Nearly 30 years ago, a coalition of longtime adversaries turned unlikely bedfellows invited the public to a weeklong workshop in the woods to have a chat about one of the most polarizing issues of the time – land management.
Surrounded by stakeholders whose interests ran deep and diverse – almost as diverse as the bristling stands of grand and alpine fir, spruce, larch and cedar – the folks in attendance were finally able to see the forest for the trees, and the Flathead Family Forestry Expo was born.
Tree huggers stood alongside tree cutters in a united front as hundreds of area fifth-graders and their families learned about logging, as well as about fisheries, forest fire, back-country camping and safety, ecology, wildlife habitat, and more. Most importantly, they learned about how one affects the other.
Now in its 27th year, the premise of the Family Forestry Expo remains the same – to convey the common ground of sustainable forest management, and strike a balance of responsible natural resource development, conservation and recreation.
For decades, forest management has been riddled with clashing views over public land use, pitting wilderness against timber production, non-motorized against motorized, commercial interests against wildlife.
From the Flathead Beacon: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/05/03/finding-common-ground-forest/?utm_source=WIT050616&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WeekInTrees