SAF 2008 National Convention - A Wonderful Time in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Great Basin

By now you received our "Forestry in a Climate of Change" highlight booklet, invitation and 2008 National Convention registration materials. "The Biggest Little City in the World", Reno, Nevada and its fun and relaxing opportunities await you.

Our Intermountain, Northern California and Southern California Society of American Foresters National Convention hosts and colleagues are really looking forward to greeting and meeting with you at this important time for Forestry in American and the World

SAF's 2008 National Convention learning and fun activities abound which will help you keep vital your 21st Century edge, networks and professional friendships!!

Forestry professionals and their allies thrive and are key leaders who can and do provide great public service and problem solving skills in these very dynamic times!

We'd like to share a sample of these learning opportunities to catch your interest and spur your participation!

*May 27th the Governors of California and Nevada approved Tahoe Basin Fire Commission recommendations by proclaiming emergency disaster declarations for the Lake Tahoe area and communities. The 2007 Angora Wildfire affected forest, watershed, community values and people's lives!

At SAF 2008 you have an opportunity to learn about this situation so sign up early for the Angora Wildfire Tour! Learn how a highly regulated forest, watershed and community situation is adapting and changing thru actions now being implemented by practitioners and community leaders with these day to day responsibilities.

*Bureau of Land Management Director Jim Caswell will set the larger context in his "Sierra Nevada and Great Basin-In a Climate of Change" presentation. From tours of the Angora Wildfire to technical session where landscape strategies are underway in Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystems, Aspen Management and Ecology, the 6.5 million Sage Steppe ecosystems project and from other forest landscape case examples, you can learn the latest in restoration approaches and practices.

A three day Restoration Workshop on "Implementing Forest Restoration" covers every aspect including use of 21st Century tools and technology-this is another excellent learning venue open to you!!

*Tribal Forestry on nearly 19 million acres of Indian forestlands managed under a trust responsibility of the United States and federally recognized American Indian Tribes is evolving in important ways.

American Indian Tribal forestry approaches are being used as positive models for sustainable management of forest resources. Join us to learn about merging modern science with traditional knowledge.

*Economic and Business Trends and Opportunities will be set in context by Bill Schafer, Senior Vice-President, of Business Development, Range Fuels.

Wood energy, accelerating research on cellulosic fuels and super "green products" to help our Nation achieve greater energy security is one major driver of change to be explored at SAF 2008. Connecting these and other business trends holds promise to bring together forest and watershed health, wildfire and community solutions thru new and important problem solving approaches and improved technologies.

There is much more to experience at SAF 2008! So we hope to see you at our Ice Breaker and many social and leisure time activities which are fun and stimulating.

See you in Reno, Nevada, November 5-9, 2008. Vote Absentee ballot so you'll not miss a minute of reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and meeting new people who involved in important forestry, natural resources and business sectors!!