Community-based Forestry: Redwood Transect--The Challenge and the Opportunity

Mike Fay and Lindsey Holm's recent transect through the redwood region resulted in a front page cover story in the October issue of National Geographic: "Redwoods--The Super Trees" by Joel Bourne. The article on the transect is fascinating. The companion pieces on HSU professor Steve Sillett's canopy research high in the remaining old growth groves and Mike Nichols' ground breaking photo of an (unnamed) old-growth tree both provide significant new perspectives on our understanding of redwood trees. But, Mike and Lindsey's trek provides us with a new perspective on our redwood forests. (read more)


Community-based Forestry: Carbon Comes of Age?
In past articles I have touched on the potential support that payments for ecosystem services can provide for community based forestry. (read more)


Shaded Fuel Break Completed
In mid-January 2009, an MRC forestry crew "drove home the golden spike," signaling completion of the Telegraph Ridge Shaded Fuel Break. Running the entire length of Ettersburg Road, the project encompassed 5.8 miles and approximately 74 acres. Along with completed shaded fuel breaks on Wilder Ridge, Prosper Ridge and Panther Gap, this represents a major accomplishment towards the goal of creating a regionally-strategic network of fuel breaks. Funded through the National Fire Plan, these projects complement well work done through the MRC's popular Fire Safe Forests and Homes program, which has created defensible space from wildfire around homes as well as shaded fuel breaks along associated access roads. (read more)