FOREST FLASH January 2023

In Pacific Forest Trust’s e-newsletter, Forest Flash, we send you the most recent PFT news and updates on forests, clean water, climate, and wildlife. Subscribe here.

Welcoming Two Board Members and Thanking a Third

We are very pleased to welcome two new Board members to PFT, and we want to deeply thank one retiring member.  

New Member: Mike Marchand, Ph.D. 

Mike grew up in the forests of Colville Reservation in North Central Washington. He got early experience as a tree thinner in high school before moving on to other forestry jobs, eventually becoming head of the Colville Tribal Council’s logging and mill operations, where he served for 12 years. In his role as a strategic business advisor for the Tribe, Mike governed 10,000 members and 1.4 million acres. He has dedicated his career to making forests more sustainable, working to improve watershed health and reversing the negative effects of past logging practices, and marketing forest carbon credits as both an environmental and economic solution. Mike holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Washington. He is married to Dorothy Marchand, with whom he has two children and three grandchildren.

“The mission of this organization is fantastic. With my understanding of and passion for land management that sustains forests for the long-term, I hope I can make a truly meaningful contribution to PFT’s conservation efforts!” – Mike Marchand

We are very pleased to welcome two new Board members to PFT, and we want to deeply thank one retiring member.  

New Member: Mike Marchand, Ph.D. 

Mike grew up in the forests of Colville Reservation in North Central Washington. He got early experience as a tree thinner in high school before moving on to other forestry jobs, eventually becoming head of the Colville Tribal Council’s logging and mill operations, where he served for 12 years. In his role as a strategic business advisor for the Tribe, Mike governed 10,000 members and 1.4 million acres. He has dedicated his career to making forests more sustainable, working to improve watershed health and reversing the negative effects of past logging practices, and marketing forest carbon credits as both an environmental and economic solution. Mike holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Washington. He is married to Dorothy Marchand, with whom he has two children and three grandchildren.

“The mission of this organization is fantastic. With my understanding of and passion for land management that sustains forests for the long-term, I hope I can make a truly meaningful contribution to PFT’s conservation efforts!” – Mike Marchand

We are very pleased to welcome two new Board members to PFT, and we want to deeply thank one retiring member.  

New Member: Mike Marchand, Ph.D. 

Mike grew up in the forests of Colville Reservation in North Central Washington. He got early experience as a tree thinner in high school before moving on to other forestry jobs, eventually becoming head of the Colville Tribal Council’s logging and mill operations, where he served for 12 years. In his role as a strategic business advisor for the Tribe, Mike governed 10,000 members and 1.4 million acres. He has dedicated his career to making forests more sustainable, working to improve watershed health and reversing the negative effects of past logging practices, and marketing forest carbon credits as both an environmental and economic solution. Mike holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Washington. He is married to Dorothy Marchand, with whom he has two children and three grandchildren.

“The mission of this organization is fantastic. With my understanding of and passion for land management that sustains forests for the long-term, I hope I can make a truly meaningful contribution to PFT’s conservation efforts!” – Mike Marchand

New Member: Paul Henson, Ph.D. 

Paul Henson has worked with PFT in his various roles in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the past several decades. He comes from an accomplished 30-year career as a biologist and manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Paul previously served as Assistant Regional Director in Sacramento and a Field Supervisor of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in Hawaii, where he supervised endangered species programs. He also spent 15 years as a field biologist conducting research on marbled murrelets, sea otters, raptors, trumpeter swans and waterfowl. Paul has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Minnesota. He has been happily married for over 30 years and has two sons. Paul spends most of his time camping and fishing with friends and family, traveling, woodworking, and restoring vintage stereo equipment.

“I am honored to serve on PFT’s Board, where I hope to continue working to restore native forests, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, and offer solutions to climate change challenges.” – Paul Henson

New Member: Paul Henson, Ph.D. 

