September 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

The Forest Science Division, composed of ten faculty and two Extension Specialists, is the academic unit responsible for the Forestry major. A description of this Division and its relationship with other units of the College can be seen on the web at http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu

Forestry Major

Berkeley's Forestry major, which is fully accredited by the Society of American Foresters, is built around a core of twelve upper division courses covering a broad range of topics relevant to the management of forests. A new Senior Seminar in Professional Forestry, presented by Jeff Romm with the involvement of alumni focuses on the challenges of the professional forester. Current enrollment in the major is 29 (10 freshmen, 4 sophomores, 8 juniors, and 7 seniors). The major is directed by a Forestry Panel consisting of faculty indicated by an asterisk in the list on page 2.

Resource Management Major

This is a non-professional program for students having a more general interest in resources, and does not require some of the core courses central to the Forestry major. There are currently 32 students enrolled (3 freshmen, 1 sophomore, 11 juniors, and 17 seniors).

Summer Camp

Summer Camp continues to be an important part of the Forestry program and this year we had an enrollment of 30 students and instruction involved 15 faculty. The curriculum involves five courses: ecology, silviculture, inventory, harvesting, and management. It provides a wonderful field experience for the students and an unusual opportunity for them to get to know one another and the faculty.

Highlights and Research

The highlight of the past year in the Division was the appointment of Scott Stephens as Assistant Professor of Fire Science. Scott is returning to Berkeley where he did his Ph.D. under Bob Martin. He worked at the PSW Experiment Station after finishing his degree, then taught for 2 years at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Scott's teaching and research will complement the Forest Products Laboratory's work in urban/wildland interface fire. To further strengthen our fire program a new Extension Specialist will be appointed this fall in the area of fuel management.

Examples of current research activities:

• Kevin O'Hara is continuing his research on multi-age, multi-species forest growth and development with new studies initiated at Blodgett Forest.
• Richard Dodd is continuing his FAO-sponsored work on the genetic architecture, diversity and conservation of mangroves.
• Scott Stephens will be initiating a fire surrogate study at Blodgett. This is one of 12 nationwide projects evaluating how to reduce fire hazard.
• Joe McBride is studying the dynamics of hardwood species within riparian zones in the mixed conifer forest and the implications of disturbance and fire protection.
• Three faculty were awarded state forest research grants this spring. At Jackson, Kevin O'Hara will conduct silvicultural studies and Richard Dodd will characterize the genetic architecture of coast redwood. Joe McBride at Soquel will study the dynamics of large woody debris in riparian zones.
• CE Specialists Richard Harris and Gary Nakamura will continue their environmental education programs for teachers and landowners, and their work with counties concerned with improving forest road standards.

Web Page and Pamphlets

To enhance enrollments the Division is currently developing a web page to inform potential students and other interested people about the forestry and resource management majors. Pamphlets on these majors are available and can be obtained at the Center for Forestry. Write to: 145 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114 or email: forestry@nature.berkeley.edu.