I. Featured News

All of these items and more appear in the "Featured News" section on the SAF home page

1. Chestnut Trees to Spread Again near James River

News & Advance (Virginia, February 23) - A wooded field near the James River in southwest Amherst County has 560 chestnut saplings in its soil. If they reach full maturity, the trees would embody the comeback of the once-flourishing American chestnut that a century ago nearly faced extermination because of the chestnut blight.

Georgia Pacific and the American Chestnut Foundation partnered to reintroduce the chestnut to its native habitat. Until the early 20th century chestnuts grew in more than 2 million acres of woodlands from Maine to Florida.

2. UM Shows Off Mobile Biomass Gasifier, Generator

Missoulian (February 23) - The University of Montana recently showed off its BioMax-a mobile biomass gasifier and electricity generator-at a demonstration on the Paws Up Ranch in Greenough. However, while those attending the demonstration were open to the idea of biomass as a form of renewable energy, much of the discussion after the presentation revolved around economic feasibility.

3. SPI Free to Harvest 19 Tracts in Eight Counties

Anderson Valley Post (February 22) - A retired El Dorado County Superior Court judge has ruled on the side of Anderson-based Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) and the California Forestry Association in a year-long lawsuit that effectively halted 19 timber sales in eight northern California counties.

The lawsuit was a combination of eight suits filed in eight counties on behalf of The Center for Biological Diversity, which claimed the state's permitting process for timber harvests failed to adequately consider all of the potential sources of emissions from timber harvesting and related activities in calculating the harvesting's impact on the environment.

4. Consortium Garners $20 Million Grant to Improve Pine Forest Management

University of Florida (February 19) - Pine trees are one of the most important crops in the southeastern United States, and a consortium led by University of Florida personnel has been awarded a 5-year, $20 million federal grant to help landowners and foresters throughout the region adapt to and mitigate global climate change in coming decades.

5. The Battle to Save Indonesia's Disappearing Forests

Jakarta Globe (February 23) - After bans by European countries on imports of illegally logged timber products, the rate of deforestation in Indonesia has halved—to about 1 million hectares a year. But this is still considered high, and urgent action is needed, say researchers, analysts, and environmental activists.

Federal Lands Management

6. Forest Service Seeks to Speed Up Planning Process

Aspen Times (February 21) - Harris Sherman, the undersecretary for natural resources and environment for the US Department of Agriculture, vowed while visiting Aspen Friday that a quicker, more responsive, and responsible planning process is coming for the agency.

The Obama administration released a proposed Forest Planning Rule this month that updates current regulations and, according to Sherman, gives the forest managers more flexibility in amending the forest plans, so the agency could more effectively deal with any new issues that arise.

7. Sen. Merkley: Fight for Timber Funds Continues

Worldlink.com (February 21) - According to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), getting timber payments into President Barack Obama's proposed budget is a "good first step, but the fight's not over." Besides pushing for the timber payments, Merkley said that Congress must examine options to create a sustainable payment base and considering other options, such as creating a trust for the more environmentally sensitive lands.

8. Interior Secretary Reassures Off-Roaders

San Francisco Chronicle (February 22) - US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Bureau of Land Management chief Bob Abbey toured the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area recently toured the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area- one of Southern California's most popular off-road spots-to assure dune buggy enthusiasts that they fit into federal conservation plans.

Forest Products Industry

9. Richmond-Based Biomass Fuel Company Buys Port Terminal

Richmond Times Dispatch (February 17) - Enviva LP, a Richmond-based company that makes biomass fuel products, announced that it has acquired a Chesapeake port terminal to ship wood pellets to overseas markets. Among the company's customers are Belgium-based Electrabel, a European utility company. Enviva announced last year that it had signed a contract to supply 480,000 metric tons of wood pellets a year to Electrabel.

10. Plant Closure Bursts Georgia's Biomass Bubble

Associated Press (February 22) - Gov. John Kitzhaber's plan to put Oregonians back to work in the woods has cleared one major obstacle, but two others remain. One is getting support from the legislature for renewing the business energy tax credits that give the marginal biomass industry the boost it needs to grow, the other is getting significantly more material out of the woods, particularly the federal lands that account for more than half of Oregon.

11. Western Canada Lumber Sales to China Soar in 2010

Reuters (Canada, February 22) - Lumber sales to China from British Columbia skyrocketed last year and a top official in Canada's largest timber-exporting province believes it can continue to grow despite increasing US competition.

II. Publications, Resources, and Items of Interest

1. USDA Funds Climate Research on Agricultural and Forest Production

USDA (February 18) - The US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded three Coordinated Agriculture Projects (CAP) representing a major scientific investment in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture and forest production.

2. Ohio's Stately Giants: Dysart Woods Preserves Old-Growth Oaks, Other Trees

Miami Herald (Ohio, February 21) - Some of Ohio's biggest and oldest trees are the prime attraction at Dysart Woods in eastern Ohio's Belmont County. The 50-acre tract, managed by Ohio University, is the largest known remnant of old-growth oak forest in southeast Ohio and is the state's largest virgin forest. It is a national natural landmark that provides a glimpse of the old-growth forest ecosystem that once covered much of Ohio and the eastern United States.

3. Planting the Future: Wangari Maathai

American Public Media (February 17) - In this radio program from American Public Media, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai speaks about the links between ecology, human flourishing, war and peace, and democracy.

