Washington’s small forest owners can learn how to protect and improve the health of their lands in an upcoming workshop and demonstration led by Washington State University Extension Foresters.
Held in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Forest Service, “Creating Healthy, Wildfire-Safe and Wildlife-Friendly Forests,” is 9 a.m. Friday, May 20, in Walla Walla.
Roughly 218,000 families own and steward more than 5 million acres of forested land in Washington state. Extension foresters work in tandem with forest-owning families to share knowledge and best practices.
In this workshop, experts share how to identify and manage common conditions that make trees weak and vulnerable to tree-killing bark beetles, diseases, and other pests. Participants can learn how to examine tree density, how to measure, thin and prune trees so they are healthy, productive, and safe from fire, and gain ideas for improving and protecting wildlife habitat.
The event includes two field visits to forests where owners have thinned to reduce fuel and improve forest health.
Early registration deadline is Tuesday, May 17. Cost is $10 per person, $20 per family.
Learn more or sign up at https://forestry.wsu.edu or contact Eastern Washington Extension Forester Andy Perleberg at andyp@wsu.edu.