WSU Extension Offers Forest Stewardship Course for Property Owners

Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., March 16 – April 13

— from Brendan Whyte, Washington State University Extension —

Dead and dying trees have proliferated throughout western Washington, highlighting the need for better forest stewardship and management. Washington State University Extension is offering its Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course, a forestry course specifically to help owners of wooded property care for their forests and prevent problems.

In this course, property owners will learn everything they need to know to make their wooded property healthy, and keep it on track to provide enjoyment, habitat, or even income for years to come. Topics include assessing tree health, avoiding insect and disease problems, simple steps to increase wildlife habitat and diversity, improving the chances of your home surviving a wildfire, proper tree spacing, knowing what kind of soils you have and what they mean, and more. People with all sizes of property, and all types of goals, will benefit from this course, whether they own a few wooded acres or a larger forest tract.

The course will be held Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., from March 16 through April 13. There will be a field trip on Saturday, March 30. The course will be held in Camp Orkila, 484 Camp Orkila Rd, Eastsound, WA, 98245.

During the course, participants will develop a personalized Forest Stewardship Plan. This plan can be used as a guide to maintain their forest’s health, while allowing participants to have their property recognized as a stewardship forest and qualifying landowners can use their plan to lower their property taxes or gain access to cost-share grants.

The course fee is $195 if registered before February 27^t ($225 on or after), and pre-registration is required. The course includes four day-long class days taught by local forestry experts, a field trip, a digital library of reference publications and how-to guides, a native tree book, a tree-measuring tool, and an on-site consultation at your property from professional forester. To register or learn more, visit forestry.wsu.edu/nps/events/cpsanjuan/ or contact Brendan Whyte, WSU Extension Forestry at (425) 357-6023 or brendan.whyte@wsu.edu.

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication or program information or reasonable accommodation should contact WSU Extension Forestry at least two weeks before the event.