WildChat #13: Defending Oregon’s Forest Waters Part II

Panelists:
Sam Krop, Campaign Manager/Wild and Working Forest Program at the Center for Sustainable Economy
Along with other advocates for our freshwater resources

Description: Our August 11th WildChat was the second part of our series on the campaign to defend Oregon’s forest waters. In this webinar, we explored the impacts that private and state land logging are having on municipal drinking water supplies, and the ways that your local elected leaders can take a stand against the irresponsible timber harvest that is endangering our communities.


WildChat #12: Defending Our Forest Waters Part I

Panelists:
Stacey Detwiler, Rogue Riverkeeper Conservation Director
Mary Scurlock, Environmental Policy Analyst
Ralph Bloemers, Crag Law Center Co-Founder/Senior Staff Attorney

Description: Our July 28 WildChat featured a discussion on the Forest Waters Coalition to learn about the work that Cascadia Wildlands and a coalition of allies are doing to reform the laws governing both State and private lands logging.


WildChat #11: The Fight for Thurston Hills

Panelists:
Ronna Frank, impacted Thurston Hills community member
Kebrhea Cuellar, impacted Thurston Hills community member
Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands Legal Director

Description: July 7th’s WildChat was all about the fight for Thurston Hills in Springfield, Oregon. Our discussion featured Ronna Frank and Kebrhea Cuellar, two Thurston Hills community members who have been active in opposing this irresponsible timber sale. Cascadia Wildlands’ Legal Director, Nick Cady, weighs into the conversation to discuss next steps in the permitting process and provide legal context for viewers. Together, we can stop the logging in Thurston Hills!


WildChat #10: Beaver Restoration and Climate Resiliency

Panelists:
Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands Legal Director
Dr. Suzanne Fouty, a hydrologist in northeastern Oregon
John Mellgren, Staff Attorney and General Counsel at Western Environmental Law Center

Description: Our June 23 WildChat showcased the ecological role of beavers in a changing climate, and the ongoing efforts to restore nature’s architects, or “ecosystem engineers”, to the waters of Cascadia. We explored how beaver restoration can create resilient communities and mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis. We were joined by Cascadia Wildlands’ Legal Director, Nick Cady, as well as other allies working in the courts and the legislature to fight for Oregon’s state animal and the climate resilient communities that they create.


WildChat #9: Saving the Elliott State Forest

Panelists:
Josh Laughlin, Cascadia Wildlands Executive Director 

Maria Farinacci, Coast Range Forest Watch
Francis Eatherington

Description: Our June 9 WildChat presented Cascadia Wildlands’ Executive Director, Josh Laughlin in a conversation about the ongoing campaign to save the Elliott State Forest. Josh was joined by Maria Farinacci of Coast Range Forest Watch and Francis Eatherington to tell the history of this campaign, and the obstacles still to be faced as we continue the fight to keep the Elliott State Forest wild and free, and in the public’s hands.


WildChat #8: Tales From the Field

Panelists:
Paula Hood, Co-Director of Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project
Michael Krochta, Forest Watch Coordinator with BARK
Mia Pisano, Volunteer with BARK
Sam Krop, Cascadia Wildlands Grassroots Organizer

Description: Do you love going on hikes through beautiful forests? Do you wake up every morning boiling with rage over the mismanagement of our public lands? Well then we’ve got the thing for you! Our May 26th WildChat discussed field checking as a tactic in our campaign to protect native forests and watersheds. We heard stories from the field from our WildCAT team, as well as from our allies across the state.


WildChat #7: Timber Sales and How to Stop Them

Panelists:
Chandra LeGue, Oregon Wild’s Western Oregon Field Coordinator
Brenna Bell, Policy Coordinator for Bark
Brodia Minter, Conservation Associate for Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center

Description: Our May 19th WildChat can teach you how to track proposed timber sales on public lands, and how to take action to stop them! We interviewed Chandra LeGue, Oregon Wild’s Western Oregon Field Coordinator, Brenna Bell, Policy Coordinator with Bark, and Brodia Minter, Conservation Associate with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, for an in-depth discussion of how public lands forests get logged, and how activists can use the legal process to fight the destruction. We took a close look at the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process, exploring the life of a timber sale and how to engage in the public process. This WildChat included stories, lessons, and insights from three amazing panelists who work in the field of forestlands defense!


