Researchers and Teachers Come Together for 2008 IEI

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

In July the World Forestry Center hosted the 12th annual International Educators Institute. This weeklong study tour is set against the dramatic Pacific Northwest landscape and uses local examples to explore sustainable forestry issues. The tour is conducted by the Education Department and the World Forest Institute.

A diverse group of twenty participants came together from around the world, including award winning environmental educators and natural resource professionals. Each day a different theme led participants to examine social, economic, and environmental issues, including themes of forest research, protection, communities, disturbance, and management. Participants also exchanged best practices in forestry education and provided their own unique perspectives on global issues.

The group stayed overnight in the Columbia River Gorge at Menucha retreat center. Long travel days were spent visiting with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Weyerhaeuser Learning Center, the Portland urban forest, and US Forest Service lands. For many participants, this was their first experience in the Pacific Northwest.

Living and traveling together with people from around the world lends itself to a deep level of cultural exchange. Participants gain new respect for different cultures and ways of life. “I came back with a sense that I need to do more, help others and be prepared. The role of educators and care givers of our planet can only be accomplished if we set aside differences and start learning from others,” said Carlos Yruretagoyena, an environmental manager at a paper mill in Mexico. “Tolerance, patience and care should be the main ingredients.” More photos and information can be found at http://internationaleducatorsinstitute.blogspot.com.

June WFI Update available for download

The newest WFI Update can now be downloaded from: http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate6.08.pdf

In this issue, find articles on:
*Oregon Small Woodlands Association Annual Meeting
*Farewell to Mariane Camargo, Namgon Kwag, and Linsen Zhao
*Deepak Tamang presents on east and west coast
*Alumni Dinner in China
*Field tours to Hancock, GreenWood Resources, and more

Thanks,

Angie, Program Manager

Fellows Visit East Side Forests at MC Ranch

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

In early June, WFI Fellows and staff made an annual visit to Chairman Harry Merlo’s eastern Oregon property in La Grande. This year’s tour included a visit to a bioenergy pilot project supplied with wood residue from MC Ranch.

Deepak Tamang (Nepal), Min Zhao (China), and Namgon Kwag (Korea), joined staff Angie DiSalvo and Sara Wu for a week in La Grande. Every visit brings new surprises. First, it became apparent enroute to La Grande that the unusually wet winter and prolonged rains had left the landscape much more green and lush than in past years. Rex Christenson, MC Ranch manager, commented that it was perhaps the wettest year he’d seen since he was a child. The second surprise came on the second morning, when we awoke to white powder covering the ground. It was snowing in June! One would think that the cool temperatures and moisture would help to reduce the threat of wildfire, but it could also encourage the growth of dense underbrush, which later becomes dry fuel in the summer. For more photos click on Rex.

Min head to Florida to learn UFORE model

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

In June Chinese Fellow Dr. Min Zhao visited the University of Florida in Gainesville to expand upon her research in urban forestry. Her project revolves around quantifying the benefits of urban forests, and better understanding the urban forest carbon cycle. Urban forests are thought to perform many important ecological functions, but there are few methods to quantify the value of these functions.

The US Forest Service developed one model, the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE), to quantify forest structure, function, and value. To better learn how to use this complicated method, Min paired up with Dr. Francisco Escobedo, an expert who has used the model in multiple cities in the US and abroad. He graciously hosted Min at the University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation for several weeks while she learned the ins and outs of the model.

Chinese Alumni Reunion!

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Director Sara Wu and President Gary Hartshorn visited China and met with WFI alums. click on the group for more photos.

News from PDX: Sturgeon Party!

Big Ball of Columbia River sturgeon baffles experts

Tens of thousands of sturgeon are found bunched up below Bonneville Dam

Friday, May 16, 2008

MICHAEL MILSTEIN

The Oregonian Staff

When sonar surveys spotted a vast pile of rubble in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam late last winter, officials suddenly worried that part of the dam structure was eroding into the river.

"Everybody said, 'Oh my gosh, we need to get divers out there right away,' " recalled Dennis Schwartz, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the dam.

