Cooperating for Forest Management

Lunch will be provided. Register online or by sending sending registration information and payment to Golden Sands RC&D, 1100 Main Street, Suite #150, Stevens Point WI 54481. Before April 1st, only landowners may register. After April 1st, other interested parties may register. Registration must be completed by May 25th (postmarked May 18th). 

Speakers include:

Dr. Michael Demchik - UW Stevens Point Professor of Forestry

One of the main goals outlined in Wisconsin's Statewide Forest Action Plan is to put "an increasing amount of land management at small scales in alignment with landscape scale plans." Lack of a coordinated appreach between various small acreage properties has left landowners with the inability to plan for multiple values and uses of forests at the landscape scale. Dr. Demchik will share information about large-scale forest management work he has been involved in, and how private landowners can get involved in collaborative forest management. 

Joshua Beneŝ - Executive Director of Golden Sands RC&D

The foundation to developing collaborative timber sales is understanding which of your neighboring woodland owners have forest management plans and connecting with them. Josh will share information about how woodland landowners can find our which of their neighboring landowners have forest management plans and how they can connect with them to gauge interest in a collaborate timber sale.

Consulting Forester(s) (not confirmed, Ken Price Valley View Forestry and/or Matt Schultz Pine Curve Forestry)

A consulting forester will give a forester's perspective on the value of cooperative forest management between neighboring landowners and how a number of landowners can work with a consulting forester to conduct shared timber sales.

Representative from WI Tree Farm (not confirmed)

Take a drive through the Wisconsin countryside and chances are you'll come across a forested property displaying the familiar diamond-shaped green and white Tree Farm sign. Landowners who enroll their forestland in the American Tree Farm System are following a management plan that meets certain standards and guidelines which demonstrate a commitment to land stewardship. A representative from the WI Tree Farm will dicuss the statewide network of landowners involved in this program and how landowners can get involved. 

Ryan Schleifer - Verso (not confirmed)

Verso Corporation is a company that operates paper mills in Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point. They produce specialty and graphic papers, packaging, and pulp. Ryan will give feedback on the value of cooperative forestry when landowners work with an organization like Verso. 

Joe Hovel - Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative (not confirmed)

Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative is a group of over 100 member landowners focusing on sustainable management of their woodlands in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Joe Hovel will discuss some of the benefits this group has provided its members and challenges the group looks to overcome. 

Emily Weber - North Central Conservancy Trust (NCCT)

Landowners have the ability to cooperate with trusts throughout Wisconsin to conserve their land. Emily will discuss opportunities for woodland landowners to participate in conservancy trusts like NCCT.

Richard Wedepohl - Wisconsin Alliance of Forest Owners (WAFO) (not confirmed)

WAFO is an organization of private forest landowners who have recognized the need for political activism. Richard will share information about WAFO and the work they are doing to advocate for economic and environmental policy of privately-owned forests.