Public invited to attend information sessions about OSU’s research forests, Oct. 1

By Michael Collins, OSU release – CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s College of Forestry is hosting two information sessions for the public regarding OSU’s 10 research forests and the creation of new individual forest management plans to guide the future of those tracts. OSU owns a network of 10 research forests spread throughout Oregon, totaling over 15,000 acres. The forests receive over 150,000 recreation user visits each year and are used by the university for teaching, research, demonstration and outreach education. Revenue from forest timber sales support the college’s teaching, research and outreach efforts while fully funding research forest operations and recreation work. “These information sessions will help inform decision-making by the college, and are part of ongoing communication and transparency inherent in the college’s operations,” said Forestry Interim Dean Anthony S. Davis. “We invite all members of the public and university community to participate in the sessions,” said Davis. “Our new management plans will reflect the many values for which the research forests are managed and will allow the public to track progress toward meeting multiple forestry and college objectives over the lifetime of the plans.” The second session will be held on from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the OSU Memorial Union, Multipurpose Room 13, Corvallis. Each session will consist of two segments. The first segment will provide an overview by the college regarding its research forests. The overview will be followed by an update on the college’s process to create an overall mission, vision and goals for its research forests and a timeline to create individual forest management plans. The second segment will offer the community an opportunity to ask questions and provide input regarding the individual forest management plan process. The sessions are an initial part of a process that will lead to the creation of a new, individual forest management plan for the 11,500-acre McDonald and Dunn Forests, located on the northern edge of Corvallis, and the largest of OSU’s research forests. The last management plan for the McDonald and Dunn forests was adopted in 2005 and suspended in 2009 during the economic downturn.