What they found below the spillways in February was not a giant pile of rock at all, but a humongous pile of thousands upon thousands of sturgeon -- some of them 14 feet long or longer -- lounging together in frigid water at the bottom of the river.

"We call it the big sturgeon ball," Schwartz said.

The mountain of white sturgeon contained around 60,000 fish, according to a rough estimate by Michael Parsley, a research fisheries biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Columbia River Research Laboratory in Cook, Wash. He described that estimate as "probably conservative."

It was an aquatic phenomenon nobody had ever seen at such a monstrous scale, offering a startling glimpse into the life of the Columbia's largest and most ancient fish.

If the estimates are anywhere near correct, the congregation of sturgeon may represent 5 percent to 10 percent of all the white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River, Parsley said. The conclave apparently broke up in March as the corps increased water releases through the dam to help salmon, Schwartz said.

An Army dive team, called out to inspect the dam, discovered the sturgeon when it sent down a remotely operated submersible to take a look at what everyone thought was debris.

The lingering question is: What were all the fish doing there?

"Normally they're pretty spread out," Schwartz said. "You don't see this balling behavior."

In videos recorded by the underwater camera, the fish appear to be lounging, many on top of one another, some even upside down, at depths of 40 to 50 feet. Biologists considered whether the fish may be putting up an organized defense against sea lions showing up increased numbers to gobble salmon and sturgeon below the dam.

They discovered the sturgeon ball just as sea lions started to show up, but they also point out that sturgeon have been known to gather -- though in lower numbers -- in other places where there are no sea lions.

"The correlation (with sea lions) would probably be pretty weak," Schwartz said. "They all seemed to be just hanging out together."

Many unknowns

Similar winter gatherings of sturgeon have been documented far up the Columbia in Canada, but not at the tremendous numbers seen below Bonneville, Parsley said. Biologists are not sure why the fish collect that way.

"We don't know whether that one aggregation is in response to sea lions being there, or if they do this every year," he said.

He said the fish may bunch up for safety as they conserve energy during the cool months of winter. The water was about 34 to 35 degrees.

"They were just lollygagging -- definitely not expending energy," he said. "There must be some social or survival advantage to it, but I'm not sure what it is."

Sturgeon are ancient survivors that have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs. They can weigh more than 1,500 pounds and live well over 100 years.

Biologists have heard reports of congregations of sturgeon at the surface of reservoirs and rivers, including shallow parts of the Columbia. But there aren't very good estimates on how many sturgeon may be involved in those gatherings, Parsley said.

"Sturgeon in general seem to be relatively social," he said.

He said he heard an account from one woman who said the river came alive with fish, and said she couldn't help but think of sharks when she saw the giant fish slice across the water surface.

Teams working at the dam have reported some unusual sturgeon activity since sea lions began appearing in larger numbers at the dam each spring in recent years, eating both salmon and sturgeon. Last year, for instance, crews saw large numbers of sturgeon along the bank of Cascades Island, one of the islands just below the dam.

Biologists speculated the fish may have been trying to avoid sea lions, said Robert Stansell, a Corps of Engineers biologist at the dam.

Sea lions -- mainly protected Steller sea lions -- were spotted gobbling more than 600 sturgeon this year, although the number dropped off later in the spring, he said.

Hundreds of sturgeon were also found in the dam's fish ladder last winter, which was unusual, he said.

Poorly studied fish

Parsley said sturgeon are so poorly studied that biologists don't know much about their behavior. Big gatherings of the fish in the depths of the river may be more common than anyone realizes.

"I firmly believe they do this elsewhere in the river," he said.

Though salmon are well known, biologists have spent far less time mapping the populations and habits of sturgeon. But the fish are by far the largest and longest lived fish in the river system -- and one of the most mysterious.

"They're the wooly mammoth, the saber-tooth tiger or the lion of the Columbia River," Parsley said. "There's just still a lot to be learned about them."

Oregon Small Woodlands Association Annual Meeting

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Fellows traveled to Florence, Oregon, for the OSWA annual meeting and tree school. What a trip! Local woodlands owners were kind enough to help us learn to dig for clams and cook up chowder and fritters, and also toured us around their woodlands. Click on Linsen and Mari for more photos.