Paul Henson has worked with PFT in his various roles in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the past several decades. He comes from an accomplished 30-year career as a biologist and manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Paul previously served as Assistant Regional Director in Sacramento and a Field Supervisor of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in Hawaii, where he supervised endangered species programs. He also spent 15 years as a field biologist conducting research on marbled murrelets, sea otters, raptors, trumpeter swans and waterfowl. Paul has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Minnesota. He has been happily married for over 30 years and has two sons. Paul spends most of his time camping and fishing with friends and family, traveling, woodworking, and restoring vintage stereo equipment.

“I am honored to serve on PFT’s Board, where I hope to continue working to restore native forests, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, and offer solutions to climate change challenges.” – Paul Henson

New Member: Paul Henson, Ph.D. 

Paul Henson has worked with PFT in his various roles in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the past several decades. He comes from an accomplished 30-year career as a biologist and manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Paul previously served as Assistant Regional Director in Sacramento and a Field Supervisor of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in Hawaii, where he supervised endangered species programs. He also spent 15 years as a field biologist conducting research on marbled murrelets, sea otters, raptors, trumpeter swans and waterfowl. Paul has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Minnesota. He has been happily married for over 30 years and has two sons. Paul spends most of his time camping and fishing with friends and family, traveling, woodworking, and restoring vintage stereo equipment.

“I am honored to serve on PFT’s Board, where I hope to continue working to restore native forests, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, and offer solutions to climate change challenges.” – Paul Henson

Retiring: Norman L. Christensen, Ph.D. 

An Emeritus Professor and Founding Dean at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Norman “Norm” Christensen’s focal point throughout his career has been ecosystem change from natural and human causes. His extensive research includes exploring the role of fire in grasslands and other ecosystems, and the influence of global warming on changing ecosystems. Norm first served on PFT’s Board of Directors in 2002, and then rejoined in 2020. During his tenure, he has helped guide and amplify PFT’s work in promoting and conserving older, more natural forests for their climate, water, and habitat benefits, advancing the use of fire and furthering this model of natural forest management.  

Norm is a Fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Ecological Society of America, where he also served as President in 2009. In 2017 he received the Herbert Stoddard Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fire Ecologists. Norm has published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is author of the environmental science textbook, The Environment and You.  

We are so very grateful for the keen wisdom and deep ecological expertise that Norm brought to his eight years with us. Thank you for your contributions, Norm!  

Retiring: Norman L. Christensen, Ph.D. 

An Emeritus Professor and Founding Dean at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Norman “Norm” Christensen’s focal point throughout his career has been ecosystem change from natural and human causes. His extensive research includes exploring the role of fire in grasslands and other ecosystems, and the influence of global warming on changing ecosystems. Norm first served on PFT’s Board of Directors in 2002, and then rejoined in 2020. During his tenure, he has helped guide and amplify PFT’s work in promoting and conserving older, more natural forests for their climate, water, and habitat benefits, advancing the use of fire and furthering this model of natural forest management.  

Norm is a Fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Ecological Society of America, where he also served as President in 2009. In 2017 he received the Herbert Stoddard Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fire Ecologists. Norm has published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is author of the environmental science textbook, The Environment and You.  

We are so very grateful for the keen wisdom and deep ecological expertise that Norm brought to his eight years with us. Thank you for your contributions, Norm!  

Retiring: Norman L. Christensen, Ph.D. 

An Emeritus Professor and Founding Dean at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Norman “Norm” Christensen’s focal point throughout his career has been ecosystem change from natural and human causes. His extensive research includes exploring the role of fire in grasslands and other ecosystems, and the influence of global warming on changing ecosystems. Norm first served on PFT’s Board of Directors in 2002, and then rejoined in 2020. During his tenure, he has helped guide and amplify PFT’s work in promoting and conserving older, more natural forests for their climate, water, and habitat benefits, advancing the use of fire and furthering this model of natural forest management.  

