Additional Seedlings for Purchase Through Cook Inlet Seedling Sale

We are excited to announce that on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 10 a.m., we will add additional seedlings to the online store. This presents a wonderful opportunity for you to support our cause and enrich your surroundings with beautiful, healthy trees.
 
Accessing the Store: To explore and purchase these additional seedlings, please click the link below: CLICK HERE

Our Partnership with CSKT Nursery:
This marks our second year of collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes nursery in Montana. Together, we face the rewarding challenge of cultivating seedlings in Montana, ensuring their safe transit to Alaska, and delivering them to purchasers across the state. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continually improve this process.

While we strive for perfection, the complexities of growing and transporting seedlings can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges. Should any issues arise with greenhouse production or shipping, our initial approach will be to provide additional seedlings as a substitute. However, we fully respect your preference and will offer a refund if you choose. Please monitor your email for updates as we approach the May 18th seedling distribution.

Seedling Distribution:

The seedling distribution date at all sites will be Saturday, May 18th, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the locations listed below. Note that the Anchorage distribution site has not been confirmed and we will keep you updated as we near distribution. Be sure to monitor the seedling sale website for updates.

Matsu Location:
Wasilla Sportsman Warehouse
1901 E Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654

Anchorage Location: TBD

Kenai Peninsula Location:
Kenai Peninsula Food Bank,
33955 Community College Dr, Soldotna, Alaska 99669

Cook Inlet SAF Chapter Now Accepting Orders for Seedlings

For over 40 years, the Cook Inlet SAF Chapter’s Seedling Sale has been the go-to source for homeowners and organizations wanting to purchase seedlings. That two species sold out shortly after the sale opened on the morning of January 22–Colorado Spruce and Siberian Larch–reflects the demand for the high-quality seedlings available for sale. The seedling sale will be open online until mid-May.  Please check back periodically as additional inventory will be added for some species later in the sale.

To grow the 15,000-17,000 seedlings that are sold through the seedling sale, for the second consecutive year, Cook Inlet is working with the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal (CSKT) Nursery in Ronan, Montana. The CSKT Nursery has decades of experience growing trees for tribal reforestation projects and has shipped seedlings to Alaska in the past.

To view the seedling availability, visit https://forestry.org/store/seedling-sale.html. This year the Chapter is offering White spruce, Colorado (Blue) spruce, Lodgepole pine, Scotch pine, Siberian larch and Paper birch.

Seedling distribution will be Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

• Matsu: Wasilla Sportsman’s Warehouse 1901 E Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654
• Anchorage Location: TBD
• Kenai Peninsula: Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, 33955 Community College Dr, Soldotna, Alaska 99669

Questions regarding the sale or orders, email treesalecisaf(at)gmail.com. Those interested in future sale updates or to add/update their contact email address, go to:  https://forestry.org/cook-inlet-seedling-sale.

Oregon SAF Fellow and Golden Member Receives Outstanding Alumnus Award from Penn State

Portland Chapter member Robert G. (Bob) Devlin has been notified that he is the 2023-24 recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Penn State University, in recognition of his professional achievement and service to the forestry profession, demonstrating high personal and professional standards throughout his career.

A 1958 forestry graduate, Bob came west after finishing school and had a 43-year career with the US Forest Service in Regions 5 and 6. Bob started his federal career in Region 5 and spent 22 years in California, working as a forester on the Oaknoll District on the Klamath National Forest, asst district ranger on the Greenhorn District of the Sequoia, Salmon River district ranger on the Klamath, and timber staff on the Stanislaus. He came to Oregon in 1980 serving as supervisor of the Rogue River National Forest for five years, then on to supervisor of the Umpqua National Forest for an additional six years. In 1991 he transferred to the Regional Office in Portland as R-6 timber staff, then staff director for Natural Resources until his retirement in 2000.  Bob has been an active SAF member throughout his career both in California and Oregon, and he encouraged his employees to be active members of their professional society!

After retirement from federal service, Bob volunteered for an additional two decades as tutor in math and reading for elementary students the Gresham School District helping hundreds of young students gain proficiency in math and reading.

Vision problems in recent years have left him unable to drive, yet he remains active with friends, other SAF members and Forest Services retirees.

Bob and other Penn State alums will be honored by the College of Agricultural Sciences Forest Resources and Ecosystem Science program in April 2024 at the Penn State campus in University Park, PA.

Congratulations Bob on this well-deserved honor!

Grant funds new tree identification signs at the C.J. Reed Arboretum

The C.J. Reed Arboretum located at the Oregon Department of Forestry Astoria main district office now has 40 new interactive tree identification signs thanks to a grant from the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The project was completed by members of the SAF Tillamook-Clatsop chapter.

