FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWSA Newsletter for Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management Staff, Students, and Alumni

Vol. 1, No. 1 September, 1998

FIRST WE WERE ELEVEN!

In the summer of 1975, the ForestryDepartment hired three newprofessors: Joseph Buongiorno,Ronald Giese and Raymond Young,bringing the faculty to 11. The firstclass of foresters had alreadygraduated, and there were 80undergraduates (88% male). Thedepartment was virtually bankrupt,understaffed and overcrowded. Somuch change has unfolded since thenthat many of you would not recognizeyour old home-away-from-home orthe staff, so let's explore a sample ofhappenings. We quickly began to augmentdisciplines: first a silvicultureposition was added, then astatistician and ecologist,and more recently, land-scape ecology was inte-grated into the department. After 14 years ofdevelopment, the AldoLeopold addition to RussellLabs was completed in 1990. It is wonderful to have newteaching facilities, officesand laboratories, andespecially nice to haveeveryone under one roof. Over the past 23 years, wehave greatly enlarged ourcourse offerings. Thisreflects emphases of thefaculty and students as wellas the importance of contemporaryissues. New courses, ranging fromAgroforestry to CarbohydrateChemistry, provide breadth. Whenfurther developed, our web site(http://treebiol.forest.wisc.edu/forestry/home.html) will displayall course descriptions as well as much other information.

We have converted an individualentrepreneurial approach to apractice, which now benefits bothprofessors' specialties and the

By Byron Jorns

department. Gift accounts and aUniversity Foundation relationship,which did not exist earlier, nowprovide greater stability andflexibility to all programs. We arein an era of reduced state funding. We have become a publicly-assisteduniversity (a situation where only27% of our support derives fromWisconsin tax revenues, a declinefrom 42% in 1975) and it is essentialto develop other funding sources tomaintain the department’scontinuity and integrity. More important than the bricks,titles and dollars we have built up

over the years is the wonderfulbalance that we have achievedamong teaching, research andextension. Research has always beenour nationally recognized strength,and it has become even stronger inrecent years. Outreach is criticaland we have developed an outstanding program to help solve

practical problems, aid in focusing onlocal issues, and keeping us in touchwith field forestry. We havealways taken teaching seriously, butit didn’t always get recognized asmuch as research. Our faculty havegarnered eight college, campus andnational distinguishedteaching/advising awards, which isquite a remarkable record. We aretruly pleased with the results andstudents are the real beneficiaries. Last year our first graduating classof foresters held its 25thanniversary in Madison—a yearlate! (in their own words they werealways late, so it made sense todelay the celebration). Jack Berbeeand Gordy Cunningham attended onbehalf of the early faculty. It was a

fine event, and it was areminder of our roots. We areproud of the accomplishmentsof our alumni. The Department of ForestEcology and Managementprepares for the new centurywith a core faculty of 21,including a stronglydeveloped area we callSocial Forestry (an attorney,a historian, sociologist, andeducational specialists inrecreation and indigenouslearning systems make up thisnew faculty group). And thethree of us who were new in1975 constituted the most

senior at the turn of the year—acomplete turnover since the firstclass graduated! We now have 65undergraduates (44% women). Abouthalf of our students are pursuing aresources conservation andmanagement track, which is notaccredited. There are over 100

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First We Were 11, continuedhard-working, bright andimaginative graduate studentsassociated with our faculty. Those of you who graduated in theearly days of the accreditedprogram would find new andrefurbished facilities and all newpeople, but you would still recognizethe mission of excellence, rigor,creativity, and esprit de corps left usas a legacy by the founding faculty. -Outgoing Chair, Ron Giese

A MESSAGE FROM THEINCOMING CHAIR

Thanks to all who have gone beforeus, and especially Ron Giese, thedepartment is well positioned tomove into the next century. We havea new name and a strong complementof faculty and bright and energeticstudents. Yes, budgets are tight andeveryone is expected to do more withless, but that’s pretty much themodus operandi everywhere todayin the business world. We willcontinue to find ways to support theimportant instruction, research andoutreach functions of thedepartment. I believe that we need to developa much stronger relationship withour alumni. You are an importantsource of support but you can alsoprovide us with valuable positivecriticism and ideas. We welcomeyour suggestions and will be askingsome of you to provide yourperspectives in a survey to be mailedout later this year. We initiatedthis newsletter as another means ofopening up lines of communicationwith you. In September we will behosting the alumni open houses inthe department and at the nationalSAF meeting. We’d love to see youat either or both events. Future issues of the newsletterwill include profiles of individualsto keep you abreast of what the“oldsters” are up to and to introducenew faculty and staff, and shortdescriptions of one or more current

research projects. We’d also like toinclude information from you so don’tbe bashful about sending us news. - Incoming Chair, Jeff Stier

