Ecological Forestry 101: Intro to Silviculture & Wildlife

Woodland owners in the Pacific Northwest are interested in maintaining forests that provide a broad range of ecological functions and economic goals.
This workshop will introduce you to the principles of ecological forestry, tools to implement it successfully on smaller parcels, and the structural and biotic features of forests that help wildlife thrive. Come learn about forest growth, harvest strategies, and steps you can take to enhance wildlife habitat on your land.

Topics this class will cover include: Forest dynamics, Forest health, Young stand management, Uneven-aged management, Hardwood management, Habitat needs of keystone PNW species, Maintaining & enhancing wildlife habitat, Incorporating wildlife habitat enhancements into forest management practices, And much more!

In the morning, speakers will include: Rolf Gersonde, silviculturist and researcher for the City of Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed; Ken Bevis, landowner assistance fish and wildlife biologist for the Department of Natural Resources; and Dave Houk, service forester for Grays Harbor Conservation District.
In the afternoon, John Henrikson will lead a tour of the forest at Wild Thyme Farmand show his recent harvest projects. Wild Thyme Farm entails an ever evolving demonstration of permaculture, wild food harvest and ecological forestry. Participants will learn how they can manage their own projects that can provide periodic income, improve forest structure, and enhance wildlife habitat.