CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Hiking, biking, camping and other types of recreation draw thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to the woods every year. When conflicts arise, users can be at odds with each other and with the businesses and agencies responsible for managing forestland.

The annual Starker Lecture Series at Oregon State University will explore this issue with presentations, discussions, forest tours and a capstone field trip.

The series is hosted by the OSU College of Forestry. It kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a film, "Pedal Driven" at the Whiteside Theatre, 361 S.W. Madison Ave., in downtown Corvallis.

Other events in the series will be held at the LaSells Stewart Center, C&E Hall, at Oregon State. They include:

  • Feb. 15, 3:30 p.m.: "The Intersection of Outdoor Recreation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: from increasing awareness to creating relevance," with Nina S. Roberts, San Francisco State University
  • March 8, 3:30 p.m.: "Sustainable Recreation on the National Forest - Healthy Balance?" with John Allen, U.S. Forest Service, Deschutes National Forest
  • April 12, 3:30 p.m.: "Is National Monument Designation an Economic Blessing or an Economic Curse?" with Paul Jakus, Utah State University

"The challenges of balancing the needs of those who use our forests are immense," said Thomas Maness, the Cheryl Ramberg-Ford and Allyn C. Ford Dean of the College of Forestry. "For instance, conflicts between recreationists and land managers arise and are costly, while forest recreation remains an opportunity enjoyed mostly by users of a certain income status and demographic set. The series will be a wonderful opportunity for audiences to learn about the challenges and how they can be addressed."

The Starker Lecture Series is sponsored by the Starker family in memory of T.J. and Bruce Starker, prominent leaders in the development of the Oregon forest products industry. The series is also supported by the OSU College of Forestry and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute.

The entire lecture series is free and open to the public. More information on the series is available at http://starkerlectures.forestry.oregonstate.edu.

Story By: 

Nick Houtman, [email protected], 541-737-0783

    

Source: 

Michael Collins, OSU College of Forestry, 541-737-3140

    

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