Tillamook Forest Center opens Friday, March 1

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST – The Tillamook Forest Center will open for the 2019 season on Friday, March 1, kicking off the year with a presentation series showcasing forest management and an exhibit of the wood sculptures of Martin Conley.

The “Fresh Brewed Forestry” series will focus on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) scientists and their work in managing state-owned forests in Oregon. The first talk is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 at 11 a.m. with a presentation that will zero in on the role that more than 500 species of bees play in Oregon’s environment.

Forest entomologist Christine Buhl will present a program on how the state is enhancing habitat for pollinator species, and how private forestland owners can do the same.

Future topics in the series include discussions on the relationship between biomass and carbon reduction, and how soil recovers after a wildfire.

Coffee and tea will be provided. A full schedule of events can be found by clicking here.

Through May 26, visitors to the center can view Martin Conley’s art, who, according to a media release from the Tillamook Forest Center, “sees value in dead trees often discarded by others.”

His sculptures, some up to 8 feet tall, showcase the natural features of wood, with holes carved in wood pieces to expose cavities, colors, and textures that would otherwise be hidden.

The Tillamook Forest Center, an ODF-managed facility located in the heart of the Tillamook State Forest along Highway 6 will play host to thousands of visitors in 2019 who visit the Tillamook State Forest, either passing through on the way to the Oregon Coast, or for some, visiting the forest for what it has to offer, such as trails, rivers, off-road opportunities, foraging, fishing, hunting, and more.

The center features a replica fire lookout tower, an interpretive center, a bridge that spans the Wilson River and links to the Wilson River Trail, a theater that shows programs related to the historic Tillamook Burn, and presentations surrounding the history, wildlife, and vegetation of the Tillamook State Forest.

With a suggested donation of $5, visitors can find the center open in the spring Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information can be found by visiting the Tillamook Forest Center website.