Keep your forests healthy with coached planning course
DEER PARK, Wash. – For landowners in eastern Washington, the fall Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course is an opportunity to gain management skills to keep forests healthy and thriving.
The hands-on course for forest landowners or those interested in owning forest land will take place 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 4-Oct. 23, at the Deer Park Public Library, 208 S Forest Ave., Deer Park, Wash. Registration materials are available at http://forestry.wsu.edu. The course costs $150 per family/landowner.
Extension educators from Washington State University and forestry experts from the region will lead sessions.
“This class is an opportunity for small forest landowners to learn directly from experts in the field,” said Steve McConnell, program organizer and WSU Extension forester.
Participants will learn how to write a forest stewardship plan, gauge forest health, manage fire risk, improve wildlife habitat, use timber resources and protect soil. They also may certify under the American Tree Farm System and determine their eligibility for reduced property tax and cost-share assistance.
“Besides knowledge and connections, attendees completing this course can walk away with a forest stewardship plan for their property, providing them direct access to help – financial, technical and otherwise – to meet their sustainable management objectives,” McConnell said.
For more information, call McConnell at 509-477-2175.
The program is co-sponsored by the Washington Farm Forestry Association, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service and Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
