Pacific Northwest Research Station

Forest Service research and western extension foresters announce agreement

USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Research Station

Portland, OR: April 30, 2007

Contact:

Cynthia Miner, Pacific Northwest Research Station, (503) 808.2135
Steve Ambrose, Rocky Mountain Research Station, (970) 295.5922
Donald Hanley, Washington State University, Extension Forester, (206) 685.4960
Scott Reed, Oregon State University, Dean/Director Extension Service, (541) 737.2713

Media assistance:

Sherri Richardson-Dodge, (503) 808.2137 or srichardsondodge@fs.fed.us

PORTLAND, Ore. April 30, 2007. Three U.S. Forest Service western research stations have partnered with western extension foresters to provide the public current science information to help them manage forested lands in the West. The western extension foresters are faculty at the land-grant universities in each state. Their mission is to deliver current science and knowledge to the people of their states. The Rocky Mountain (RMRS), Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Stations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the western extension foresters to provide better service to clients; accomplish better land management across all ownerships, and use public resources more efficiently and effectively.

Scott Reed, Extension Dean and Director at Oregon State University who signed for western extension foresters (AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA) said the MOU demonstrates a spirit of cooperation between the two groups that should pay dividends to all land managers and forest owners in the West.

“ We are excited about joining forces to help improve management in the West and this MOU will help us succeed,” Reed says. The Forest Service Research Station Directors, who signed the MOU--Dave Cleaves, (RMRS), Jim Sedell, (PSW), and Bov Eav, (PNW)--also feel this is a very positive step.

“ We can coordinate our research, development, and application by sharing priorities and visions including forest health, fire, land fragmentation and land restoration,” Cleaves explains. “It just makes good sense to find ways to work together and to be as cost effective as we can. This opportunity will move us in that direction.”

The Forest Service will provide the most current research information to the extension foresters who will interpret, use, and disseminate the research as appropriate to reach land managers and landowners in their respective states. Web site technology advances are an area where the two parties can share information that can be very cost effective. Another opportunity is creating a western forest science application virtual center whereby clients can access information through a single or “one-stop-shopping” source. These are just two examples of how the groups want to come together to improve resource management in the West.

To read the memorandum of understanding for this agreement visit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/calendar/MOU.doc