[ODF_Private_Forests] Ackerman, Springer appointed to Forestry Board

[WEEKS Kevin]

Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today.

For immediate release                           Major media distribution
February 5, 2010                                Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425 office
10-04                                           503-508-0574 cell

Ackerman, Springer appointed to Oregon Forestry Board

Forestland owner Gary Springer and conservation group director Sybil Ackerman have been appointed to the Oregon Board of Forestry. They replace board members Bill Hutchison and Larry Giustina, whose second terms will expire this spring.

"I immensely appreciate Gov. Kulongoski's timely appointment of the new board members,” Board Chair John Blackwell said. “Sybil Ackerman and Gary Springer bring competent and knowledgeable leadership to the Board of Forestry."

Active in Oregon environmental causes since the 1990s, Ackerman is currently executive director of the Portland-based Lazar Foundation, which funds projects to protect the environment throughout the Pacific Northwest. Prior to her employment with the Lazar Foundation, she was legislative affairs director for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. Her credentials also include positions with the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society of Portland.

Ackerman has served on forest-related advisory committees including the Forestry Program for Oregon Revision Committee, State Forest Advisory Committee, and the State Forest Habitat Conservation Committee. She currently serves on Gov. Kulongoski’s Nearshore and Environmental Justice task forces.

She holds an environmental law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School, a master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a baccalaureate in environmental studies from Scripps College.

Springer is a staff forester with Starker Forests, Inc. of Corvallis and also handles policy and public outreach duties for the family-owned company. In addition, he owns and manages the 80-acre Chinquapin Point tree farm in Harlan. From the 1970s through the 1990s, he was a partner in Springer Logging, his family’s contract logging business. Springer has served on a variety of forestry-related boards and committees, including the Forest Practices Advisory Committee and the Committee for Family Forestlands.

He currently serves on the Oregon Small Woodlands Association and Oregon Society of American Foresters executive committees, and on research advisory committees at the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry. He was a member of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute board until his nomination to the Board of Forestry.

Springer holds a baccalaureate in general humanities from OSU.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced his nomination of Springer and Ackerman on Jan. 11, and the Oregon State Senate confirmed both appointees on Feb. 5. The board consists of seven governor-appointed members, with the Oregon State Forester serving as secretary. The term of office is four years, and no member may serve more than two consecutive full terms. The mission of the board is to lead Oregon in implementing policies and programs that promote environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable management of Oregon’s public and private forests.

Attorney Bill Hutchison of Portland has served two terms on the board. His second term will expire on June 30 of this year. Larry Giustina, managing partner of Eugene-based Giustina Land & Timber Co., will leave the board on April 30 when his second term expires.

"Larry and Bill have given tirelessly during eight years of service to Oregon and Oregonians," Blackwell said.

More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD<http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD>.

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EDITORS NOTE: Photos of Ackerman and Springer can be obtained by contacting Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us.