Module 1: Introduction; Our Forest Landscape; Your Objectives

Learning Outcomes

After completion of this module, participants will be able to…

  • Explain how Master Woodland Manager is a part of Oregon’s land grant university system and the Oregon State University’s Forestry & Natural Resources Extension program
  • Describe how forests vary across Northeastern Oregon and how those differences relate to position on the landscape
  • Use online sources to identify local climate, terrain, and soil information for their woodland location
  • Recognize how soil, terrain, and climate affect how forests on their property grow and develop
  • Recognize how a forest management plan supports decision‑making, long‑term stewardship, and can be developed or updated throughout the Master Woodland Manager training

Required Learning Materials

The following are required learning materials to do before coming to the field class.

  1. Watch the Welcome, Program Background, and Course Overview presentation (6 minutes) from the statewide Master Woodland Manager program coordinator, Sarah Cameron.
  2. Watch the Landscape Context of Small Woodlands presentation (50 minutes) from Extension Forester, Jacob Putney (PDF version available here).
  3. Read Chapter 1 of Ecology and Management of Eastern Oregon Forests (pages 7-26). Note: You will receive a hard copy of this publication during our first field session on September 18.
  4. Download a copy and complete the Your Woodland on the Landscape activity for your own property. This activity is designed to help you become more familiar with your woodland and gain hands‑on experience using several online tools that support woodland owners in learning about their properties. Note that much of this information is needed in a forest management plan, see the Additional Learning Materials (Optional) to learn more about management planning. 

Additional Learning Materials (Optional)

This section includes optional resources if you’d like to take a deeper dive into the module topics.

Optional: Eastern Oregon Forests

The following, previously recorded webinars provide a further introduction to the forests of eastern Oregon.

  1. Watch Eastern Oregon Forests from the Forests of Eastern Oregon webinar series (100 minutes).
  2. Watch The Basics and Principles from the Management Considerations for Oregon’s Dry-side Forests webinar series (95 minutes).

Optional: Forest Measurements

Basic forest measurements and tools will be referenced during our field day together, please see additional resources below.

  1. Review Tools for Measuring Your Forests (9 pages).
  2. Review Basic Forest Inventory Techniques for Family Forest Owners (76 pages) for additional information and resources on forest measurement tools and establishing a basic forest inventory.
  3. Review the Measuring Your Trees publication (26 pages). 

Optional (but suggested): Management Planning

A forest management plan is a written, site-specific document that outlines a landowner’s goals and provides a tailored, long-term strategy for the care, maintenance, and use of their woodland.Some of you may already have a management plan, you may be looking to update your current plan, or perhaps you haven’t started or started and didn’t complete a plan. 

If you decide to start or revise your plan, we will offer advice under the Additional Learning Materials of each module of how you can build in what you’re learning in the Master Woodland Manager training into your management plan. 

Familiarizing yourself with management planning

  1. Watch Tree School Online: Forest Management Plan Writing webinar recording (90 minutes).
  2. Read the Management Planning for Woodland Owners: Why and How publication (8 pages).
  3. Step through Management Planning for Woodland Owners: A Visual Guide visual guide – note that is works best in Internet Explorer.

If you do have an existing forest management plan

Take it down from the shelf, dust it off and review your goals and objectives section. Make some notes to yourself:

  • Are the goals and objectives expressed in the plan still applicable to you?
  • Are there things you’ve completed making room for new goals and objectives?
  • Review maps, ensure they are still applicable based on past operations or other objective achievements. 

If you do not have a forest management plan

  1. Download a local copy of the Oregon Forest Management Plan Template and begin working on the Woodland Discovery section (pages 3-12).
  2. Review the following resources (as needed) to help complete the Woodland Discovery section: 

Questions about this module’s learning content?

Jacob Putney (Local MWM Training Host; Extension Forester for Baker and Grant counties): jacob.putney@oregonstate.edu | (541) 523-6418

Sarah Cameron (Statewide MWM Program Coordinator): sarah.cameron@oregonstate.edu | (503) 821-1118