Norm is a Fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Ecological Society of America, where he also served as President in 2009. In 2017 he received the Herbert Stoddard Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fire Ecologists. Norm has published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is author of the environmental science textbook, The Environment and You.  

We are so very grateful for the keen wisdom and deep ecological expertise that Norm brought to his eight years with us. Thank you for your contributions, Norm!  

$2M for Trinity Headwaters

We are thrilled that a $2 million grant for the Trinity Headwaters Resilient Forest Conservation Partnership was secured in the 2022 Federal Appropriations Act! This great success is due to the efforts of Congressman Jared Huffman, who sponsored the grant. Said Rep. Huffman, “I am very pleased to have been able to sponsor this $2M grant to conserve and sustainably manage such a critical portion of the headwaters of the Upper Trinity River. The Pacific Forest Trust is doing great work to restore watersheds for climate resiliency and our water security. The grant is a fantastic start for the funding needed to complete this project that has so many benefits for the community as well as the whole state.”  We are deeply thankful for his vision and leadership in securing this grant that benefits Trinity County, the whole North Coast community, and the state of California.

The project aims to conserve almost 10% of the critically important upper Trinity watershed that supplies the federal Central Valley Project, upon which millions of acres of farmland and cities across the state depend. Once the acquisition is complete, the land will be transferred to the Watershed Research and Training Center in Trinity County, subject to a working forest conservation easement held by PFT and managed to benefit both the local communities and native biodiversity. The property is characterized by rare biodiversity (supporting over 200 species, a number of which are endangered or highly vulnerable) and will be a major refuge for wildlife as climate change advances.

This project is part of PFT’s strategy to create an integrated network of conserved forests at the source of the Sacramento and Trinity Rivers that are critical for the state’s water security.  

Pacific Forest Trust has been granted a donated conservation easement on beautiful Alsea River Bend in Oregon, thanks to owners Melissa and Mike Haglund. Along with the 1,100 acres conserved as part of our Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest project, this project marks about 2,100 acres of conserved land in Oregon in 2022. This is a big leap for PFT and a great augury for future conservation projects in Oregon! 

Photo credit: Mark Martin, Madison Audubon Society

The Alsea River Bend project consists of 1,000 acres along the Alsea River in Benton and Lincoln Counties. It lies entirely within the Oregon Conservation Strategy Coast Range Ecoregion. Several priority and protected species call the area home, including the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Coho salmon, and the pileated woodpecker. 

Melissa Haglund said of the partnership: “Over the last 30 years we have been fortunate to put together over 1,000 acres of land that we manage for high standards of ecological forestry and small-scale agriculture – all while restoring habitats for threatened salmon and wildlife. We are delighted to partner with Pacific Forest Trust to permanently conserve this special place and guide sustainable management for future generations. PFT really understands how ecological and economic productivity go hand in hand.  We believe our partnership can be a model for other family forest owners in Oregon.” 

The family will continue managing Alsea River Bend as a working forest for timber, healthy forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and to preserve its significant riparian and aquatic ecosystems. They also envision the property evolving into a resource for public education and recreation, and a model among non-industrial private forest landowners for how forests can be managed for both ecological and economic benefits. 

With active management and under the provisions of this easement, Alsea River Bend can be restored to a healthy Douglas fir conifer forest with diverse tree characteristics, distinctive habitat features, and a lush native understory. We’re excited to partner with Melissa, Mike, and the whole Haglund family on restoring this beautiful property. We can’t wait to see what the coming years will bring to the woods, wildlife, and watersheds of Alsea! 

Pacific Forest Trust has been granted a donated conservation easement on beautiful Alsea River Bend in Oregon, thanks to owners Melissa and Mike Haglund. Along with the 1,100 acres conserved as part of our Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest project, this project marks about 2,100 acres of conserved land in Oregon in 2022. This is a big leap for PFT and a great augury for future conservation projects in Oregon! 