DEPARTMENT OPENHOUSE – Y’ALL COME

On September 12, from 9:00 - 10:30a.m., all alumni are invited to anopen house in the department as partof the sesquicentennial celebration. Come and renew old acquaintances,meet new faculty, see how thefacilities have (or haven’t)changed, sit in your old seat in Room104, and learn a little more aboutwhat’s going on in the departmentcurrently. September 12 is the day ofthe Wisconsin Agricultural and LifeSciences Alumni Association(WALSAA) Fire-Up so you mightalso want to wander across the streetto the Stock Pavilion and partake ofthe festivities and food (steaks,brats and beer) there, and maybeeven attend the game against OhioState University (11:30 a.m. start). Tickets for the Fire-Up, which willrun from 8:30-11:00 a.m., areavailable directly from WALSAA(105 Agricultural Hall, 1450 LindenDrive, Madison, WI 53706).

DEPARTMENT NAMECHANGE

You probably noticed that the nameof the department is no longer“Forestry.” In 1997 faculty andstudents engaged in a discussion ofpossible name changes. We settledon Forest Ecology and Managementbecause we think it better reflectsthe balance we try to achievebetween science and application, andbetween the ecological and socialdimensions of forestry. The name isunique among forestry departmentsand colleges in the country. Thename of the undergraduate major(Forest Science) and the graduatedegree (Forestry) remain the same.

RON GIESE RETIRESAS CHAIR

Ron Giese and his wife Renie showtwo of the gifts received at Ron’sretirement reception.

On July 4 (is there some symbolism toretiring on Independence Day?) RonGiese retired as Chair of thedepartment after serving 23consecutive years in that position.Students, faculty and friendsgathered in the Allen Gardens on theag campus for a reception in Ron’shonor on July 1, and presented himwith several gifts, including areproduction of an 1879 print of thecampus. Ron is now an emeritusprofessor in the department and hasseveral projects that he intends towork on in his “golden” years,including a revision and update ofthe department’s history.

ALUMNI RECEPTION ATTHE 1998 NATIONAL SAFANNUAL CONVENTION

The department will be hosting analumni reception at the nationalSociety of American Foresters (SAF)meeting in Traverse City, Michiganon Sunday evening, September 20. Come and smooze with colleaguesand friends, congratulate Prof.Joseph Buongiorno on the award hewill be receiving at the convention,get an update on departmentalhappenings, and enjoy Wisconsincheese and beverages!

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GRAD STUDENTS HONORRAY GURIES

In February the graduate studentspresented Professor Ray Guries witha token of their appreciation for hisrole in bringing the department closer together. Ray has hosted theAnnual Spring Picnic at his farm forthe last 20 years and a Fall Pig Roast for the last four years. These are joyful events that providestudents and faculty a relaxedatmosphere in which to get to knowone another better. Ray waspresented with a Leathermanutility knife and a framed copy ofthe companion photo (a familiar, ifonly slightly exaggerated scene)taken by Professor Jeff Martin. Thanks also to Ces Guries for hergenerosity in opening her home tothrong after throng of foresters. The graduate students would liketo thank Ron Giese, and particularlyhis wife Renie, for organizing 22years of Christmas parties, repletewith Santa Claus. Thanks also toEric Kruger for a decade of WildTurkey Parties (that’s the bird, notthe drink!). - Todd Miller, GraduateStudent Representative 1997/98

COLLABORATIVEECOLOGICAL RESEARCHON MANAGED AND OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

In recent years, there has beenincreased public concern regardingthe maintenance of biologicaldiversity on public forest lands. Toaddress these concerns, theWisconsin Department of NaturalResources initiated a set ofintegrated ecological studies in 1993to examine the effects of forestmanagement practices on ecosystemprocesses, forest habitat structure,and biological diversity. Severalscientists in the Department ofForest Ecology and Managementhave been collaborating on thismultidisciplinary, interagencyresearch effort, which also includesinvestigators from the UW-Madison

A copy of the photo above was given to Ray Guries by the graduate students. The scene shows the “typical” line outside Ray’s office.

