University of Wisconsin - Extension

Workshop offered to help communities maintain viable forests

We all have an interest in Wisconsin forests and woodlands for jobs, recreation, and health. But how up to date are we on the status of Wisconsin forests and woodlands and how communities can maintain the benefits of their forests for the future?

The Center for Land Use Education (CLUE) will hold workshops for community leaders and forest stakeholders who need current information on forests and resources to help their communities address forests. We invite UW-Extension Basin Educators and Community Natural Resource Economic Development educators, town, village and city officials, woodland owners, forest managers and interested citizens to attend the workshop. The workshop will be held in Rhinelander at the Timber Producer’s Association on June 9th, 2005 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The workshop cost is $10.00 before May 27th and $15.00 after May 27th and includes lunch, afternoon break, and resource materials. It will provide participants with an understanding of the current state of Wisconsin forests; better appreciation of social, environmental and economic importance of their local forests; experience identifying approaches and tools to address local forest issues; perspectives from various points of view on how and why to maintain local forests; and resources to convey all of this information to others.

Speakers include Scott Bowe - Assistant Professor and Wood Products Specialist from the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at University of Wisconsin-Madison; Bill Klase - Headwaters Basin Educator, Kris Tiles - Upper Chippewa Basin Educator, Bobbie Webster – Center for Land Use Education, woodland owners, citizen volunteers on local government committees, and forest industry and tourism representatives.

Participants will engage in forest planning exercises and will receive materials to help them facilitate forest planning in their communities. There will also be plenty of time for interactive discussions throughout the day.

The workshop, which is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, will build on information presented in a website that CLUE released last fall, called Forest Planning for Wisconsin’s Future.

To register, and for additional information, contact the Workshop Coordinator Bobbie Webster at 715-346-2407 or bwebster@uwsp.edu or visit the Forest Planning for Wisconsin’s Future website ( http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/forestplanning.html ).