WildChat #6: Wildfire Myths, Facts and Key Messages

Panelists:
Alex Harris, Forest Advocate and Wildfire Messaging Specialist
Madeline Cowen, Staff with Firefighters United for Safety Ethics and Ecology (FUSEE) and WildCAT Volunteer
Mike Beasley, Retired US Forest Service Fire Chief and Fire Behavior Analyst

Description: Our May 12th WildChat was a deep dive into the ecological, political, social and even economic aspects of wildfire in the Pacific Northwest. We discussed the ecology of Cascadia’s fire-adapted forests, the nuances of wildfire, and busted common myths and misunderstandings used to promote industrial logging and undermine forest health. We were joined by panelists Alex Harris, forest advocate and wildfire messaging specialist and Madeline Cowen, staff with Firefighters United for Safety Ethics and Ecology (FUSEE) and volunteer with Cascadia’s own WildCAT team. Toward the end we also heard from the esteemed Mike Beasley, retired US forest service fire chief and fire behavior analyst.


WildChat #5: Wild Wolves in Cascadia

Panelists:
Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands Legal Director

Description: Our May 5th WildChat focused on grey wolf conservation efforts through the Pacific Northwest, and how you can get involved to help restore these incredible creatures to Cascadia. We heard from Cascadia Wildlands’ Legal Director plus wolf advocates from Oregon Wild and the Center for Biological Diversity to learn about the ins and outs of wolf management in Oregon and Washington, and pack updates through out the region!


WildChat #4: Phone Banking for Thurston Hills

Description: Our April 28th WildChat focused on the art of direct outreach through phone banking. We learned about using phone banking as a strategic tool, with a focus on doing community outreach to educate neighbors about the Thurston Hills timber sale. The Thurston Hills timber sale is a 109 acre clearcut proposal in land slated for recreation directly in the backyard of many Springfield, Oregon residents. Phone banking is an essential tool in the grassroots organizing toolbox. Learn about the basics of conservation outreach with this crash course in phone banking and Thurston Hills from Cascadia’s WildCAT team!


WildChat #3: Tales from the Forest Defense Archives

Description: Our April 21st WildChat focused on tales from Cascadia’s forest defense archives, from forest defense activists who were at the front lines of key battles for public lands across this bioregion. We heard from local forest defense advocates who organized, educated, agitated and engaged in direct action to protect forests such as the beloved Warner Creek.


WildChat #2: How To – Online Timber Sale Monitoring-Finding NEPA Paperwork

Description: Our April 14th WildChat focused on how to find key timber sale documents and maps on BLM and Forest Service websites, what NEPA is, and how to help monitor timber sales using this knowledge.


WildChat #1: Communtiy Resistance to Jordan Cove LNG

Panelists:
Sam Krop, Grassroots Organizer for Cascadia Wildlands
Gabe Scott, In-House Counsel for Cascadia Wildlands
Ka’ila Farrel-Smith, Klamath Modoc Artist and Anti-Pipeline Activist
Deb Evans, Landowner Impacted by the Proposed Pipeline

Description: Our very first WildChat on Tuesday, 7 April 2020 was a discussion about ongoing community resistance to Jordan Cove LNG. Cascadia Wildlands’ Grassroots Organizer, Sam Krop, interviewed Klamath Modoc artist and anti-pipeline activists, Ka’ila Farrel-Smith, impacted landowner, Deb Evans, and Cascadia’s In-House Counsel and member of NO-LNG Exports team, Gabe Scott, for an in-depth discussion about community resistance to the Jordan Cove fracked gas pipeline.