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Forest health and management

Photo Credit: Alyson Yates (Cropped from original)

Fostering Stewardship: A How-to Guide for Trainers

By Rachel Werling and Max Bennett

This curriculum package helps natural-resource professionals train landowners on best practices in resource management. Topics include forests, fire, streams, wildlife, soil, pastures, water systems and economics — all issues facing landowners in many parts of the West.

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Photo Credit: Alyson Yates (Cropped from original)

Become an Oregon Forest Pest Detector!

Oregon Forest Pest Detectors (OFPDs) are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of invasive forest insects. They apply these skills in their day-to-day activities as arborists, parks managers, foresters, community tree stewards, Master Gardeners and other roles.

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Featured Resources

Choosing the Right Forestry Services Contractor: Practical, Ethical and Environmental Considerations

How do you find a forestry services contractor who can meet your needs? How do you determine whether they will do good work on your land and treat their workers fairly? This guide helps you pose key ...

Carl Wilmsen, Emily Jane Davis, Gianna Alessi | Sep 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Silvicultural Decision Guide for Swiss Needle Cast in Coastal Oregon and Washington

Swiss needle cast is a significant disease for Douglas-fir trees in the coastal Pacific Northwest. The disease turns foliage yellow, reduces needle retention, thins crowns and reduces tree growth. Options for forest ...

Gabriela Ritóková, David C. Shaw, Doug Mainwaring | May 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Forests and Woodlands: Protecting an Ecosystem

Learn to manage your forested property in ways that protect water quality, maintain soil health, reduce the threat of fire and improve wildlife habitat. This publication is one of a series of Land Steward Rural Resource Guidelines.

Max Bennett, Don Goheen, Jack Duggan | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Podcasts

  • In the Woods: Each month we will bring you research and science-based information on a new topic related to forests that aims to offer some insight into what we know and are still learning about forest science and management.
  • Woodland Stories Podcast: Woodland Stories is an audio tour of the forest from the perspective of family forest owners. These are stories about building your own cabin, planting trees by hand, watching an eagle’s nest, and so much more.

Ecology and Management of Eastern Oregon Forests: A Comprehensive Manual for Forest Managers

By Paul T. Oester Stephen A. Fitzgerald Nicole Strong Bob Parker Leticia Varelas Henderson Tim Deboodt William H. Emmingham Gregory M. Filip and Dan Edge

This manual gives an overview of Eastern Oregon forest types and various silvicultural systems for managing them. Topics include the ecology and management of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and mixed-conifer forests. Suggests ways to enhance range and wildlife values while managing eastside forestland.

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Photo Credit: Gary - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest Resources

Episode 47: Managing Forest Carbon

This episode features an interview with Catherine Carlisle, a forest carbon analyst, discussing forest carbon dynamics, management practices, and carbon projects with Jacob Putney. They discuss ecosystem carbon sequestration, the influence...

Apr 2024 | Podcast episode

Don't move firewood

Buy it where you burn it during camping season. Firewood is a major pathway for invasive species. Transporting firewood can potentially lead to new infestations of invasive insects and diseases, which can lurk in firewood. See the pest list for Oregon species.

Apr 2024 | Online resource

Episode 46: Storm Damage

In this episode, Lauren Grand is joined by Glenn Ahrens and Scott Altenhoff to discuss the impact of storms on Oregon's forests and preventative measures that can be taken to mitigate tree damage caused by storms.

Lauren Grand, Glenn Ahrens, Scott Altenhoff | Mar 2024 | Podcast episode

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Become a Master Woodland Manager!

The Master Woodland Manager (MWM) training is offered by Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension as a high level course for private landowners who are interested in an intensive forest management training and sharing the knowledge gained through this training with people in their local communities.

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Latest News

Partnership builds forest management expertise in northeast Oregon

OSU Extension foresters helped recruit and train a group of forest technicians who have completed 241 forest management plans representing 143,683 acres, primarily in Baker, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties.

John Punches | Mar 2024 | Impact story

After five-year hiatus, Tree School East returns to serve forestland owners

The event drew 125 attendees, including participants, instructors, exhibitors and volunteers.

Jacob Putney | Mar 2024 | Impact story

Art, science merge in Oregon State study of 19th-century landscape paintings’ ecological integrity

CORVALLIS, Ore. – An Oregon State University-led collaboration of ecologists and art historians has demonstrated that landscape paintings from more than 150 years ago can advance environmental science.

Steve Lundeberg | Sep 13, 2023 | News story

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Forest management resources

  • Tree School 2020 Online: OSU Extension Forestry and Natural Resources is working with the Partnership for Forestry Education to bring you this 15-week webinar series. You can participate in many of the classes that were set for Tree School in Clackamas County, along with some new classes developed exclusively for Tree School Online. Click the link to enroll today!
  • Oregon Small Woodlands Association: Oregon Small Woodlands Association is an organization made up of Oregon small woodland owners who practice and believe in: the strength of peer to peer communication between landowners, the strength of a unified effort to address legislative and regulatory challenges, and the strength of partnerships in addressing and solving common problems.
  • Oregon Forest Management Planning: Are you thinking about writing a forest management plan? This site will guide you and your forestry professional to all the resources you’ll need.

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Upcoming Events

May 11

Wildlife Field Day: Forestry for the Birds

8:30 am - 12:30 pm Oregon City, OR
May 13

Native and Non-Native Insect Pests of Forest Trees: Diagnosis and Management

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT Online
May 18

Bigleaf Maple field Day: Processing, Products, and Possibilities

8:00 am - 2:30 pm Oregon City, OR
May 25

Early Seral Forest Management Tour

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Corvallis, OR
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Meet Our Experts

Glenn Ahrens
Forestry
Alicia Christiansen
Forestry & Natural Resources, Associate Professor of Practice
Ariel Cowan
Regional Fire Specialist, Central Region
Stephen Fitzgerald
Director of the College of Forestry Research Forests, Silviculture Specialist
See All Forest health and management Experts
Ask Extension

Have a question? Ask Extension!

Ask Extension is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.

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What is this fungus and could it indicate internal decay in my Douglas-fir?

Q: A large fungus is growing at the base of a large Douglas-fir tree in my backyard. There are several fungi that can cause root rot in Douglas-fir, so I don't want to lose the tree, and I also don't want it to fall ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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