CONSERVATION FORESTRY NETWORK

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

CONSERVATION FORESTRY NETWORK ANNOUNCES NEW COORDINATING PARTNER AND UPCOMING WORKSHOP

Santa Fe, N.M. - The Conservation Forestry Network (CFN) announced today that the Forest Guild is taking on the role of CFN coordinating partner. CFN also announced that space is still available for its March 22-25, 2009 workshop, "Ecological Forestry in the Southeastern Coastal Plan," hosted by the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Newton, Georgia.

This workshop will cover the principles of ecological forestry in pine grasslands of the southeastern coastal plain, focusing on both the landscape and forest stand levels. Drs. Jerry Franklin, Steve Jack, Bob Mitchell, and Leon Neel are the instructors. The cost is $400 and includes lodging, meals, onsite transportation, and course materials. For more info, call 229-734-4706 or visit www.forestguild.org/meetings/CFN_GA_0109.pdf.

CFN is a national leader in trainings that bring ecological principles to commercial forestry, forest restoration, and land stewardship. CFN is a collaborative effort of six partner organizations: the Forest Guild, InterForest, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Manomet Center for Conservation, Open Space Institute, and Northern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service.

Over the last five years the Conservation Forestry Network has brought together more than 450 experts, researchers, foresters, landowners, and decision makers in workshops to demonstrate how to better use natural models in forestry to achieve ecological and social goals.

"Forest management based on the maintenance of key ecological processes and patterns of natural disturbance offers a compelling alternative to traditional silviculture practices of the region for many landowners' objectives," said course instructor and scientist at the Jones Center, Dr. Bob Mitchell.

Eminent forest ecologist and CFN partner Dr. Jerry Franklin said "CFN is a great opportunity to share what I've learned about forest ecology with foresters and land managers in the most appropriate setting: the forest. Each workshop provides me the opportunity to learn from those land managers and to provide them with tools to practice forestry that follows nature's model."

Abigail Weinberg, Research Manager at the Open Space Institute, said "We're glad to see the Forest Guild fill the role of coordinating partner of the Network. They bring with them a national membership of forest practitioners and a core commitment to ecological forestry."

As the coordinating partner, the Guild will engage the network by sharing news and events, maintain the CFN website (www.forestguild.org/CFN.html), assist hosts in planning, publicizing, and running ecological forestry workshops, and take advantage of innovative knowledge-sharing modes such as webinars to maintain the dialog between researchers, experts, and land managers.

"The workshops provide a key link between national experts in ecological forestry, U.S. Forest Service scientists, and local land stewards," stated Dr. Brian Palik, team leader in the Center for Research on Ecosystem Change at the Northern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service.

"We're proud to have been a part of workshops that have brought over 450 land managers and stakeholders together to focus on the practical application of ecological principles to commercial forestry, forest restoration, land stewardship, and fire management," said Mike Ferrucci partner at Interforest, LLC.

Dr. Andy Whitman from the Manomet Center points out that "ecological forestry offers a perspective that is essential to conserving biodiversity under any type of management regime. The growth of conservation landowners which advocate for mimicking nature and forest certification has broadened the interest for ecological forestry in commercial forestry."

The following are the Conservation Forestry Network's primary partners:

The Forest Guild (http://www.forestguild.org/) practices and promotes ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry-"excellent forestry"-as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them.

Interforest (http://www.iforest.com/) provides integrated solutions for natural resource enterprises and agencies. They solve organizational, resource and policy problems and create opportunities for clients seeking excellence in resource management.

The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway (http://www.jonesctr.org/) seeks to understand, to demonstrate, and to promote excellence in natural resource management and conservation on the landscape of the southeastern coastal plain of the United States.

As one of the nation's oldest independent environmental research organizations, the Manomet Center for Conservation (http://www.manomet.org/) is working to achieve a more sustainable future. They convene stakeholders and help develop science-based, enduring solutions that work in the real world and improve conditions for wildlife, habitats and people.

The Northern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service (http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/) is capitalizing on the strengths of existing science capacity in the Northeast and Midwest to attain a more integrated cohesive landscape scale research program.

The Open Space Institute (http://www.osiny.org/) protects scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats, and sustain community character.

Interviews and Images are Available upon Request

More information is available at:
http://www.forestguild.org/CFN.html

Contact:
Jennifer Marshall
505-231-1776
jennifer@jmarshallplan.com
www.jmarshallplan.com