Silver Falls State Park

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Fellows visited with managers at Silver Falls State Park, an Oregon State Park. Park staff discussed visitor management and long term plans for accomodating growth in visits. Click on Min for more photos.

Arbor Day at Hoyt Arboretum

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Fellows participated in the 2008 Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Parks and Recreation at Hoyt Arboretum. Click on the Min, Mari, and Namgon for more photos.

April 2008 WFI Update Now Available

The newest WFI Update can now be downloaded from: http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate4.08.pdf

In this issue, find articles on:
*Brazilian Fellow Mariane Bueno de Camargo visits Georgia
*Welcome to Min Zhao from China and Farewell to Matt Pope from Australia
*International Builders Conference in Orlando with Korean Namgon Kwag
*Updates from our Alumni

Thanks,

Angie, Program Manager

WFI Welcomes Min Zhao

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

In February WFI welcomed Dr. Min Zhao from China for a twelve month Fellowship. Min is sponsored by her employer, Shanghai Normal University, where she teaches and researches.

During her Fellowship Min will be exploring how to evaluate urban forest functions. “Urban forests play an important role in building a beautiful environment for people, and urban trees contribute significantly to environmental quality and human health,” says Min. “Unfortunately, little is known about the urban forest resource and what it contributes to the local and regional society and economy, especially in Chinese cities.” Min will spend her Fellowship examining the feasibility of using US-developed models to quantify urban forest effects. She hopes that these models will allow her to estimate urban forest carbon sequestration and impacts on air quality.

Besides learning to run the available models, Min will broaden her knowledge about US urban forest management during her Fellowship. She will spend time interviewing professional urban foresters, visiting urban forests and research sites, and attending conferences.

This is Min’s first time outside of China, and she is excitedly experiencing all that Oregon has to offer. “Oregon is a good place, with many green trees and many natural forests,” says Min. “I especially like that American people are very nice and they like to communicate with me.”

Columbia Gorge in the Spring

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Fellows visited the Columbia River Gorge to discuss the significance of National Scenic Areas. Click on the waterfall to view the photos of Latourelle Falls, Bridal Veil, and Multnomah Falls.

Linsen and Min visit Dr. Kathy Wolf at University of Seattle

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Fellows Linzen Zhao and Min Zhao, both urban forestry professionals from China, visited with Dr. Kathy Wolf at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Wolf is known for her social science research on the human dimensions of urban forestry and urban greening.

Dr. Wolf graciously hosted the Fellows for three days, during which they discussed research, teaching, and projects. They met with graduate students and professors, as well as community members involved in urban planning. One of the most interesting events was meeting with landscape architects working on centennial planning for Seattle’s green spaces.

“Seattle is a very beautiful city with well designed and tended urban forest,” says Linsen. Heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Wolf for her collaboration. Click on Linsen and Kathy for more photos.

Mari visit Georgia

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Mariane Bueno de Camargo (Brazil) traveled to Georgia for 12 days of conference and forestry meetings. She started her trip down south in Atlanta, where she participated in the Panel and Engineered Lumber International Conference. Hot topics included green building, California’s new emission regulations, and impacts of changing forest ownership.

Mari then traveled to coastal Savannah to meet Gail Lutowski, whom she met at the 2007 International Educators Institute. Gail arranged several forest field tours and visits with manufacturers, including Claude Lumber and Weyerhaeuser. “It was wonderful to see companies working with native species and all the associated wildlife such as woodpeckers, salamanders, and snakes,” said Mari.

Gail also arranged for Mari to speak to the Society of American Foresters and a group of young women interested in science professions. Mari sends her appreciation to Gail for the warm welcome into southern hospitality. “I enjoyed everything...the different style of people, and food, especially barbecue and grits for breakfast,” she said.

The trip ended in Athens, home of the University of Georgia. Professor Bob Izlar hosted Mari in his home, and meetings with faculty led to discussions on biofuels technologies and business operations. Also in Athens, Drew Marczak of Plum Creek Timber toured Mari around Loblolly and Slash pine plantations, the native Georgian species that are the primary plantation species where Mari works in southern Brazil. “We have more favorable conditions for growing these species, with much higher growth rates,” explained Mari. “But we have many of the same forest health concerns.”

