Upcoming Events

-- A new science website was recently announced. This site, www.science.gov, is intended to connect the American public with U.S. Government science and technology. Fourteen scientific and technical information organizations from 10 major science agencies collaborated to make this site a reality.

-- Late in 2002, a white paper was released summarizing a three-day workshop in November of 2001 on the development of old-growth Douglas-fir forests along the Pacific Coast of North America. This workshop was attended by 30 of the Region’s leading scientists and managers and covered topics such as regional diversity in old-growth, the role of fire, and approaches to management and restoration. Click here to read the white paper, entitled "Summary of Workshop on Development of Old-Growth Douglas-fir Forests along the Pacific Coast of North America: A Regional Perspective".

PNW Station  recently released several new issues of Science Findings relevant to the NWFP:
-- Issue 49 – Geology As Destiny: Cold Waters Run Deep in Western Oregon
-- Issue 50 – Managing the "Other" Forest: Collecting and Protecting Nontimber Forest Products
-- Issue 51 – Sex and the Single Squirrel: A Genetic View of Forest Management in the Pacific Northwest

This update sponsored by the Regional Ecosystem Office. If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact Teresa Kubo, 503-808-2171 or  kubo@or.blm.gov.

-- The NWFP Accomplishment Reports for FY2002 is a  compilation of accomplishment and status reports assembled as a convenient reference and source of the most current information on the implementation activities of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP).
-- Another recent addition to the REO website is the Aquatic Conservation Strategy Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Information Center. This page is intended to provide up to date information on the ACS SEIS effort.
-- The Research and Monitoring Group (RMG) has introduced a new Science findings page which includes short abstracts, PowerPoint presentations, and references for RMG-sponsored science presentations before the RIEC. Some of the topics include: 1) Thinning in young dense forest stands; 2) an alternative landscape scale management strategy based on disturbance ecology; 3) aquatic/riparian ecosystem dynamics in Western Oregon; and 4) Federal forest management effects on economic and social conditions.

REO Changes 

-- Steve Odell has accepted the Assistant United States Attorney position with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, effective March 23, 2003. Steve has served as the Executive Director for the Regional Ecosystem Office for the past two years. The REO has greatly benefited from his knowledge, experience, and leadership. We thank him for his hard work and dedication to NWFP implementation, and wish him good luck in his new position.
-- Anne Badgely, who is currently Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Region 1, has agreed to assume the position of REO Executive Director upon the departure of Steve Odell. Anne’s training in law, her knowledge of the NWFP, and her well known ability to build partnerships and work with others will be tremendous assets to the Regional Ecosystem Office.
-- Over the past several months, the RIEC has sough to identify potential future staffing and support options for regional interagency executive entities, including RIEC, IAC, & Northwest Natural Resources Forum. These discussions are ongoing, and will continue with IAC input at the IAC meeting scheduled for April 1, 2003. Discussions to date are detailed in the RIEC meeting notes, available at http://www.reo.gov/library/riec/correspondence/2003/index.htm.

RIEC Changes

-- In early January, Linda Goodman, who had been serving as Acting Regional Forester for Region 6 since the departure of Harv Forsgren, was officially appointed as R6 Regional Forester.
-- Dr. Tom Quigley recently assumed directorship of the Pacific Northwest Research Station. The RIEC welcomed Dr. Quigley at the February 12 RIEC meeting. To read the news release regarding his appointment, or to find out more about his background, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/NewStationDirector.htm.
-- Dave Allen, who is currently Regional Director for U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Alaska, has agreed to assume the position of Regional Director-Region 1 in Portland, upon the departure of Anne Badgely.

RIEC/IAC Meeting 4/1 – The next RIEC/IAC meeting is scheduled for April 1, 2003, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel, 1000 N.E. Multnomah Street in Portland. In addition, there will be an optional pre-brief for non-Federal IAC members from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the fourth floor conference room of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Office, located in the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Complex at 911 N.E. 11^th Avenue in Portland. For more information, contact Teresa Kubo at 503-808-2171.

YOUNG STAND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Scheduled for May 6-7, 2003 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Springfield, Oregon. Talks will be presented May 6th, field tours on May 7th. Topics will include:
- Fifth year results from the Young Stand Thinning and Diversity Study
- Riparian thinning: vegetation and insect considerations
- Uneven-aged management on non-industrial private lands
- Landscape level commercial thinning priorities
- Thinning to meet conservation plan objectives
- Public involvement in Late Successional Reserve thinning alternatives.

Reminder...
Be sure to mark your calendars for April 28-20, 2003, for the "Innovations in Species Conservation" symposium. Assistant Secretary Craig Manson is the keynote speaker and RIEC Chair Elaine Brong will provide the summation address at the close of the conference.