How Other Countries Do It

Learning about how our management practices pair up with those from other parts of the planet was the theme for a seminar that I attended recently. The World Forestry Center was the location for an informative day of presentations delivered by Fellows from across the world.

The international program relocated these five students for 6-9 months to study how we in the United States regulate conservation, stewardship and commerce within our forestry industry. Each Fellow member recapped for us the areas of study from their home country. The variety was astounding,

• disaster preparedness and relief dealing with typhoon like events (Thailand)
• creating and monitoring National Parks for endangered species like Tigers (China)
• conservation efforts for dwindling natural resources (Taiwan)
• rebuilding core values and implementing accountability for conservation and land stewardship (Vietnam)
• managing limited resources in a country that is about the same size as the Willamette Valley in Oregon (Netherlands)

Although this group is based in Oregon, they travel around to see other areas, states and provinces to interact with a wide variety of operations from local land owners to multi-billion dollar world-wide companies.
These Fellows will also also follow up another seminar in September at the World Forestry Center. I am looking forward to attending this event also.