WSCA Conference:With compendiums of facts, appendices of resource material and a synoptic overview of initiatives undertaken by the WSCA in 2006 the Association presented its First Annual Report to Members at its 2007 Conference, AGM and Trade Show. The document was intended not only as a summary of last year’s work but as a benchmark … Read more
WSCA Conference:Every so many years forest policy needs to re-evaluate its assumptions and conventions to keep in step with the changing landscape and society’s management expectations. Usually this process takes the shape of a Royal Commission. We are at the stage now says forestry veteran Mike Apsey. But we don’t need a royal commission. We … Read more
WSCA Conference: Siliviculture contractors challenged Chief Forester Jim Snetsinger over the pace of work restoring forests lost to the mountain pine beetle citing the plummeting reforestation ratio and the extraordinary extent of the forest health disaster. But Snetsinger stated he didn’t want to compromise future industries that might emerge to harvest damaged stands by leveling … Read more
In this issue, we write about the still unfolding scandal in the Oregon State University College of Forestry. It is meticulously researched and, we hope a thoughtfully written assessment of the so-called “Donato controversy”—a lamentable if not inexcusable act orchestrated from the shadows by at least two OSU professors and one Forest Service scientist. Read more
I have always had trouble with arithmetic. In public school, unable to memorize my addition tables, I completed my sums by pencilling peck marks in the margins and then counting them. This marginalia my teachers took as symptoms of idleness and dismissed me as an aimless kid who couldn’t add. Read more
Wildfire suppression costs may be reduced using new model. Recent research shows that using the right mix of agency and contract crews is the most cost effective way to fight fires rather than using contract or agency crews exclusively, according to Geoffrey Donovan, a research forester at the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station. Read more
The WSCA is proposing Western Canada’s tree planting and forestry contractors meet this summer to draw up a collective strategy to address the sector’s labour capacity problems. Silviculture Sector Capacity Summit Tuesday 8 August 2006 9:00 am to 4:30 pm South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre 3438 Shuswap Road, Kamloops, B.C. V2H 1T2 Phone: 250-573-3777 Read more