News & Events

COMING UP SHORT: Winning legal argument raised too late in Idaho forest project lawsuit, judge rules. MORE HERE

COMMENTARY: Old growth is burning up in wildfires. This calls for better land management. MORE HERE

BITTERROOT ECOSYSTEM: Feds launch effort to update grizzly bear recovery plan in Idaho. MORE HERE

WORKING FORESTS: Idaho expands Forest Legacy Program, adding 33,000 acres of timberland. MORE HERE

LISTEN: The impact of wildfires and how Idaho is protecting against them. MORE HERE

GREEN LIGHT: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests announce decision on Limber Elk project to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. MORE HERE

VIDEO: How Managing Forests and Using Wood Benefits the Climate. MORE HERE

WORLD RECORD: Tallest Mass Timber Building in North America to Break Ground in 2024. MORE HERE

Registration is now open for this spring’s 2024 LEAP Update and 3-Day LEAP courses.

The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is a nationally acclaimed University of Idaho Extension program. It began at the request of loggers who want to improve their skills, document and market their services and communicate more effectively with family forest owners and managers. Credits are available to participants to fulfill continuing education requirements of the Idaho Pro-Logger Program.

Please note that you must register through the University of Idaho at https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/forestry/programs. Below are dates and locations for this spring’s LEAP courses.

LEAP Update Course:

The 2024 LEAP Update is being offered at three different locations. The class runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST. Check-in begins at 7:15 a.m. The cost is $45 per person.

March 5 – Lewis-Clark State College Williams Conference Center, Room 801-899, 4th Street, Lewiston, Idaho
March 6 – American Legion Hall, 1138 E. Poleline Ave., Post Falls, Idaho
March 7 – Boundary County Fairgrounds, 6567 Recreation Pk Rd, Bonners Ferry, Idaho

3-Day LEAP Course:

The 3-Day LEAP course is being offered at two locations and costs $75 per person.

April 23 to 25 – UI Pitkin Forest Nursery, 1025 Plant Science Rd., Moscow, Idaho
April 30 to May 2 – UI Extension at Kootenai County University of Idaho Research Park, 958 South Lochsa Street, Classroom 302, Post Falls, Idaho.

Questions? Please contact the UI Extension nearest to you:
Moscow/Lewiston – (208) 885-7718
Kootenai County – (208) 292-2525
Boundary County – (208) 267-3235

BREAKING TRUCK NEWS: New Rule Will Reclassify Independent Contractors as Employees. MORE HERE

BOLD ACTION NEEDED: ‘That Was Then . . . This Is Now’ A Tale of Two Fires. MORE HERE

OBAMA-ERA EXPANSION: Industry Group Seeks Supreme Court Ruling. MORE HERE

ONCE VIBRANT: What Happened to America’s Middle Class? An Old Foresters Perspective. MORE HERE

LEAP TRAINING: Mark your calendars for this spring’s 2024 LEAP Update and 3-Day LEAP courses. MORE HERE

QUICK RESPONSE: Structure fire breaks out at lumber mill in Meridian. MORE HERE

PLASTIC ALTERNATIVE: Why Scientists Are Making Transparent Wood. MORE HERE

BIDEN ADMIN: Forest Service announces plan to amend all forest land management plans to protect old growth trees. MORE HERE

BIG BOOST: Idaho Department of Lands distributes over $61 million in endowment funds. MORE HERE

UP IN SMOKE: Biden’s plan to burn down your Christmas tree. MORE HERE

LOGGING BAN: Biden’s New Forest Plan Will Backfire. MORE HERE

MANAGED FORESTS: AWC supports push for more mass timber construction. MORE HERE

UPTICK: Demand, prices for wood expected to increase in INW. MORE HERE

Mark your calendars for this spring’s 2024 LEAP Update and 3-Day LEAP courses.

The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is a nationally acclaimed University of Idaho Extension program. It began at the request of loggers who want to improve their skills, document and market their services and communicate more effectively with family forest owners and managers. Credits are available to participants to fulfill continuing education requirements of the Idaho Pro-Logger Program.

Please note that you must register through the University of Idaho. Registration and additional details will be available soon at https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/forestry/programs. Below are dates and locations for this spring’s LEAP courses.

LEAP Update Course:
March 5 – Lewis-Clark State College Williams Conference Center, Room 801-899, 4th Street, Lewiston, Idaho
March 6 – Coeur d’Alene
March 7 – Bonners Ferry

3-Day LEAP Course:
April 23 to 25 – Moscow, Idaho
April 30 to May 2 – Post Falls, Idaho
Possible third class TBD

Questions? Please contact the UI Extension nearest to you:
Moscow/Lewiston – (208) 885-7718
Kootenai County – (208) 292-2525
Boundary County – (208) 267-3235

The Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (C-PTPA) is offering Equipment Operator Fire Training from 8 a.m. to Noon April 10, 2024. There will be a light work capacity test (1 mile walk in 16 minutes) to follow the classroom instruction. Training will be held at the Best Western Lodge at River’s Edge, 615 Main St., in Orofino, Idaho.

Register at https://cptpa.com/ by April 5. A flyer with additional information is available HERE.

TAG TIME: Idaho Truckers Encouraged to Change Vehicle Tag Expirations. MORE HERE

HEATED DEBATE: Should the U.S. keep old trees around to store carbon or cut them down? MORE HERE

SMOKE AND FIRE: Risch, Crapo, Daines push Biden administration to protect communities from dangers of wildfire smoke, increase active forest management. MORE HERE

SPOKES-BEAR: Smokey Bear turning 80 years old in 2024. MORE HERE

HABITAT: Plan would give Canada lynx 20 years before delisting. MORE HERE

NORTH IDAHO: Thousands of Northwest jobs could come from new Forest Service plan. MORE HERE

FOREST PLAN: Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest shrinks Great Burn Wilderness. MORE HERE

RESPITE: Why this year’s quiet U.S. wildfire season could be one of our last. MORE HERE