Mari was amazed at the similar issues in the two countries. “From legislation concerns to forest health issues, our two countries face the same problems,” she said. “My experience in the Pacific Northwest and the South was so different but so important for understanding the US. Comparing these with Brazil, I found that in all places we have problems and successes —we just speak differently!” Click on Gail and Mari for more photos.

Namgon Attends International Builders Show in Orlando

Korean Fellow Namgon Kwag traveled to Orlando, Florida, to attend the International Builders show along with 92,000 other industry professionals and colleagues from Eagon’s Seattle office. The show is so large that it took three days to see, even though this year’s show was smaller due to the slow housing market.

Exhibitors represented all sectors of the building industry, from lumber to appliances to tools. Textiles such as carpet and rugs were the largest exhibitors. Namgon was searching for new products to introduce to the Korean market, and found several items with potential. He was impressed by spray foam insulation, radiant heating systems using electric wires, and outdoor composite decking. He noticed that the trend this year is for all products to be marketed as “green,” and the show even designated one day “green day.”

Taking advantage of Orlando’s location, Namgon’s wife and two children joined him after the event for a quick vacation to Seaworld, Disney World, Miami Beach, and Key West. The kids loved Snow White and Cinderella, while Namgon and Eunkyoung were enchanted with the beautiful ocean drive to Key West.

Chinese Alumnus Fanglin Tan on OPB!

OSU Researcher Sam Chan and WFI alumnus Fanglin Tan cooperated to bring OSU scientists to China to discuss invasive species issues. Oregon Public Broadcasting created a ten minute video of the trip, watch it here: http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/videos/view/72-China

The Corvallis Gazette Times featured the trip in an article:
http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2007/06/07/news/community/4aaa02_china.txt

And from OSU: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/newsarch/2007/May07/chan.html

OSU Extension Specialist to Lead China Trip

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Sam Chan, an Oregon State University Extension invasive species expert, will lead a three-state delegation of invasive species, restoration, and science education and communications experts on an 11-day trip to China this month.

Its aim is to help the Chinese begin to assess the extent of a non-native marine grass invasion that threatens mangrove-dominated coastal forests in that country's Fujian province.

The long-term goal is to forge a relationship between invasive species experts in the United States and China that could help both countries better deal with the threats non-native plants and animals pose to local species and ecosystems – and perhaps to reduce the transport of such organisms via trans-Pacific commerce.

Chan, who works with the OSU-based Oregon Sea Grant program, is an aquatic invasive species expert, watershed education team leader and an assistant professor in watershed health at OSU. He also chairs the education and outreach team of the Oregon Invasive Species Council.

The China venture came about as a result of Chan’s earlier work with Fanglin Tan, a faculty member with the Fujian Academy of Science, the academic science arm of the provincial government's forest service. The two men met in 2001 when Tan was a fellow at the World Forestry Center and Chan – then a research scientist with the U.S. Forest Service – held a workshop about invasive species and restoration in riparian areas on the Pacific Northwest coast.

High on their list of mutual concerns were species of spartina, commonly known as cordgrass. Spartina plays an important ecological role in its native habitats, including the east coast of the U.S., but can be highly invasive and damaging to ecosystems outside its native range.

Sometimes planted for erosion control and salt marsh reclamation, or used as animal feed and packing material for oysters, spartina can be a vigorous invader, quickly colonizing estuaries, driving out native plants, and eventually creating islands that block the natural flow of water. Ecologically destructive spartina invasions have occurred on both the west coast of the U.S. and the south coast of China.

The threatened mangroves are salt water-tolerant trees that are the center of complex ecosystems (known as mangrove swamps or forests) along coastal estuaries in much of the world, including the seacoast of China's Fujian province. Adapted to survive in both salt and fresh water, the trees and the systems around them can serve as important buffers to coastal storms and flooding, as well as providing habitat for shellfish and other commercially important species.

