2024 Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit recap: Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future
Written by Chanda Littlefield
The 2024 Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit (NIFS), held from October 3–5 at Camp Jonah in Trout Lake, WA, brought together forest stewards, industry leaders, researchers, and students to explore the theme “Forest Horizons: Honoring the Past, Understanding the Present, Securing the Future.”
Exploring Regional History and Management
On Day 1, attendees learned about the Native history and present-day relationships to land in this area, early settlement impacts, and current forest management practices in the Trout Lake/Mt. Adams region. This exploration provided a foundational understanding of the area’s rich cultural and ecological heritage.
Field Tour Highlights
Day 2 featured a field tour organized by local partners, including the Mt. Adams Resource Stewards (MARS). Participants visited various sites within the Mt. Adams Community Forest, examining sustainable management practices and collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing ecological resilience and community engagement.
Reflective Session on Forestry’s Future
The Summit concluded on Day 3 with a reflective session led by Cristina Eisenberg. This encouraged participants to contemplate the future of forestry, focusing on integrating Indigenous knowledge, fostering community-centered management, and developing adaptive practices to build resilience against climate change. Attendees engaged in discussions about the challenges and opportunities in sustainable forest management, sharing insights and exploring strategies to deepen collaborative efforts across diverse forestry communities.
Strengthening Connections Across Forestry Communities
Throughout the Summit, attendees engaged with diverse perspectives on sustainable forestry, connecting with peers from various sectors to share experiences and insights. The event offered ample networking opportunities, fostering an exchange of ideas on innovative practices that address both regional and global forestry challenges.
One NIFS 2024 participant had this to say about the experience: “I wanted to thank you and the Forest Stewards Guild for your leadership in putting on such an inspiring and rejuvenating summit. I came away from the experience feeling very hopeful about the future of our forests and the people who relate to and rely on them. The emphasis on community and place was a big reason for that, and I applaud the planners and FSG for doing such a great job setting the tone.” – Luke Dauner
The 2024 NIFS highlighted the significance of community, collaboration, and a forward-looking approach in ecologically and socially responsible forestry. We extend our gratitude to all attendees and organizers who contributed to the success of this event.