Photo credit: Mark Martin, Madison Audubon Society

The Alsea River Bend project consists of 1,000 acres along the Alsea River in Benton and Lincoln Counties. It lies entirely within the Oregon Conservation Strategy Coast Range Ecoregion. Several priority and protected species call the area home, including the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Coho salmon, and the pileated woodpecker. 

Melissa Haglund said of the partnership: “Over the last 30 years we have been fortunate to put together over 1,000 acres of land that we manage for high standards of ecological forestry and small-scale agriculture – all while restoring habitats for threatened salmon and wildlife. We are delighted to partner with Pacific Forest Trust to permanently conserve this special place and guide sustainable management for future generations. PFT really understands how ecological and economic productivity go hand in hand.  We believe our partnership can be a model for other family forest owners in Oregon.” 

The family will continue managing Alsea River Bend as a working forest for timber, healthy forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and to preserve its significant riparian and aquatic ecosystems. They also envision the property evolving into a resource for public education and recreation, and a model among non-industrial private forest landowners for how forests can be managed for both ecological and economic benefits. 

With active management and under the provisions of this easement, Alsea River Bend can be restored to a healthy Douglas fir conifer forest with diverse tree characteristics, distinctive habitat features, and a lush native understory. We’re excited to partner with Melissa, Mike, and the whole Haglund family on restoring this beautiful property. We can’t wait to see what the coming years will bring to the woods, wildlife, and watersheds of Alsea! 

Pacific Forest Trust has been granted a donated conservation easement on beautiful Alsea River Bend in Oregon, thanks to owners Melissa and Mike Haglund. Along with the 1,100 acres conserved as part of our Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest project, this project marks about 2,100 acres of conserved land in Oregon in 2022. This is a big leap for PFT and a great augury for future conservation projects in Oregon! 

The Alsea River Bend project consists of 1,000 acres along the Alsea River in Benton and Lincoln Counties. It lies entirely within the Oregon Conservation Strategy Coast Range Ecoregion. Several priority and protected species call the area home, including the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Coho salmon, and the pileated woodpecker. 

Photo credit: Mark Martin, Madison Audubon Society

Melissa Haglund said of the partnership: “Over the last 30 years we have been fortunate to put together over 1,000 acres of land that we manage for high standards of ecological forestry and small-scale agriculture – all while restoring habitats for threatened salmon and wildlife. We are delighted to partner with Pacific Forest Trust to permanently conserve this special place and guide sustainable management for future generations. PFT really understands how ecological and economic productivity go hand in hand.  We believe our partnership can be a model for other family forest owners in Oregon.” 

The family will continue managing Alsea River Bend as a working forest for timber, healthy forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and to preserve its significant riparian and aquatic ecosystems. They also envision the property evolving into a resource for public education and recreation, and a model among non-industrial private forest landowners for how forests can be managed for both ecological and economic benefits. 

With active management and under the provisions of this easement, Alsea River Bend can be restored to a healthy Douglas fir conifer forest with diverse tree characteristics, distinctive habitat features, and a lush native understory. We’re excited to partner with Melissa, Mike, and the whole Haglund family on restoring this beautiful property. We can’t wait to see what the coming years will bring to the woods, wildlife, and watersheds of Alsea! 

• PFT’s President Laurie Wayburn was invited to serve on the Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Expert Advisory Committee, newly established by Gov. Newsom to advance nature-based solutions to climate change in California.
• If you don’t follow our social accounts, you might have missed this one! US Nature4Climate ran a great campaign, “Building Ambition Through Action,” in which they did an excellent blog feature on PFT’s Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest Project.
• PFT’s Senior Strategic Advisor Connie Best joined a panelist of experts at a recent California Air Resources Board workshop to discuss the US Forests Project Compliance Offset Protocol. Read a summary her remarks.
• PFT President Laurie Wayburn weighed in with her thoughts in a press release from Gov. Newsom about California’s new carbon reduction roadmap.  

Give with confidence. Charity Navigator awarded Pacific Forest Trust a perfect score in finance and accountability.