Meet Claralynn: the woman behind the Helpline

I am pleased to introduce myself to you as the new Education/Stewardship Coodinator for the Forest Stewardship Helpline.

I am coming to this position having spent two years as a partner in a forestry consulting business in Laytonville, Mendocino County. Previously, I spent several years working with another private consulting firm in Eureka and Willits, as well as stints with the Forest Service in Happy Camp, Covelo, and Eureka. My experience has primarily been in the field, specifically in the preparation of numerous THPs, NTMPs, and timber cruises in Humboldt, Mendocino, and El Dorado Counties. As an RPF and resident landowner (40 acres), I have worked with landowners holding 10 to 5,000 acres.

Humboldt State University has granted me two degrees, an MS in Natural Resources-Forestry and a second MS in Environmental Engineering-International Development Technology. My thesis research was done in China (in Chinese) on tree planting patterns and preferences of small forest landowners. In total I spent about a year working with the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Beijing and a small forestry college in southern China.

As the Stewardship/Education Coordinator, I hope to accomplish three things. First, to increase outreach to forest landowners so that all of you know that you can call our number with any kind of forestry-related question and receive a helpful response or referral. Establishing new links and maintaining current cooperative efforts with professional and landowners associations such as Forest Landowners of California (FLC), California Licensed Foresters Association (CLFA), and Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) can help us get information about the Forest Stewardship Helpline out to various memberships. I hope that you, as well as resource professionals, will relay information about the Helpline and newsletter to individual landowners. If you like the newsletter or the Helpline, pass on the word to others!

Second, I would like to see this office promote collaborative local forest management efforts. My experience both nationally and internationally has solidified my belief that grassroots efforts are ultimately much more effective than top-down approaches. Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), for example, offer great potential in providing information and leadership to forest landowners and landowner groups. I would like this office to be an information clearinghouse, referring landowners to groups such as their local RCDs, as well as passing along relevant information to those groups. I welcome suggestions as to how to provide support (within the scope of our small office) for local groups.

Third, I intend to continue and expand the efforts of this office to promote forestry education. This includes facilitating the smooth operation of existing educational programs like the Forestry Institute for Teachers and Forest Conservation Days. This focus can be expanded to include education of a broader public through, for example, programs such as ElderHostel that could concentrate on forest management and related topics. Again, I welcome your suggestions regarding worthwhile programs that could benefit from the efforts of this office.

My first days as the Coordinator have been hectic and wonderful, getting to know some of the people and programs in place that are committed to facilitating forest stewardship here in California. Please note the new mailing address and e-mail address, ncsaf@mcn.org. The Forest Helpline number, 1-800-738-TREE remains the same. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to serve the Stewardship Helpline and look forward to the pleasure of working with all of you.