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May 2010 In this issue: New OFRI report looks at issues surrounding Oregon's federal forestlands Federal Forestlands report GAB Report "How Green is Your Wood?" Howdy Neighbor Tour in Klamath Falls Tree Farmer of the Year Tour Call for volunteers: Cycle Oregon forest interpreters Paired Watershed presentation from SAF Portland chapter   OFRI’s new report, Federal Forestland in Oregon, details the challenges and opportunities facing the state’s largest forestland owner. The 24-page report was developed to educate the general public about the current status of management and health in our public forests. Highlights include: Historical context of Oregon’s federal forests, detailing the impacts of a century of federal forest management policies. Scientists, policymakers and conservation groups agree that passive management may no longer be a viable option. Forest restoration activities conducted on a landscape-wide basis can both improve forest health and supply forest products. The report uses a new, chapter-based structure to frame the discussion around individual topic areas, illustrating how these issues are interrelated. View the report online. OFRI director Barnum talks sustainability in recent GAB Report Upcoming Landowner Educational Opportunities Klamath Tree School May 22 Klamath Falls OSWA Howdy Neighbor Tour June 12 Klamath Falls Tree Farmer of the Year Tour June 26 Sweet Home     “How can architects, developers and builders know for sure that lumber for building their projects comes from sustainably managed forests?” So begins an article written by OFRI Executive Director Paul Barnum for a recent article on the Green Architecture and Building Report website. “Green building” has been a focus of OFRI for the past two years, and the GAB Report offers another opportunity to further the green materials debate among interested builders and architects. The GAB report is an online publication that acts as a resource for sharing information and perspectives on responsible, green and sustainable design. It's targeted at builders, designers, architects and building owners. Barnum touts the benefits of using wood products from local sources and from states with strong forest practice laws, such as Oregon, California and Washington. The article goes on to follow the renewable resource from the forest through the manufacturing process to bring light to the favorable water and energy usage involved in the making of wood products. Read the full article. OSWA brings Howdy Neighbor tour program to Klamath Falls Howdy Neighbor, Oregon Small Woodlands Association’s popular forest tour program, will continue in Klamath Falls on Saturday, June 12. Cameron Curtiss hosts the tour at his Rock Creek Ranch Tree Farm. The Howdy Neighbor program encourages forest landowners to interact and talk forest values with their neighbors and local community. The tour is free and open to the public, so invite your family and neighbors. Howdy Neighbor Program Saturday, June 12 Rock Creek Ranch Tree Farm 9 a.m. – Noon Lunch will be provided Sponsors include: OSWA, Oregon Tree Farm System, Oregon State University, Oregon Department of Forestry and OFRI. For more information please contact OSWA. Mark your calendar: Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year tour is June 26 Come tour the Fun Forest with owners and forest managers Scott Melcher and Jim Cota.  The Fun Forest pair are the 2009 Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year and have been named 2010 Western Regional Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Tree Farm System.The tour will feature: Commercial thinning operation – second commercial thinning of an “escaped” Christmas tree plantation, Restoration project on a salmon/steelhead stream, Pasture forestation, Forest road development/maintenance, and Forest recreation project. Saturday, June 26, 2010 Tour bus departs at 9 a.m. Sweet Home, Oregon Volunteers needed to teach 1,700 cyclists "what's cool" about Oregon's forests Every year, thousands of bikers take part in Cycle Oregon rides, hitting the road and travelling through some of our great forestlands. Why not meet them on the path and teach them a little something about our forests? That's what Nicole Strong, forestry extension agent from Benton County, was thinking. She's recruiting Master Woodland Mangers and Women Owning Woodlands members to volunteer during the Cycle Oregon "Homecoming Ride" on July 18 around the Monmouth, Dallas, Falls City area. Nicole is coordinating with Cycle Oregon to have "Farm and Forest" interpreters at the ride rest stops near local forestland, to interact with the cyclists. "Some of these bike stops could be right next to your property," says Nicole. "Come meet them and tell them first hand what's so great about your forest or farmland." See the July 18 bike route Contact Nicole Strong for volunteer information: email, (541) 829-1270 Mike Cloughesy will review Oregon paired-watershed studies at OSAF Portland Chapter meeting Mike Cloughesy, OFRI's director of forestry, will present the results of three paired watershed studies at the upcoming meeting of the Portland Chapter of OSAF. Cloughesy will describe the Hinkle Creek, Alsea Revisited and Trask River Watershed Studies, which are being conducted by the Watershed Research Cooperative, and provide an update on progress. Monday, May 17 World Forestry Center Portland, Oregon Program starts at 7 p.m., social hour at 5:30 p.m. Contact Michele Docy at (503) 224-8046 to RSVP.