Annual Alaska Region Silviculture Meeting

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SourDough News | June 1, 2015

Alaska Region silviculturists, silviculture technicians, research scientists, and other like-minded specialists met at the Juneau Forestry Sciences Laboratory April 27-30, 2015 to participate in the annual silviculture meeting. The purpose of the annual event is to present current research and convey pertinent information needed for successful implementation and management of the silviculture program in the Alaska Region, and to present the Silviculturist of the Year Award.

 

A variety of research topics were presented including talks on understory succession in canopy gaps, carbon in young-growth and effects of thinning, 10-year Tongass-wide young growth study preliminary results, yellow cedar genetic assessment, Oregon State University/Sealaska /Tongass National Forest cooperative study, insects and disease in the region, update on Natural Resources Conservation Service forestry projects, as well as many other topics.

 

A number of sites were visited during an all-day field trip, including the Switzer Creek Watershed to discuss characteristics of old-growth and the timeframe when younger, managed stands may return to this older forest condition; the Eagle River Cooperative Stand Density Study plots to discuss the effects of a thinning study done in 1976, following an 1883 major windstorm event that naturally regenerated the area; the Point Bridget State Park to discuss key damage agents of shore pine; and finally to the Cowie-Davies watershed to discuss a common garden experiment using Tongass National Forest yellow cedar stock planted on Gold Belt Corporation lands.

 

Silviculturist of the Year Award

While the annual event was well received by all who participated, one of the highlights was the presentation of 2014 Silviculturist of the Year Award made by Dave Harris, Director of Forest Management, to the 2014 recipient Sheila Spores, Forest Silviculturist, Tongass National Forest. This award is presented annually and provides recognition to the individual who is recognized by their peers in the region as providing outstanding leadership and/or innovation in the field of silviculture.  Sheila was recognized by her peers for her “extra efforts in Forest Plan revision; Forest Planning and Projection Model (FPS) development, facilitating the Young-Growth Strategy completion; providing excellent volunteer community support; and mentoring the Tongass’ silviculture staff to help achieve the agency’s mission in the area of Forest vegetation management.”