Nearly 130 forestry leaders and practitioners from across the West gathered in Flagstaff, Arizona, November 18-20, for the Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit, to examine and advance the state of ponderosa pine forests and related industries throughout the region.
The Summit was hosted by the Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) Forest Products Committee (FPC) in collaboration with the Forest Stewards Guild and Hardigg Consulting, and made possible through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service.
The Summit brought together forest industry managers, researchers, land managers, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to identify key barriers, develop practical solutions, explore innovations, and determine the resources needed to stabilize and grow the utilization of ponderosa pine.
"Two years ago, the CWSF Forest Products Committee came together and realized we needed to take action,” said Archie Gray, FPC Past Chair. “Ponderosa pine grows in nearly every western state, and without strong markets for it, we can’t effectively manage the wildfire risks we all face. Markets equal management.”
The Summit featured interactive working sessions, presentations, and panel discussions. Key highlights included:
- Interactive working sessions where participants conducted a detailed exploration on four critical topics: providing a consistent supply, infrastructure and mill limitations, market gaps and product innovation, and workforce. These working sessions were structured in two parts: challenge mapping to identify and examine barriers to increased utilization and industry success, and solutions workshops to develop actionable solutions for each theme. Contents from these discussions will be captured in the accompanying action plan to follow the Summit.
- Presentation from Dr. Andi Thode, Professor of Fire Ecology and Management with Northern Arizona University’s School of Forestry. Thode set the stage for the Summit by sharing insights on the current state of ponderosa pine forests. She emphasized the need to utilize every available tool, including forest thinning and prescribed fire, while strengthening collaboration to help ensure a healthier, more resilient future for ponderosa pine forests.
- 17 speakers across five panels covering a wide range of topics, including current and emerging products, supply constraints, workforce challenges, and real-world case studies illustrating how ponderosa pine moves from forest to end use.
On the final day of the Summit, attendees participated in a field tour highlighting the Walker Hill Demonstration Project’s Designation by Prescription for tree marking, the Wing West Integrated Resource Timber Contract that utilized thinning to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and post-fire flooding, and a visit to the Restoration Forest Products sawmill to see ponderosa pine utilization in action.
The Summit was made possible with generous support from the following sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
- National Wild Turkey Federation - a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of their hunting heritage.
- WoodSyn, LLC - transforms low-value forest biomass into durable, fire-resistant OptimBoard™ and OptimWall™ building systems that speed construction and strengthen resilience in the wildland-urban interface.
Silver Sponsors:
- Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
- Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University
In-Kind Sponsors:
Following the Summit, the CWSF FPC held its annual meeting on November 21.
“What was most exciting for me was learning how others are tackling the same issues in completely different places,” said Karen Hardigg with Hardigg Consulting. “Being in a room with industry, agencies, researchers, and practitioners from across the West helped us see what's possible, and offered actions people can take home and apply.”
A key deliverable of the Summit includes a forthcoming action plan outlining a set of high-potential actions in policy, markets, infrastructure, and research, as well as the partnerships necessary to move them forward.
“I’m excited to see how the ideas and lessons learned at the Summit are put into action across the West,” said Zander Evans with the Forest Stewards Guild. “The Summit helped build the momentum we need to connect wildfire resilience to vibrant rural economies.”
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Explore Resources
- Summit Information
- Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
- Plumas Wood Fiber
- USDA Forest Service
- WoodSyn, LLC
The Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit is hosted by CWSF in collaboration with the Forest Stewards Guild and Hardigg Consulting. The Summit is made possible through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