III. Science and Technology

1. Researcher: Forests Will Bounce Back from Beetles

Denver Post (February 22) - According to Greg Aplet, senior forest scientist at The Wilderness Society, western forests are already showing signs of a comeback amid a bark beetle epidemic that has killed millions of lodgepole pines in Colorado and Wyoming.

Aplet made these remarks at a conference in Aspen and added that forests that have been attacked by bark beetles will eventually bounce back with more diversity in the ages and species of trees, although this is not likely to happen within the lifetime of anyone alive today.

2. EPA Flags Uncertainties in Draft Study of Biofuels' Environmental Impacts

Environmental Newsstand.com (February 3) - In its first draft report into potential environmental impacts of large-scale biofuels production, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it found some potential harms, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants, but warns that parts of the study are "highly speculative" due to scientific uncertainties and data limitations.

3. Frequent, Severe Fires Turn Alaskan Forests into Carbon Source

Michigan Tech (February 10) - American and Canadian researchers report that climate change is causing wildfires to burn larger swaths of Alaskan trees and to char the groundcover more severely, turning the black spruce forests of Alaska from repositories of carbon to generators of it.

IV. SAF News

1. Get $10 Off Your 2012 Membership Dues for Every New and Reinstating Member You Recruit!

Membership is all about networking. Now you can save money and help the organization by recruiting your colleagues. For every new or former professional member you recruit, you receive $10 off your 2012 national dues.

Show Them How They Can:

• Access the nation's largest listing of continuing forestry education
• Enhance their professional credentials with the Certified Forester® program
• Get discounted pricing on the NEW Forestry Mobile App
• Use the all-new Career Center and post their résumé in the online database
• Get discounted rates on Consulting and Prescribed Fire Insurance
• Get FREE online subscription to Forest Science
• Get FREE online subscriptions to the Regional Journals of Applied Forestry
• Learn about the latest developments in forest policy
• Get discounted rates on automotive insurance
• Get involved locally and make a difference

Be the Sponsor

Help them sign up by visiting the SAF website or call (866) 897-8720 x110 and make sure they list you as the sponsor. You don't pay anything but you can save a lot.

2. SAF Meetings of Note

National Workshop on Climate & Forests

Planning Tools and Perspectives on Adaptation and Mitigation Options
Northern Arizona University o May 16-18, 2011 o Flagstaff, Arizona

Join leading scientists, foresters, and educators to learn and discuss what needs to be done today to manage tomorrow's forests. Participate in regionally themed breakouts to discuss the implementation of adaptation and mitigation options and share your accomplishments at the poster session.

Early-bird discounts end April 2.

To register, or for more information, visit the SAF website.

New England SAF Winter Meeting

The 91st Annual Winter Meeting of the New England SAF will be held in Fairlee, VT, from March 30 thru April 1. The meeting will include speakers, concurrent technical sessions, field trips, and workshops. CFEs are available.

Colorado SAF Meeting

The Colorado SAF will meet May 12-14 at the Strater Hotel in Durango. Organized under the theme "Managing Forests for Resiliancy in a Climate of Change," the meeting will include a state society business meeting (May 12), technical sessions (May 13), and a field trip (May 14). CFE credits will be available.

For more information, contact Steve Ambrose.

3. Call for Presentations Deadline Extended to March 6

We want a science and technical program for the 2011 SAF National Convention that appeals broadly to the forestry profession by highlighting cutting-edge, forest-focused science delivered in a way that is interesting to scientists and accessible to forest managers. To that end, we invite you to submit your presentation or poster for this exciting event.

The abstract submission deadline is March 6, 2011.

For more information on submitting your presentation or poster, visit the SAF website.

Forest Science & Technology Board 2011 Graduate Student Research Award

If you are an SAF member and a graduate student, and if your abstract is selected for an oral presentation at the 2011 Society of American Foresters convention, you may be eligible for competition with other eligible students for a $500 award. For information about eligibility and submission guidelines, visit the SAF website or contact David South.

4. Get the Most from Your New Membership Benefit—Free Online Access to All SAF Journals!

Beginning in January, your SAF membership now includes free online access to the Northern, Southern, and Western Journals of Applied Forestry, as well as Forest Science, SAF's premiere journal of forestry research and theory.

To take advantage of this new membership benefit, sign up for a new issue alert, which automatically sends you an e-mail when new issues are available. You can also set up an RSS feed for the latest or recent issues. Simply visit our online content, select the journal for which you wish to receive an alert or feed, then click the corresponding link beneath the issue thumbnail.

Remember: if you've never accessed SAF's online journal collection, you'll need to register first to take advantage of your new benefit. Follow these simple, one-time registration instructions and then be on your way to exploring the latest science and research, as well as new techniques and practices for effective, productive forest management.

For assistance with the registration process, contact Matt Walls.

5. SAF Seeks Editor for Southern Journal of Applied Forestry

The Society of American Foresters is seeking an editor for the Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, SAF's quarterly journal of applied forestry serving foresters and allied professionals with research, practices, and techniques targeted to the southern United States. The editor serves a three-year term (beginning September 1, 2011) and receives a stipend of $650 per month.

Send resume, selected publication vitae, and a letter describing qualifications and interest in the position to Matthew Walls, Director of Publications, Society of American Foresters, 5400 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-2198, fax: (301) 897-3691.

The application deadline is April 30, 2011. For questions regarding responsibilities and qualifications, contact Matt Walls.

The Society of American Foresters is an equal opportunity employer.

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