COLORADO STATE FOREST SERVICE

Orientation for Master Volunteer Forest Steward

Outreach Division

Conservation Education Public & Media Relations

Policy & Legislative Affairs Volunteer Program Extension Forestry

• CSFS is a service and outreach

agency

• We are part of Colorado State University

• Non-regulatory agency

• Provide landowners with technical assistance and outreach

• Work through 16 districts (19 field offices across the state)

Who we are…

Contact Information: Donna Davis – District Forester La Junta District Office 1904 San Juan Ave. Otero Junior College Campus La Junta, CO 81050 (719) 383-5780 FAX (719) 383-5787 CSFS_LaJunta@mail.colostate.edu

Field Offices/Districts

• Forests cover ~24.4 million acres (37%)

• A wide range of topographic, growing and soil conditions

• Provide a wealth of vital resources:

– Community forests – Wood products – Wildlife habitat – Windbreaks – Water – Recreation – What else?

CO Forest Resources

• Urban and community forests are dynamic ecosystems • Many benefits:

– Help clean air and water – Conserve energy – Add form, structure and beauty – Reduce noise – Wind and snow protection – Temperature control – Provide places to recreate – Add economic value to our communities – Make people happy

Urban/Community Forestry

• Land-use system that involve deliberate retention, introduction, or mixture of trees or other woody perennials in crop and animal production systems to take advantage of economic or ecological interactions among the components

• Offer shade to grazing animals, protect crops against strong wind bursts, and are a roost for insect or rodent-eating birds.

• Provide boundaries to riparian, property, crops (windbreaks), and roads

Agroforestry

• What % of CO is forested?

• How do we differ from the US Forest Service?

• What is agroforestry, can you give an example?

POP QUIZ???

• Our Vision: To serve Colorado as the

resource for technical forestry assistance and leadership

• Our Mission: To achieve

stewardship of Colorado's diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations

Who we are…

21% Pinon-Juniper 21% Aspen 19% Spruce-Fir 10% Oak shrubland 10% Ponderosa pine 7% Lodgepole pine 7% Mixed Conifer 5% Riparian*

Forest Types in CO

68% Federal USFS BLM NPS 30% Private 2% Other Tribal Municipal State

Who Owns the Forest here?

• What are some of the key parts of our mission?

• Name one of our top 3 forest types?

• Who owns most of the forestland in CO?

• What percent is owned by private landowners?

POP QUIZ???

• 1955 CO General Assembly officially established the CSFS as a division in the Colorado Agriculture and Mining College. (25 employees)

-Administering lands owned by the state for “effective conservation and utilization.”

- 10 years later- community forestry, fuels mitigation, seedling trees, insect and disease, forest products, private land management.

A little….CSFS history

• Budget ~14 million $$$ – ~40-50% comes from federal funding – ~130 permanent and seasonal employees

• Unique features

– CSFS nursery – CoWood (urban wood use)

– Urban and community program

– Outreach programs (CWPPs, PLT, Firewise)

Our Agency Today

• Grows millions of trees and shrubs

• Distributed to ~5,000 Coloradans

– Conservation

• Planted for:

– Windbreak – Snow fence – Habitat – Protection from elements – Erosion control

CSFS Nursery

CoWood Utilization

• Helps landowners and communities accomplish sound forestry practices on their land

• Coordinates and partners with other agencies to accomplish goals

• Program areas: – Outreach/Conservation Education – Urban and Community Forestry – Forest Management

What we do?

• The practical application of biological, physical, quantitative,

managerial, economic, social and policy principals to the

regeneration, management,

utilization and conservation of forests

to meet specific goals and objectives

while maintaining the productivity of the forest

Forest Management

• Wildfire threats to private property and lives increase

• Forest management and fuels mitigation is critical to improving forest health in CO – Reducing fuel build-up – Preparing the land for new growth – Promoting the germination of certain

plants and trees – Naturally thinning overly dense forests – Creating wildlife habitat diversity

Wildfire Risk and Fuels Mitigation

• Conservation education focuses on developing scientifically-sound messages and materials

• Used by personnel, partners and Colorado citizens

Outreach

• Community forests enhance the quality of human life by purifying air, modifying temperatures, reducing noise pollution, improving aesthetic appeal and raising real estate values

• Programs and services include: – Assessment – Invasive Species Planning and Response (I&D) – Education and training, such as caring for storm

damaged trees – Tree City USA/ Tree Line USA/ Tree Campus USA

Urban/Community Forestry

• What are our key program areas?

• What is the main criteria for landowner eligibility to purchase

seedlings from CSFS?

• What is the CSFS mission? – Our Mission: To achieve stewardship of Colorado's diverse

forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations

ANY QUESTIONS????????????

POP QUIZ???

COLORADO STATE FOREST SERVICE

VOLUNTEERS

• Know your land, learn the facts about forest resources

• Visit and use these resources (sustainably)

• Tell your neighbors and friends

• Volunteer!

• Inspire young people to get involved

How can you help?

• Make a difference (you really can)

• Gain invaluable experience

• Network with and learn from

professionals and neighbors

• Unique training opportunities

• Be in active steward of our natural resources

Why volunteer?

• Volunteer program – Since 1998

– Small, family-style program

– Well trained, well respected and reliable

– Database of 200 + persons

– Many partnerships

Who we are…

• Our Vision: To create greater public understanding of forestry's role and value in a healthy environment through hands-on projects and training

• Our Mission: To achieve stewardship of Colorado's environment through forestry outreach and service

Who we are…

• Fuels mitigation, forest rehabilitation, tree planting, tree inventories, outreach and education, watershed protection, insect and disease support, landowner assistance…and more

• Good stewardship of our forest and natural resources

• Safety

• Learning

Mission driven!

• Program areas: • Forest management • Outreach

• Urban and community forestry

Mission driven!

• Volunteers are all unique

– Long-term vs. short-term

– Students, landowners, scouts …

– Range of ages

– Variety of disciplines

Who Volunteers?

• Communication

• Delivery of commitments

• Good attitudes, mutual

respect and tolerance

• Questions and lifelong learning

• Always represent the CSFS

What we ask…

• Mission fit

• Benefits the community at large or

multiple cooperators

• Timing and resources

• Includes opportunities for experiential learning

What Makes a Good Project?

• A large state with set budgets and resources

• Many different stakeholders

• Increased threats to forest health

• Wildfire threats to private property and lives increase

Challenges

• Tree planting and

distribution

• OUTREACH • Sick tree calls

• Inventory help

• Office support

• Community tree work

Current needs

• Engage skilled volunteers with a unified message

• Promote stewardship locally

• Network and reach out with CSFS resources and info

• Help inform your district

• Collaborate to make a greater impact

The Role for CMVFS

Just contact me: Jamie Dahl, Experiential Learning Coordinator jamie.dahl@colostate.edu 970-988-3667

Get started in your community