An International Perspective on Successful Strategies in Forestry Extension: A Focus on Extensionists

Extensionists throughout the world often share ideas and experiences. Learning what works and what doesn\u27t from practicing Extensionists is a common feature of conferences, symposia, and workshops. In 2003 an international conference of Extensionists held in Troutdale, Oregon, led to a compilation of seven successful strategies related to Extensionists. A follow-up survey of 500 Extensionists from 70 countries revealed that most of these strategies are used often or sometimes, from 53 to 88%. Only one strategy showed significant difference between regions of the world, and this strategy related to Extensionists being members of a professional society or association

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

Fire Prevention in the Rural/Urban Interface: Washington\u27s Backyard Forest Stewardship/Wildfire Safety Program

In the state of Washington, there is a combination of aggressive and innovative technical assistance and educational programs to promote sound management practices in rural/urban interface forests. The Backyard Forest Stewardship/Wildfire Safety Program integrates a variety of available information to provide rural/urban landowners with the tools necessary to protect their property, while still allowing them to meet many of their forest management objectives. The program helps landowners better manage their properties by promoting fire safety, the protection of water resources, and improvements to wildlife and fish habitat

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

Does the Social Capital in Networks of ‘‘Fish and Fire’’ Scientists and Managers Suggest Learning?

Patterns of social interaction influence how knowledge is generated, communicated, and applied. Theories of social capital and organizational learning suggest that interactions within disciplinary or functional groups foster communication of knowledge, whereas interactions across groups foster generation of new knowledge. We used social network analysis to examine patterns of social interaction reported in survey data from scientists and managers who work on fish and fire issues. We found that few fish and fire scientists and managers interact with one another, suggesting low bridging social capital and thus, limited opportunity for generation of new knowledge. We also found that although interaction occurs among scientists—suggesting modest bonding social capital—few managers interact with other managers, indicating limited opportunity for communication of scientific knowledge for the purposes of application. We discuss constraints and opportunities for organizational learning evident in these patterns of social interaction among fish and fire scientists and managers.Keywords: riparian and aquatic issues, natural resource agencies, organizational learning, social network analysis, wildland fire, social capita

Illustrations

Habitat is “the physical and biological surroundings of an organism. ” Good wildlife habitat supplies all the elements an animal needs for survival. These elements include food, cover, water, and space. However, each animal varies in its requirement of these elements. When wildlife biologists and managers design programs to improve wildlife habitat, they take into account all the plants and animals that may be affected by their decisions. Wildlife populations in forested habitats are dynamic because the forest is always changing. Plant succession, or the gradual replacement of one plant community with another, is an important aspect of wildlife habitat. Every successional plant stage, or habitat type, has a specific community of animals associated with it. Close relationships among animals and environments illustrate how alterations to the habitat dramatically affect wildlife populations. This publication provides basic information about wildlife ecology and presents ideas on improving forested habitats for wildlife. A Brief History Before the 1960s, wildlife management focused primarily on maintaining game animals, such as deer, elk, an

EM8858discussionguide.pdf

This play is designed to explore what we value about forests. Target audiences are adults and high-school youth; can be adapted for children. Consists of two ready-to-print PDF documents: a 40-page script with 11 scenes and suggestions for staging and costuming; and a theater program that also serves as a discussion guide and includes references to further sources of information

Saving Eden Creek : a play about people and forests

This play is designed to explore what we value about forests. Target audiences are adults and high-school youth; can be adapted for children. Consists of two ready-to-print PDF documents: a 40-page script with 11 scenes and suggestions for staging and costuming; and a theater program that also serves as a discussion guide and includes references to further sources of information.Published September 2004. Reviewed June 2014. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

em8858script.pdf

This play is designed to explore what we value about forests. Target audiences are adults and high-school youth; can be adapted for children. Consists of two ready-to-print PDF documents: a 40-page script with 11 scenes and suggestions for staging and costuming; and a theater program that also serves as a discussion guide and includes references to further sources of information

Fire science needs in the Pacific Northwest

12 pagesAfter a century of wildfire suppression, the costs and complexity of wildfire management are increasing. Population growth in fire-prone landscapes, climate change, and diverse land management objectives all contribute to a complex management environment. The number and types of managers and practitioners involved in wildfire management has also grown. Government agencies, land managers, air quality regulators, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and others have a diversity of fire science and social science needs. To protect and restore fire-adapted communities and natural resources in the Pacific Northwest, a process for effective dissemination and accelerated user adoption of pertinent information, knowledge, tools, and expertise is necessary. An improved system to connect, engage, and exchange information between researchers and diverse groups affected by wild or prescribed fire could enhance exchange of existing fire science and technologies throughout the region, and encourage fire and land management stakeholders to evaluate and adopt relevant fire science.This project was made possible with funds from the Joint Fire Science Program, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, USDA Forest Service, and the USDA Bureau of Land Management