COLVILLE, Wash. – Landowners in eastern Washington can gain management skills to keep forests thriving at the hands-on Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course to be held 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, March 12-April 30, at the Stevens County Extension Office, Suite D, 986 S. Main St., Colville.
Participants will learn how to write a forest stewardship plan, gauge the health of their forests, manage fire risk, improve wildlife habitats, use timber resources and protect the soil.
The course allows participants to certify under the American Tree Farm System and determine their eligibility for reduced property tax and cost-share assistance.
The course costs $150 per family/landowner. Register at http://spokane-county.wsu.edu/. For more information, contact Steve McConnell at 509-477-2175.
“This class is an opportunity for small forest landowners to learn directly from experts in the field,” said McConnell, program organizer and WSU extension forester. “Besides knowledge and connections, attendees completing this course can walk away with a completed forest stewardship plan for their property, providing them direct access to help – financial, technical and otherwise – to meet their sustainable management objectives.”
The eight-week course, led by WSU Extension educators and forestry experts from across the state, is aimed at forest landowners and those interested in owning forest land.
The program is co-sponsored by the Washington Farm Forestry Association, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Contacts:
Steve McConnell, WSU extension forester, 509-477-2175, steven.mcconnell@wsu.edu
Scott Weybright, WSU CAHNRS communications, 509-335-2967, scott.weybright@wsu.edu