Large trees are perhaps the most obvious, and are certainly among the most important attributes of older forest ecosystems.  Many groups and individuals place a high priority on protecting and retaining large trees for ecological, social, and other reasons.   However, the issue may be far more complicated than strictly preventing removal of these older “legacy” trees. 

Recent inventory work suggests that large trees are dying at significant rates in southern Oregon in the absence of any harvest activities.  Although large dead trees retain many important ecological functions and have inherent value, their increasing abundance in southern Oregon forests probably greatly exceeds historical levels.  Most importantly, the rapidly decreasing number of remaining large live conifers has potentially significant impacts on important ecological and late-successional values in older forests. 

This presentation will review recent data on large tree mortality in the Ashland watershed and elsewhere in region, discuss the underlying threats to tree health, and review what can be done to improve the health and resiliency of these “legacy trees” and the older forests ecosystems of which they are part. 

Speaker: Dr. Don Goheen, an entomologist and forest pathologist at the Southwest Oregon Forest Insect and Disease Service Center, has worked in the forests of southern Oregon since 1976.

Listing your business and reaching buyers and sellers of NONTIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS through the Oregon Forest Industry Directory

Presenter: Lita Buttolph, Institute for Culture & Ecology
When: Monday, February 22, 2010, 9:30-10:30am
Cost:  Free
RSVP:   Please email ifcae@ifcae.org to participate and to receive sign-in instructions for the webinar.
 
Who Should Participate?  Businesses that buy, sell, process, or harvest Christmas boughs, cones, wild mushrooms, floral greens, medicinal herbs, mosses, berries, or other products from forestlands.  Small landowners interested in identifying buyers and sellers.  Extension agents that work with small to medium-sized businesses. 

Database Background: The Oregon Forest Industry Directory (OFID) is a free, on-line business directory operated and maintained by Oregon State University’s Wood Innovation Center for businesses that buy and sell a variety of forest products and services. Working with OFID, the Institute for Culture and Ecology has expanded the nontimber forest products section to include a diverse array of products and services and we are now training businesses in how to participate. 

What is a Webinar? A webinar is a simple way to have a meeting online through your computer.  Your computer must have audio capability (headphones or speakers) so that you can listen to the speaker.  You will be able to see the presenter's presentation, including a visual demonstration of how the industry database works.  You will be able to communicate with the webinar presenter by typing in questions and comments.  You can receive a transcript of the discussion via email to refer to later.