DNR Finalizes Continuation of Educational Partnership with WSU Extension Forestry

News Date:

August 29, 2024

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The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington State University Extension Forestry (WSU) recently finalized a $750,000 contract to expand the number of educational opportunities for forest landowners statewide.

This contract assures new classes and workshops in the 2023-2025 biennium, on topics such as silviculture, wildlife, forest management plans, wildfire preparedness, invasive weeds, Native American uses of the land, and chainsaw safety, among others. It also builds on a 50-year partnership between DNR and WSU to provide financial assistance and education to landowners statewide.

"WSU is our most important partner when it comes to educating landowners on the value - and importance - of being active stewards of their forest land," said Matt Provencher, DNR Service Forestry Program Manager. "We share the goal of providing landowners with the tools and information they need to meet their land management objectives. This $750,000 contract will allow WSU to expand the number of extension foresters available to landowners and expand access to educational opportunities statewide."

This partnership will also add more dates to the popular winter schools and Family Forest Field Days. These multi-session training seminars are hosted by recognized experts and offer tips and advice for landowners statewide.

According to WSU Extension Forestry, up to 80 percent of landowners who participate in these types of workshops execute treatments that improve forest health and reduce wildfire hazard within one year of completing the education. A survey from the 2023 summer field days event found that attendees treated up to 630 acres of land after the event, resulting in at least $2.2 million in savings to the state if the land were to burn.

"Together, WSU Extension Forestry and the various DNR programs such as Service Forestry, the Small Forest Landowners Office, Forest Health, and Wildfire Protection provide the whole package to solve landowner needs. Education is not enough without follow-up technical assistance," said Andy Perleberg, a professor and leader of the Extension Forestry program at WSU. "Technical assistance isn't as penetrating without greater hands-on learning and understanding. And sometimes, financial assistance is all that stands between landowners and their feasibility to implement their management plans. WSU and DNR provide the one-two punch that motivates owners to accomplish their objectives and protect forest resources. Our combined service changes lives."

For more information and to register for upcoming events, please visit WSU's Extension Forestry website at forestry.wsu.edu. You can also sign up for DNR's monthly newsletters Small Forest Landowner News and Forest Stewardship Notes to receive updates and articles related to forestry and land management.

MEDIA RESOURCES

Images from the 2024 WSU/DNR Family Forest Field Days

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