Since the Indonesian tsunami of 2004, China has turned its attention to the importance of the Fujian mangrove forests, along with off-shore coral reefs, in protecting its densely populated coastline from similar disasters caused by tsunamis or far more frequent typhoons. Of particular concern is invasion by spartina, which chokes off the normal flow of water vital to the mangrove ecosystems' survival.

The plant's structure – its rhizomes break loose easily and are transported by the water – makes it spread rapidly. The Chinese estimate that as much as 100,000 hectares (nearly 250,000 acres) of mangrove forest are infested by spartina, almost all of it spread by invasion.

Chan's May 16-26 visit is part of a major Chinese initiative to save its remaining mangroves as a protective belt around its coastline and to reduce the threat from invasive species.

"Our goal is to work with the Chinese in sorting through the probable causes of mangrove forest declines, including invasive spartina, and to work cooperatively to develop the best courses of action to protect coastal ecosystems," Chan said.

Accompanying Chan on this initial visit are David Hannaway, an OSU professor of crop science and member of the university's China Initiative Working Group; Merritt Tuttle, a retired official of the National Marine Fisheries Service; Wendy Brown, invasive species manager for the Washington Department of Natural Resources' aquatic resources office; Mike Spranger, Florida Sea Grant Extension program leader; and Edward Jahn and James N. Fisher, producer and photographer for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Field Guide series.

The Chinese government is funding the trip.

While in China, the team will visit several local forestry bureaus, meet with local officials, tour and observe estuaries and wetlands – both intact and spartina-infested – and will give formal presentations on the potential for ecosystem management and restoration. Chan hopes the trip will result in future collaboration on estuarine wetland restoration, spartina control and related research and public education issues.

"This is an opportunity for members of our team, for OSU and for the Chinese government to work on invasive species as a global issue, and not just a problem caused by organisms transported here from the other side of the ocean," said Chan. "Both of our countries face similar ecologic, economic and health problems from invasive species. We both have concerns about tsunamis and other natural disasters.

“The opportunity to discuss our common problems could allow us to work together seeking comprehensive solutions."

WFI Bids Farewell to Australian Matt Pope

After one year in Portland, the time arrived for Australian Matthew Pope and his family to return to Tumut, New South Wales.

Matthew’s project examined field technologies used to streamline the management of information between the office and field. Matthew visited forest organizations, hardware and software developers, and had the dubious distinction of driving the entire length of the I-5 corridor from Canada to San Diego in the process. “The scale of the forest industry in the US and Canada is hard to fathom for an Australian,” said Matt. “Rest assured you do not need to worry about Australia flooding the US market.”

Matt has returned to Forests New South Wales to work with radiata pine plantations. “My day-to-day job is so focused that I often don’t have time to look around at broader issues in forestry,” said Matt. “I think the experiences from this year really broadened my professional understanding of forestry. I am looking forward to implementing some of the knowledge I gained and sharing my experiences with other forestry colleagues far and wide.”

Matt’s wife Ainsley is looking forward to beginning teaching, as she recently completed her education degree. The family is excited to be back in the land of sunshine. Four year old Keegan summed it up best as the family went through customs at the Sydney airport. Upon hearing familiar accents, Keegan exclaimed “these people speak our language!”

Alumnus Jasjit Walia at Brown University

Jasjit has joined the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University for a four-month program in Global Environment. We welcome him back to the US for a brief stint, and hope he can make it Portland while he is here! See his profile at: http://www.watsoninstitute.org/contacts_detail.cfm?id=831

Linsen Zhao featured in Eugene City Council Newsletter

In February, Linsen visited city forester Mark Snyder in
Eugene. Mark wrote a nice piece the city's newsletter. Click here to have a look.

February 2008 WFI Update available for download

The February 2008 WFI Update is now available to download! In this issue:

• Farewell to Australian Nathan Trushel
• Parr Lumber Tour
• 2008 International Educators Institute applications due
• Alumni updates from Peijung Wang, Jasjit Walia, John Turland, and others
• Harry Merlo's autobiography now available
• New Construction Home Tours
  

WFI Update can be downloaded here:
http://wfi.worldforestrycenter.org/WFIupdate2.08.pdf

Thanks,
Angie
WFI Program Manager