Oregon Forest Resources Institute - OFRI

06/02/2026

Congratulations to our Deputy Director and Director of Forestry Julie Woodward, who was selected by the Oregon State University's College of Forestry as one of its 2026 Outstanding Alumni! The annual award honors alumni for their impact on their fields and contributions to the future of forestry. Learn more about this honor by clicking on the link below.
https://ow.ly/YImc50Z6suV

06/02/2026

This Friday is the official start of the 2026 Sandy Invitational Chainsaw Competition's Forest Festival, set to include various activities like timber-sports, carving artists, educational booths and a world record attempt. The three-day festival starts with a students' day to bring trades and forestry education to Oregon students. See the full schedule linked below.
https://www.trajectorynw.org/sicc

06/02/2026

An invasive, shiny and green beetle has arrived in Oregon, and the World Forestry Center is hosting a Forest Pub at McMenamins Mission Theater on June 8 to discuss the devastating effects of these insects' arrival in the state. Click on the link below to learn more about this Forest Pub event.

From conferences to celebrations, World Forestry Center has the right inspiring indoor and outdoor venues for you, every rental helps advance World Forestry Center’s mission for forests and society.

06/01/2026

Our recent advertising campaign focused on planting trees, providing wildlife habitat and storing carbon. Water is also a key value of Oregon’s forests. Perhaps in the future we will highlight the ways that forest drinking water sources and fish habitat are protected with no-cut buffers around streams, as seen in this bonus animation.

05/29/2026

With historic heat, drought and El Nino weather patterns, Oregon's fire season is expected to be challenging. More than 60% of wildfires were human-caused last year, and so as we enter another fire season, Gov. Tina Kotek is encouraging Oregonians to be proactive about preventing wildfires. Learn more this year's Oregon fire season indicators and outlook below.

Oregon’s wildfire season started early this year and is expected to last into October, according to state fire experts.

05/29/2026

Camp Tillamook, a 25-acre space with one of the only native plant nurseries along the Oregon Coast, houses incarcerated youth in partnership with the Oregon Youth Authority to provide work experience and restore Oregon's ecosystems. Read more about this program and others like it by clicking on the link below.

Youth in custody of the Oregon Youth Authority are gaining job experience and playing an important role in restoring Oregon’s forests.

05/28/2026

Are you prepared for wildfire? As preparations continue for the upcoming and potentially dangerous fire season, Rick Graves, the public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue says taking 30 minutes to prepare a go-bag or practice evacuation routes can make a world of difference if you receive notification for a fire evacuation. Read more by clicking on the link below.

As Oregon and Washington prepare for a "potentially dangerous" wildfire season in 2026, first responders are asking everyone to prepare for the worst.

05/28/2026

After years of research and focus on improving salmon populations, biologists are starting to shift their focus onto other animals that may be beneficial for water quality and fish populations such as beavers. The effects of beaver dams are still being researched but are thought by many to help cool the water and create more salmon habitat. Read more about how beavers can help salmon by clicking on the link below.
https://ow.ly/B8sc50YNK5L

05/28/2026

Five new changes are taking effect this summer at Oregon State Parks, including fees, drone usage and cancellation policy. Read more about these changes by clicking on the link below.

From rules on drones to campground cancellation fees, here’s what’s new in state parks this season.

05/27/2026

The University of Oregon is installing new artificial intelligence integrated cameras for early wildfire detection in Wasco County. The cameras perform 360-degree scans every two minutes. Click on the link below to learn more about these new smoke detecting AI cameras.

EUGENE, Ore. — May 26, 2026 — The University of Oregon Hazards Lab is expanding its wildfire detection network in Wasco County, adding new artificial intelligence-integrated cameras designed to identify smoke within minutes and improve early response in the Columbia Gorge. Google is providing ...