The signs were designed by Oregon Forest Resources Institute and made by Oregon Corrections Enterprises. Each sign has a QR code that leads to a website for more information about the specific tree species.

The arboretum was developed in the 1960s by the Department of Forestry foresters and is named after Chet Reed, the district forester who served in Astoria from 1955 to 1978. The arboretum is also next to walking trails through the demonstration forest. The self-guided demonstration forest is a mile of hiking trails to help visitors learn about basic forestry practices and enjoy interpretive exhibits that explain how active management of timber stands benefit Oregon’s state forests.

The arboretum and demonstration forest trails are open to the public year-round, 7 days a week from dawn until dusk. More information can be found in the Clatsop State Forest Guide.

SAF is a professional organization of foresters whose mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and to use their knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic to ensure the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.  More information can be found here.

This post is reprinted from the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Seeking Volunteers for the 2023 Washington State Fair

Come to Puyallup between Friday, September 1, and Sunday, September 24, to see, smell, and taste The Fair and help staff the Washington State Society of American Foresters booth in the Expo Hall, located near the Gold Gate entrance.

Shifts are 3 or 3 1/2 hours, and there are 2 or 3 shifts a day. The shifts start at 10 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. depending on the day. The Fair is closed all Tuesdays – Sept. 5, 12, and 19 as well as the first Wednesday – Sept. 6, 2023.

In return for your help, we offer a free entry ticket, access to free parking, and shuttle service from at least one of the parking lots. Tickets will be available mid-summer. 

This document lists the currently available shifts, and contact Gene McCaul at mccauls1234(at)msn.com to sign up.

WSSAF Member Elected Fellow in 2023

SAF recently announced SAF members who were elected Fellow in 2023, and WSSAF’s John Ehrenreich, Jr. was one of these Fellows!

The Fellow Award is a prestigious award that recognizes an SAF member for long-standing service to forestry at the local, state, and national levels. The SAF Fellow is recognized as an ambassador for the advancement of forestry. Nominations are accepted from any SAF member in good standing. Awardees are recognized during their local state society meetings and during the SAF National Convention. 

AKSAF Member Recognized by their Peers

SAF recently announced SAF members who were elected Fellow in 2023, and AKSAF’s Ken Winterberger was one of these Fellows!

The Fellow Award is a prestigious award that recognizes an SAF member for long-standing service to forestry at the local, state, and national levels. The SAF Fellow is recognized as an ambassador for the advancement of forestry. Nominations are accepted from any SAF member in good standing. Awardees are recognized during their local state society meetings and during the SAF National Convention. 

OSAF Members Recognized for their Achievements

SAF recently announced SAF members who were elected Fellows and selected as Presidential Field Foresters in 2023.

Fellows – Glenn Ahrens, Edwin Baird, Trixy Diamond, Alan Tocchini
The Fellow Award is a prestigious award that recognizes an SAF member for long-standing service to forestry at the local, state, and national levels. The SAF Fellow is recognized as an ambassador for the advancement of forestry. Nominations are accepted from any SAF member in good standing. Awardees are recognized during their local state society meetings and during the SAF National Convention. 

Presidential Field Forester – Shaun Harkins, CF 
The Presidential Field Forester award recognizes foresters who have dedicated their professional careers to the application of forestry on the ground using sound scientific methods and adaptive management strategies.

 

 

OSAF Members Appointed to Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee

On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the formation of the Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee, whose role, as per the press release, “will to provide advice and recommendations on modernizing landscape management across national forests within the Northwest Forest Plan area in Washington, Oregon and Northern California.”

Two of the members appointed to the committee are OSAF members: Jerry Franklin, PhD, Professor Emeritus, School of Environmental and Forest Science, University of Washington, and Travis Joseph, President/CEO, American Forest Resource Council.

“Establishing this committee is another way for us to embrace climate-smart science, ensure we hear from diverse voices and get a range of perspectives on how to best confront the wildfire crisis and climate change,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This committee will also be asked to help reshape ways we engage with communities and deepen our connections with tribes as we go through the Northwest Forest Plan amendment process.” 

To learn more about the role of this committee and their work, the visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprd3831710.

RECOGNIZING SEVEN NEW CANDIDATE CERTIFIED FORESTERS AND CERTIFIED FORESTERS IN REGION 1

Congratulations to the following professional foresters who became SAF certified as Candidate Certified Foresters or Certified Foresters in 2022. The Certified Forester credential is for SAF members and non-members promoting excellence in the stewardship of our nation’s forest resources through enhanced professionalism in forestry.

Cody Davis, CF
Gregory Howisey, CF
Alexander Pancoast, CF