Departments of Botany, Entomology,Plant Pathology, and Soil Science,the University of Wisconsin-GreenBay, Department of Natural andApplied Sciences, the Center forForest Mycology Research, ForestProducts Laboratory, the MilwaukeePublic Museum and the WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources. All studies in this project (oftenlabeled “the Old-growth Project”)share the same set of research sitesin old-growth, managed uneven-aged, and unmanaged second-growthnorthern hardwood forests located innorth-central Wisconsin and westernUpper Michigan. The overall goal of the project isto determine the extent to whichcurrent forest management practicesare sustaining the speciescomposition, structure, and functionof forest ecosystems and torecommend possible refinements thatwould enhance biological diversitywhile accommodating economicallyviable forest production. Researchefforts by Department of ForestEcology and Management facultymembers have includedinvestigations of vegetationstructure and composition (Dr. CraigG. Lorimer), carbon and nitrogendynamics (Dr. Stith T. Gower),spatial patterns of understory herbs

(Dr. David J. Mladenoff), remotesensing of key structural andfunctional characteristics (Drs. S. T.Gower and D. J. Mladenoff), soilnutrients and biogeochemical cycling(Dr. James B. Bockheim, Dept. ofSoil Science and FEM), speciescomposition, diversity and spatialpatterning of wood-inhabiting fungi(Dr. Glen R. Stanosz, Dept. of PlantPathology and FEM) and thebiodiversity of ground dwellingbeetles (Dr. Kenneth F. Raffa, Dept.of Entomology and FEM). Findingsfrom individual studies willeventually be integrated with oneanother to allow investigators tomodel the effects of variousmanagement practices on differentcomponents of these complex forestecosystems. - by John Goodburn

INAUGURAL LEOPOLDLECTURE HELD IN APRIL

The four surviving children of AldoLeopold were the guest speakers atthe first Aldo Leopold Lecture Seriesin Natural Resources held April 21. The lecture series bringsdistinguished scholars, eminentscientists, and resource managementleaders to the University ofWisconsin-Madison campus to

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Leopold Lecture, continuedaddress current issues relating tosound natural resource stewardship. Nina Leopold Bradley gave apresentation on “A Sense of Place.”Her siblings, Estella Leopold, A.Carl Leopold and Luna Leopold,followed with more informalremarks. The Department of WildlifeEcology and the Department ofForest Ecology and Management co-sponsor the lecture series. Speakersare selected by a committee offaculty, students and staffrepresenting both departments. Thenext lecture is scheduled for thisfall. The speaker and date of thelecture will be announced in the nearfuture.

CLASS OF 1971 HAS 25 YEAR+ 1 REUNION

The 1971 undergraduate forestryalumni had their 25 + 1 update yearreunion on June 27 and 28, 1997. The “1 update year” was necessarybecause their 10-year reunion was +1also. Would you say they may be alittle slow on the uptake? Seriously,

both reunions went very well andeveryone had a good time. The 25 + 1 was filled with socialand informative events. Thoseattending the reunion stayed at theFriedrick Center on campus. On

Alumni present at the reunion: back row (l to r): Craig Steinbrink, Ed Wenger,Gordie Christians, Marty Schuettpelz, Dan Mainwaring, Bill Smithyman;front row (l to r): Tim Krohn, Steve Zieroth, Bill Hasse, Dave Liska, and KenRauscher.

Friday those who were in town metat the Angelic Brewing Company toget reacquainted and share stories ofthe past years. Saturday morningwas free to wander the campus andState Street to bring back some of thememories from the “good old days.”Saturday afternoon there was awelcome reception at the FriedrickCenter and a tour of the ForestryDepartment facilities. Manychanges have taken place since 1971!The evening held a dinner andexchange of stories, pictures, slidesfrom the southern trip, and pleasantconversation. After 26 years therewas still that easy feeling amongfriends and the laughter of practicaljokes played and good times shared. Eleven of the seventeen graduateswere able to attend the reunion. Fifteen of those seventeen graduatesare still actively involved inforestry or a related profession. Forestry Department staff, pastand present, who shared in the

festivities with the graduates were Dr. Gordon Cunningham, Dr. TedPeterson, Dr. Jack Berbee, and Dr. Jeff Stier. A good time was had byall and we are looking forward tothe 40th + 1! - by Ken Rauscher andDave Liska

