CORVALLIS, Ore. - The 2010 Starker Lectures will begin in March at Oregon State University, focusing on the topic of "Ecosystems Services from Forests and Farms."

The lectures, supported by the OSU College of Forestry, will examine ecosystem services from both a philosophical and practical perspective, exploring such issues as paying landowners for carbon sequestration, water, developing markets for ecosystem services, and determining ways to value them.

The events are free and open to the public.

They will begin Thursday, March 4, with a presentation on "Ecosystem Service Markets: Potential and Pitfalls" by Sara Vickerman, senior director of the Biodiversity Partnership, Defenders of Wildlife; and also "Crossing Jurisdictional Boundaries: An Integrated Ecosystem Credit Accounting System and a Standard Credit Issuance Process," by David Primozich, executive director of the Willamette Partnership in Salem, Ore. These presentations will be from 3:30-5 p.m. in Richardson Hall Room 107 at OSU.

Other presentations include:

  • Tuesday, April 6: "Markets for Ecosystems Services," by Bettina von Hagen, chief executive officer of Ecotrust Forest Management in Portland, from 3:30-5 p.m. in Richardson Hall Room 107.
  • Thursday, April 22: "Ecosystems Services from Forest Lands - The Oregon Approach," by Ted Lorensen, former assistant state forester in Oregon, from 3:30-5 p.m. in Richardson Hall Room 107.
  • Thursday, May 6: "Ecosystems Services Capstone Lecture," by Sally Collins, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets, from 3:30-5 p.m., LaSells Stewart Center, Construction and Engineering Auditorium.
  • Friday, May 7: "Capstone Field Trip," beginning at Richardson Hall's Hatfield Courtyard, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., touring sites where ecosystem services are being measured and marketed. Registration for this event, which includes lunch, is required by April 30.

More details on the lectures and live video streaming can be obtained on the web at http://starkerlectures.forestry.oregonstate.edu

The Starker Lectures are sponsored by the Starker family in honor of T.J. and Bruce Starker, prominent leaders in the development of the Oregon forest products industry. They are supported by the OSU College of Forestry and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute.

Source: 

Nathalie Gitt, 541-737-4279

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