provide a win-win solution to restoring the public forests to a healthy condition.

Examples of Restoration

Ebel sited examples of western white pine cover in the Washington/Idaho/Montana area that need restoration because of the decimation by white pine blister rust. He also spoke about the historically open-park pine forests of northern Arizona, now dominated by small diameter non-fire resistant species. These two forests demonstrate different management techniques are required for restoration.

Rehabilitation

Now is the time to employ rehabilitation techniques designed to mitigate environmental degradation and capture some value from these forests. Heavy rains and winter storms will limit access, cause massive erosion, flooding and reduction of water quality.

Rehabilitation efforts must focus on critical watersheds aimed at protecting water quality, sensitive species habitat, and restoring ecosystem function. A salvage program to reduce fire risk and possible insect and disease outbreaks and a recover some value should be instituted. The hope is that Congress will provide the necessary funds to accomplish these efforts. This money must make it to the field, where local managers have direct ties to the damaged lands and are well qualified to evaluate the timing, need and scope of rehabilitation and restoration activities.

Investment into research, experimentation and monitoring the effectiveness of the treatments applied to burned over forests must continue. Investment in rehabilitation efforts must recognize that proactive strategies to reduce fire risk are far more effective. Working with local communities is key to the success of rehabilitation and restoration programs.

Salvage

Billions of board feet of timber were destroyed this summer. Salvage has become a dirty word to some, but the Society of American Foresters endorses the proper use of salvage as a necessary tool when professionally applied, with environmental safeguards. Salvage can reduce the threat of insect and disease outbreaks that can occur after fires of this magnitude. Carefully designed removal of dead and dying timber can help restoration activities that protect watershed functions. Salvage is not a panacea, but provides significant favorable impacts on local communities and their economies and provides significant funds for restoration and rehabilitation projects.

Forest Inventory and Analysis

The catastrophic 2000 fire season has sparked a significant debate over the linkage between wildfire severity and the various management scenarios currently being implemented on America's forestlands. Are wildfires increasing as active management decreases? Do fires occur more frequently in logged or roaded areas? What kinds of fuel treatments are needed to restore forests to a more fire resilient condition?

Data is sorely lacking to answers these questions. To remedy this critical information gap, the Society of American Foresters recommends a one time emergency appropriation of $4.3 million be added to the Forest Service's Research and Development budget line item earmarked to the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program for the completion of close out inventories and a transition to annualized inventories in the western United States. These funds would be used to pay for data collection, analysis and reporting, and would result in a complete, published information base for the western U.S. by 2002 - approximately two years sooner than under current plans. Accurate and current inventory data is critical for conducting timely and meaningful analyses on the condition of the forest conditions

Conclusion

The Society of American Foresters supports a long-term strategy that will restore the health of the public forests and reduce the number and severity of wildfires in the future. This strategy allows resource managers the flexibility, proper tools, access to the land needing treatment and continuous funding to achieve a healthy, productive and sustainable forest environment.

Annual Meeting Features Prominent Speakers

By Rick Franke

“The Future of Forestry is Restoration”

“Green without Peace”

By Scott Kuehn

Appreciation Awards

Forester of the Year Award

Field Forester Award

Message from the Chair

By Gordon Sanders

Council Report

Long-term Fuels Reduction

Courtesy Missoula Chamber of Commerce