SUMMER CAMP ‘98

Although Forestry 655 is officiallytitled “Forest Resources Practicum,”students and faculty alike still referto the three-week session at KempStation as “Summer Camp.” Thispast spring marked a bit of amilestone in Summer Camp history. We had 24 students attend for thesecond year in a row. With strong enrollments the past few years,Summer Camps ‘97 and ‘98 werefilled to capacity. As with all forestry education, the Summer Camp curriculum hasevolved over time to keep up withthe changing face of resourcemanagement. However, we are stillholding onto the traditionalcomponents. Students learn how touse a compass and cruise timber, butthey now learn to use a GPS unit andwrestle with forest policy issues. Incorporating new topics, whileretaining the old, required someadjustments in how subjects arepresented. We have worked hard over thepast few years to achieve a betterintegration of the field exercises. A3 1/2-day module during the secondweek integrates basic forest ecology,forest soils, habitat classification,pathology, entomology and wildlifeon both very rich and very poor sites.Students also prepare detailed forestmanagement plans that encompassall forest resources for a stand thatthey have inventoried. On the lastday, each team presents its planorally to an audience of fellowstudents and faculty who are eager tocritique the prescription. For faculty, one of the realrewards of Summer Camp teaching isto see the progress made by students

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Summer camp students made thecover of the February, 1998 issue ofJournal of Forestry.

during the three-week period. It ishard to believe that the studentspresenting such thoughtful forestmanagement plans on the last day inCamp are the same young people who struggled to understand thehand compass on the first! It is also a real pleasure to havepast UW-Madison graduates visitKemp Station and help us out withteaching and discussing theirforestry careers. Former studentsTom Hittle, Chad Morgan, JeffOlsen, Teague Prichard, and JohnSwartzman are among those whohave participated in recent SummerCamps. We certainly appreciatethe time and effort they havecontributed to educating our futureforesters and we invite you to stop byif you are in the area. - by JeffMartin

CALL FOR NEWS

We asked our current students whatthey would find interesting to readabout in an alumni newsletter. Theymentioned the usual things you

might expect in a newsletter; e. g.,updates on faculty, facilities, curriculum and research. But they also expressed an interest in keepingabreast of events in the lives of theirfellow students. So, if you haveanything about your professionallife that you’d like to share withother former students, please send itin so that we can share it withothers. News items should be sent to:FOREST ECOLOGY ANDMANAGEMENT NEWS, Department ofForest Ecology and Management,University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706.

CHANGES TO OURFACILITIES

Some of you former graduate studentswill recall when we occupied part ofthe Stock Pavilion. When theaddition to Russell Labs wascompleted in 1990, we movedeverybody under one roof. However,with the recent increases in facultyand students, we will again behousing people in the Stock Pavilionbeginning this fall. Nevertheless,things have changed for the better;the offices have been repainted andwired for access to the internet. Remember the open grassy areanorth of Russell Labs and west ofSteenbock Library? Well, it isn’tthere any more! It will soon be aparking ramp.

HOW’S YOUR FORESTRYVOCABULARY?

Prof. Jeff Stier hosts a forestrydefinition contest each year inwhich students are asked to come upwith humorous interpretations offorestry terms. Here’s a briefsampling of some recent entries—feelfree to send in any of your owncontributions!

Acer rubrum—Latin for "Red Baron"clinometer—device used to measure the President’s public approval ratingdbh—"duh, bout here!"drupe—bad posturecarrying capacity—about two bags of groceries and a 12-pack of beereven-aged stand—grade school class pictureleaching—good technique for catching mid-summer walleyespole stand—standing while leaching (see leaching above)succession—leaving college for a real job

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Remember Marian Jacobs, thedepartment's stalwart programassistant? At some time during theirtenure, most students got to knowMarian. In January of 1996, Marianretired after 44 years of service! Sheresides in Waterloo, WI.

DEPARTMENT UNDER-GOES ACCREDITATIONREVIEW

Every ten years the professionalaccrediting body, the Society ofAmerican Foresters, visits programsto conduct a site visit in connectionwith accreditation of theundergraduate curricula. Our sitevisit took place last spring. We arehappy to report that we received aclean bill of health. The followingeducational programs leading to thefirst professional degree in forestryare currently accredited by the SAF: the Industrial Forestry, PublicForestry and BS/MS options in ForestScience leading to the B.S. inNatural Resources; and the ForestScience curriculum leading to theB.S. in International Agriculture andNatural Resources.

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DO WE HAVE YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS? If not, please supply us with the correct address so we can update our files.

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FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT NEWSDepartment of Forest Ecology and ManagementUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison1630 Linden DriveMadison, WI 53706, USA

Department of Forest Ecology and ManagementUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison1630 Linden DriveMadison, WI 53706-1598