Use and Effectiveness of Washington State's Extension Forest Stewardship Program

This paper describes the use by family forest landowners of educational programs provided by Washington State University Cooperative Extension (WSUCE), and the associated use of technical assistance programs provided by state and federal agencies and the private sector. Approximately 100,000 family forest owners controlled 19% or over 1.2 M ha of Washington's forestland and accounted for 29% of the timber harvested in the state on a volume basis in 1998. A variety of public and private assistance and education programs are available to encourage and help family forest owners manage their forests. In 1999 a mail survey was conducted to evaluate use and effectiveness of Washington's family forest assistance and education programs. Over half of the 872 responding family forest landowners had contact with an extension educator, program or educational material, and about three quarters of these respondents gave an overall rating of the usefulness of extension programs and materials as good or excellent. Respondents attending WSUCE forestry educational programs have larger median land ownership size, are older, have owned their forests longer, have a higher rate of absentee ownership, and are better educated than non-users. They are more likely to actively manage their forests for timber production and exhibit a clearer understanding of the multiple-use capabilities of their forests

Ecosystem Management and Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners in Washington State, USA

Washington's non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners control 1.2 M ha, or nearly 20%, of the forestland in Washington State. Results of a mail survey suggest that educated and informed NIPF landowners are more likely to show interest in ecosystem-based management programs. NIPF respondents in Washington State indicated an appreciation for the temporal vision and landscape perspective crucial to understanding the foundation of ecosystem management. It is concluded that public agencies need to involve private landowners in ecosystem-based projects by using a more 'place'-based cross-boundary management approach. NIPF landowners must be actively involved in the decision-making so that the process, for them, is one of self-governance. Providing landowners with opportunities for education and assistance may offer the best prospects for achieving ecosystem management objectives across diverse ownerships

An Analysis of the Market Potential of Chilean Hardwoods

A model to classify hardwood species for furniture applications in Pacific Rim markets was developed using discriminant analysis. The results suggest that the technique could be used for other specific product/market applications. The results also indicated that the Chilean hardwood species have the desired properties for use in furniture making and that they would probably substitute for tropical hardwoods instead of the North American hardwoods in this rapidly expanding market

The Effect of Fire Risk on the Critical Harvesting Times for Pacific Northwest Douglas-Fir When Carbon Price Is Stochastic

The forest owner’s decision regarding when to harvest, based on forest’s current worth, is analyzed using the real options approach for a representative Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir stand when the carbon price is stochastic and there is a fire risk. The problem is framed as a linear complementarity problem and solved using the fully implicit finite difference method combined with a penalty method. The fire risk results in lower option values and earlier critical harvesting times, whereas a wider carbon price range ($0–$100 versus $0–$10) produces contrary results and more responsiveness to the parameter changes

Eastern Washington sawmill statistics for calendar year 2001

Summary of monthly production, shipments, employment, payroll, and annual raw log acquisition data for 2001. Based on a census of sawmills located east of the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington. 4 pages

Using Collaborative Learning in Fire Recovery Planning

The authors describe their use of collaborative learning workshops to facilitate public participation in the Wenatchee National Forest fire recovery situation