Missoulian - Seminar to address sustainable forests, communities

MISSOULA - Sustainability of Montana’s forests and communities will be the focus of a seminar July 14 at the University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest.

It will be the last in a five-part series called “The Montana Constitution: Progressive Spirit of the Rocky Mountain West.” Seminar participants will address landscape-level, long-term restoration and stewardship projects as tools for achieving sustainability.

Activities begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome by host Bob Brown, senior fellow at UM’s O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West. The seminar ends at 4 p.m.

Seating is limited for the seminar, which costs $10 including lunch. Interested people can register by contacting Jeannie Thompson at 406-243-7700 or thompson@crmw.org.

The morning schedule:

- “Montana’s Constitution and Natural Resources.” Bob Campbell, Helena attorney and delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention.

- Keynote address: “The Forest Products Industry and Its Role in Forest Management.” Corbin Newman, director of forest management, U.S. Forest Service.

- “Comparing Montana’s Forest Products Industry With That of the Southwestern United States.” Charles Keegan, UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

- “Lessons Learned From the Apache-Sitgreaves Long-term, Landscape-level Stewardship Contract.” Robert Taylor, supervisory natural resource specialist, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

The afternoon schedule:

- Seminar Panel: “Implementing Long-Term, Landscape-Level Stewardship and Restoration Projects in Montana.” Panel members will discuss how their respective organizations view long-term, landscape-level stewardship contracting. Moderator: Brian Kahn, Artemis Common Ground. Panel members: Tim Love, Lolo National Forest; Tim Baker, Montana Wilderness Association; Dave Groeschl, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Al Christophersen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Tom France, National Wildlife Federation; and Sherm Anderson, Sun Mountain Lumber.

- Concluding Remarks: Brian Kahn, director, Artemis Common Ground.

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