This podcast episode from Oregon State University’s Extension Service covers community forests in the Pacific Northwest and their role in the community-based conservation movement. Hosted by Jake Barker, the discussion features Daniel Wear from Sustainable Northwest. They explore the definition, goals, and management practices of community forests, emphasizing the significance of maintaining water quality, fire risk mitigation, and timber revenue through community-led initiatives. Key examples include the Arch Cape Community Forest and Montesano City Forest, showcasing varying structures and benefits. Funding challenges and sources are also discussed, along with the role of the Northwest Community Forest Coalition in supporting new and existing community forests.

Daniel leads Sustainable Northwest’s Community Forest Program which includes his facilitation of the Northwest Community Forest Coalition along with his direct support to communities in protecting their drinking water supplies through forest management. Daniel earned an MPA in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Washington, with the goal of helping conservation non-profits connect communities to the resources needed for landscape protection. Daniel loves biking of all kinds, camping, and if possible, a combination of the two.

“One of the things I will say about community forests is that there’s a lot of creative approaches that can be taken to buying forest land.”

– Daniel Wear, Forest Program Manager at Sustainable NW.

This episode of ‘In the Woods’ podcast from Oregon State University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Program features Dr. Seri Robinson, a professor in the College of Forestry’s Wood Science and Engineering program. Dr. Robinson discusses her unique career path that merges art and science, particularly her expertise in the study of spalting. Spalting is a process where fungi react to environmental stressors, producing vivid pigments in the wood. Robinson delves into the science behind this phenomenon, the historical applications in art, and the potential innovative uses in modern technology like optoelectronics. She also addresses common myths about the safety of spalted wood in kitchen applications, the toxicity of wood dust, and the importance of selecting appropriate wood species for food-related uses. The episode concludes with Dr. Robinson sharing resources for further learning and her favorite tool and tree species.

“This podcast is all about murder.” – Dr. Seri Robinson

In this episode of ‘In the Woods’ by Oregon State University’s Extension Service, host Jake Barker discusses assisted migration and assisted gene flow with Jess Shamek, a field botanist and researcher focused on the adaptive capacity of Oregon White Oak. The conversation covers the definitions and importance of these practices in the context of climate change, best management practices, and the interconnectedness of forestry, farming, and ecology. They also discuss several tools and frameworks, such as the RAD framework, ClimateNA, and the Seed-lot Selection Tool, for planning and decision-making in forest management. Throughout the episode, there is an emphasis on understanding the risks, increasing genetic and species diversity, and learning from past introductions of non- native plants.

”I work with a lot of land managers who ask questions like ‘Should I be doing this? Should we be doing assisted migration, and should we be doing assisted gene flow?’” – Dr. Jess Shamek

At that point, people said, “I don’t know. Now you’re really asking a lot.” We were one of the few voices in the room that said, “These people are out there. The forest managers, the mills behind the logs are out there. We can make this happen. We can make it happen locally, and we’ll even give you one more. Not only can we have it come from these forests, but we can trace it back to the forest.”

“In my research, we found moderate evidence that recreationists at the McDonald Research Forest and Tillamook State Forest responded more positively to images of managed forests when they received ecological messaging than no messaging or economic-related messaging.” – Dani Berger

In this episode of Oregon State University’s ‘In the Woods’ podcast, host Jake Barker discusses watersheds and landslides with Annette Patton, a Watershed Science Extension Specialist. Annette defines a watershed, explains its importance, and discusses the dynamics of watershed science including water processes and sediment transport. The conversation also covers the impact of disturbances such as landslides and wildfires on watersheds, and the importance of predicting and managing these disturbances to mitigate risks. Annette shares her research experiences from Alaska and how they apply to Oregon’s diverse landscapes. Additionally, the episode explores how forests influence watershed dynamics and ends with a lightning round of questions about Annette’s favorite tree, field tools, and recommended resources.

 ”Gravity is king . Eventually, most water – not all, but a lot of water that we care about ends up in surface water features.”

– Annette Patton

In this episode of the ‘In the Woods’ podcast by Oregon State University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program, host Jacob Putney interviews Thomas Stokely, a forest ecologist with The Nature Conservancy in Central Oregon. They discuss the significance of wildlife habitat connectivity, the impacts of habitat fragmentation and loss, the role of roads and recreation, and the importance of integrating fire management to promote ecosystem health. Thomas explains concepts like landscape ecology, connectivity, and fragmentation, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies to balance human activities with conservation efforts. They explore specific projects like the Oregon Connectivity Assessment Mapping Project and strategies for mitigating human impact on wildlife through community involvement and science-based forest management practices.

“ Allowing not only at the population level for these species to adapt, but an ecosystem level for all the nutrients and energy and matter to flow across the landscape to help provide that ecosystem function and services to humans. – Thomas Stokely, Forest Ecologist

In this episode of ‘In the Woods’ podcast, hosted by Lauren Grand of Oregon State University’s Extension Service, we delve into the application of permaculture principles in forestry. Joined by Andrew Millison, a seasoned permaculture designer and educator, we uncover how permaculture-oriented thinking—ranging from road placements to water harvesting and species diversity—can transform forest management for long-term health, productivity, and resilience. Learn about practical examples from Oregon and global insights, including innovative projects in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. Whether you are an experienced forester or a small woodland owner, this episode is packed with actionable insights and advanced strategies to enhance ecological sustainability and economic benefits in forestry.

“A well-designed and well-placed road can actually harvest water, infiltrate it into the subsoils, build the water table, and create a stable access way for managing a forest.” Andrew  Millison, Senior Instructor II in the Department of Horticulture

In this episode of the ‘In the Woods’ podcast from Oregon State University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program, host Scott Leavengood discusses forest biotechnology with Dr. Steve Strauss. Dr. Strauss, a professor of forest biotechnology at OSU, shares insights from his 40-year career, including the genetic engineering of trees, the use of Agrobacterium for DNA modification, and the challenges and opportunities in the field. They also address public misconceptions about genetic engineering and its potential to address climate change. The episode concludes with a lightning round of questions about Dr. Strauss’s favorite tree species and the impact of CRISPR technology.

“ BioTech is a powerful method, but it’s not a replacement for conventional breeding…. It’s some combination that will be most useful, putting those together.” – Dr. Steven Strauss, Distinguished Professor of Forest Biotechnology, OSU School of Forestry

Extension Forester Lauren Grand hosts Dr. Jim Rivers. They discuss the marbled murrelet, a reclusive seabird that nests in old-growth forests far inland. Dr. Rivers explains the bird’s unique nesting behavior, the challenges of studying it, and recent advancements in research methods. They also touch on the bird’s dependence on both healthy marine and forest ecosystems, the difficulty of tracking their movements, and ongoing conservation efforts. The episode highlights the intersection of forest ecology, wildlife conservation, and innovative research techniques.

“The marbled murrelet is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most mysterious seabirds… it nests in mature and old-growth forests and spends much of its life at sea.” – Dr. Jim rivers, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology