Cristopher visits Mexico

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

The Monarch butterfly is the best known of all migratory butterflies, traveling across the Americas to overwinter in Mexico. In 2000, Mexico established a reserve called the Biosphere of the Monarch Butterfly, a 56 hectare protected area. Despite its protected status, conservation is complex because so many people live within the reserve.

Mexican Fellow Cristopher Lopez Paniagua, sponsored by the US Forest Service, is designing an ecotourism plan for one of the ejidos, a community owned forestland called Cerro Prieto, in the municipality of Angangueo in Michoacan State. In January Cristopher spent several weeks meeting with ejido members and conducting visitor surveys and was joined for one week by WFC Education Director Rick Zenn.

Angangueo is the second most popular Monarch site to visit. Most Cerro Prieto ejido members were loggers until the creation of the reserve in 1996. Now they must struggle to find enough ecotourism dollars to make ends meet. They are hampered by national versus local politics, low skill levels (they have limited training in tourism or English), and lack of funding.
In the most popular sanctuary as many as 4000 tourists visit per day, putting enormous pressure on the monarch’s habitat. There is therefore need to create alternative sources of employment and productive projects for these communities so that they will not deplete the monarch’s natural habitat.

Cristopher’s trip gave him first-hand experience with the needs of ejido members, as well as visitor wants and needs. He will spend the remainder of his project developing training sessions for ejido members on topics of interpretation, customer service skills, and basic English lessons. He will also design trail signs and interpretive flip-guides to help tourists better understand the reserve. Cristopher was well received by ejido members, who lamented that so many foreign aid groups and national government programs are initiated but the benefits never reach down to their level.

For more photos, click here.

Oxbow Metro Park

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Fellows spent a day exploring Portland urban parks and sites, including Oxbow Metro Park, The Grotto, and McMenamin's Edgefield. Click on Nerijus for more photos.

Winter Dinner with Harry

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Fellows spend a blustery evening enjoying the warm hospitality of WFI founder Harry Merlo. Click on the group photo for more pictures.

Farewell Lee!

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Korean Fellow Seol Woong Lee bid farewell to WFI in January. He will spend one month in Seattle working for his employer in Korea, Eagon, at their Seattle branch office. Click on Lee's photo for more pictures from his farewell lunch and pictures of his final poster.

December 2006 WFI Update available for download

The December 2006 WFI Update is now available for download from:
http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate12.06.pdf

In this issue, find articles on:
*New Fellows from Lithuania, Mexico, and China
*Seol Woong Lee returns to Eagon
*Program Manager visits WFI Alumni in China
*Recent events

Thanks,
Angie, WFI Program Manager

Winter Mill and Forestland Tour

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

In December Fellows took a 4-day road trip through southern and central Oregon to explore several wood products mills. The first stop was Roseburg Forest Products, where we visited their Roseburg stud mill and engineered wood products mill. A trip to the Hinkle Creek Watershed study area completed the introduction to this vertically integrated wood products company. The second company visited was Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors, where Fellows first viewed their Bend ponderosa pine millwork facility. After the raw material is sawn, much is manufactured at the adjacent factory into high-end windows and doors.

Click here for photos of:
Roseburg Forest Products
Jeld-Wen
Tumalo State Park
Idleyld Lodge
Susan Creek Falls
Lava Lands
Diamond Lake

Coho Rendesvouz

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Peter Hayes of Hyla Woods hosted Fellows at their annual tree farm event, Coho Rendesvouz. The event celebrates the return of the salmon to the forest, as well as the holiday season. Fellows hiked, looked for spawning fish, and cut Christmas trees. Click on Cris for more photos.

Starker Forests

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Dick Powell of Starker Forests introduced Fellows to the forestry business in the Pacific Northwest. Dick explained the history and philosophy behind Starker, a family owned forestry business. Fellows then visited the Philomath Log Yard and Hull Oakes Lumber Mill. Click on the Fellows for more photos.

Program Manager Visits WFI Alumni in China

So many photos! Such an amazing trip!
http://web.mac.com/jds2/iWeb/China/China%20homepage.html

Thanks to WFI’s Chinese alumni, WFI Program Manager Angie DiSalvo had the opportunity to visit China in November. Her three-week adventure involved promoting the WFI Fellowship Program, as well as time to visit with past participants and experience China.

Dr. Yanping Zhang of the Chinese Academy of Forestry’s Research Institute for Resource Insects hosted Angie in Yunnan Province. In the capital of Kunming she participated in the International Neem Conference, learning about the neem propagation, plantations, and products, which was the subject of Dr. Zhang’s Fellowship project. Successful meetings were held with SW Forestry College, RIRI, and Zhongke Biological Company. Angie was met by WFI Australian alumnus Tony Scherl, and together they toured Yunnan cities of Dali and Xishuanbanna with Dr. Zhang’s wife. Yunnan is famous for its spicy food, minority cultures, and diverse array of plant life. Chinese hospitality lived up to its reputation, and Angie and Tony were amazed by their gracious hosts.

Moving to the capital city of Beijing, Xiaoli Wang and the State Forestry Administration were most helpful in arranging meetings and tours. Angie also visited with WFI alumnus Jialu Xie and International Educators Institute alumnus Hehe Zhang. Angie met with Hehe’s working group, China’s first environmental NGO, Friends of Nature. Of course, a trip to the Great Wall, shopping, and having Peking Duck on Thanksgiving day were in order as well. There was much talk swapping stories of life in Portland.

After the work portion of the trip was completed, Xiaoli accompanied Angie and husband Jon to SE China to visit Hangzhou, Nanxin, and Shanghai for some rest and recreation. This region of China is famous for its small water towns, beautiful gardens, and booming commerce.

The best part of the trip for Angie was trading places – Angie’s job involves giving tours and guiding Fellows through a foreign environment, and it was humbling to be on the receiving end of this hospitality. It was a wonderful experience to see Fellows “in their element” and to gain a first-hand appreciation for their dedication to their careers and families. Although the return flight to Portland was a sad one, these new memories and connections made a lifelong impression.

October WFI Update Available for Download

The October 2006 WFI Update is now available for download from:
http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate10.06.pdf

In this issue, find articles on:
*"Who Will Own the Forest? 3" Summit
*Fellowship Hosts
*East Coast Forest Tour
*Recent Events

Thanks,
Angie, WFI Program Manager

August WFI Update Available for Download

The newest WFI Update is now available for download at: http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate8.06.pdf

In this issue, find articles on:
*Farewell to Kyungtae Park, Jasjit Walia, and Pei-jung Wang
*Welcome to Seol Woong Lee
*Fellows visit Merlo Corporation Ranch in eastern Oregon
*Wallowa Resources visit in eastern Oregon

thanks,
Angie, WFI Program Manager

Merlo Corporation Ranch

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

WFI benefactor Harry Merlo invited Fellows to learn about forest restoration in east forests on his ranch near Pendleton. Fellows spent three days in the field with manager Rex Christenson learning about game management, restoration, reforestation, and cattle ranching. Click on the group photo for more pics.

Hopkins Demonstration Forest

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Manager Tim Lichen toured Fellows around Hopkins Demonstration Forest, a 140-acre demonstration forest open to the public for self-guided exploration, tours, workshops, and education programs. Click on Tim Lichen for more photos.

9th Annual International Educators Institute

The International Educators Institute (IEI) is an intensive 8-day study tour that brings together some of the most successful classroom teachers in the US and abroad to the World Forestry Center to exchange information about utilizing best practices in forestry education. This year's group included participants from India, Australia, Taiwan, Russia, Brazil, China, Korea, Norway, Mexico, New Zealand, South Carolina, Oregon, and Idaho. Past participants have called this unique educational opportunity the highlight of their professional career. Participants have taken home countless new techniques and resources and made many new friends for life. Participants in IEI return to their classrooms with new tools, new inspiration, and an active global network of colleagues and resource specialists. Click on the group photo for more pictures.

Hoyt Arboretum

Hoyt Arboretum, one of WFC's neighbors in Washington Park, hosted Fellows to discuss ways to collaborate. Hoyt Arboretum's plant collection is made up of just under 10,000 individual trees and shrubs, representing nearly 1000 different species. Their purpose is to grow the broadest possible range of woody plants from around the world. All of the plants have labels with the scientific and common names, and the geographic origin of the species. With Fellows coming from many different regions of the world, the opportunities to work together are endless.

Bull Run Watershed

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Fellows visited with watershed educator Briggy Thomas at the Bull Run Watershed. The Bull Run, located east of Portland near Mount Hood, provides exceptionally clean, unfiltered water to the City of Portland and is the primary water source for the city. The Bull Run watershed is co-managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the City of Portland under special legislation known as the Bull Run Act, Forest Service regulations and formal agreements between the two agencies. The Bull Run Act requires the Forest Service to consult and coordinate with the City on plans and activities for the watershed. Click on the photo for more.

Oregon SAF President meets Fellows

Oregon Society of American Foresters president Lena Tucker met with Fellows to discuss SAF. The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters in the world. The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and, to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.

Wallowa Resources and Eastern Oregon

Fellows spent four days exploring the far northwest corner of Oregon in Wallowa County. One and a half days were spent with Diane Snyder, Executive Director of Wallowa Resources. This community based non-profit works to provide economic opportunities for the community that are in line with ecological restoration goals. Fellows participated in a tour of WR projects along with the Board of Directors of Sustainable Northwest. Additional highlights of the trip featured the Mount Howard Tram, exploring the story of Chief Joseph, and discussing issues in rural communities. For more photos, click on the group photo above.

June 2006 WFI Update Published

The newest issue of WFI Update is now available for download at:

http://wfi.worldforestry.org/news.htm

The newest issue features:
*welcome to Pei-Jung Wang, new Fellow from Taiwan
*Farewell to Xiaoli Wang from China
*Recent field tours
*Visits to Greenwood Resources and Longview Fibre
*Special visit from Korean alumnus In Chul Jung

Thanks,
Angie DiSalvo
WFI Program Manager

Dinner with Harry

Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute.

Harry Merlo, the "Father of WFI", hosted fellows at his home for a wonderful evening of food and wine. Click on the group for more photos.