2024 WSSAF Annual Meeting

Forest Practices Act 50^th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future

April 3-5, 2024 – Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, WA

Hosted by the Southwest Washington SAF Chapter

Next year is the 50^th anniversary of the Forest Practices Act. In recognition of this anniversary, the 2024 WSSAF annual meeting will explore how this significant piece of legislation changed forest management in Washington State.

The opening paragraph of RCW 76.09.010 lays out the reason why the Act is needed:

The legislature hereby finds and declares that the forestland resources are among the most valuable of all resources in the state; that a viable forest products industry is of prime importance to the state’s economy; that it is in the public interest for public and private commercial forestlands to be managed consistent with sound policies of natural resource protection; that coincident with maintenance of a
viable forest products industry, it is important to afford protection to forest soils, fisheries, wildlife, water quantity and quality, air quality, recreation, and scenic beauty.

The program will feature a student mentoring roundtable, a poster session, and student activity organized by the Grays Harbor College SAF student chapter on Wednesday night. Thursday will be a full day of presentations and panels, followed by the WSSAF business meeting and awards dinner. And the meeting concludes on Friday with a Tree Farmer Inspector breakfast hosted by the Washington Tree Farm Program and a field trip.

• Program
• Registration
• April 3 Agenda
• April 4 Agenda
• April 5 Field Trip
• CFEs
• Lodging
• Sponsors

Full Agenda (PDF) Program (PDF)

Registration for the virtual option will be open until April 3.

Click here to register

Registration for in-person has now closed. If you have in-person registration questions, please call (503) 224-8046.

Early bird registration is open through March 8.

Prices then increase by $50 for members and nonmembers. The field trip is limited to 40 attendees.

SAF Members*: $200, add-ons banquet dinner $50, field trip $50

Non-SAF Members: $250, add-ons banquet dinner $50, field trip $50

Student Members: $75, add-ons banquet dinner $25, field trip $25

Virtual attendees: $50

*Golden members receive a $50 discount when registering. 

1:30-3:00 p.m. – WSSAF Executive Committee Meeting

3:00-6:00 p.m. – Registration open, Poster and Exhibitor setup, Silent Auction starts

5:00-5:45 p.m. – Icebreaker Social

5:45-6:45 p.m. – Student and Early Career Mentoring Event

7:00-8:00 a.m. – Refreshments, Registration open, Poster and Exhibitor setup

8:00-8:15 a.m. – Welcome

8:15-9:15 a.m. – “Past” – History of Forest Practices to Present Day

9:15-10:00 a.m. – Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plans: RMAP History & Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration Projects

• Mark Smalley, Rayonier

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Break

10:30-11:15 a.m. – Unstable Slopes

11:15-12:00 p.m. – Habitat Conservation Plans

12:00-12:15 p.m. – Break

12:15-12:45 p.m. – Lunch

12:45-1:30 p.m. – Keynote Address

• Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington Department of Natural Resources,

1:30-2:00 p.m. – Break

2:00-2:45 p.m. – “Present Topic # 4” or “Future Topic # 1”

2:45-3:30 p.m. – Marbled Murrelet Rule Changes

3:30-4:15 p.m. – “What Our Future Looks Like”

4:15-4:30 p.m. – Announcements & Conclusion

4:45-5:30 p.m. – Washington State SAF Business Meeting

5:30-6:00 p.m. – Pre-dinner Social, visit with exhibitors

6:00-8:00 p.m. – Awards dinner, silent auction ends

CFEs will be obtained for this meeting.

A block of rooms has been reserved at Best Western Plus Aberdeen for $130/night for April 3-4. To reserve a room, please call the front desk ((360) 537-7460) and mention that you are with the 2024 WSSAF Annual Meeting.

Only dogs are allowed in designated rooms for an additional charge per night. Please advise the hotel before arrival if you are bringing a pet as the hotel has limited pet friendly rooms.

Thank you to these sponsors for supporting the 2024 WSSF Annual Meeting.

Platinum

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Silver

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