PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Over the course of a long and influential career, Jerry Franklin has been called many things: an iconoclast, a forest doctor, a salesman, a troublemaker, a bridge-builder, a gang member, the father of New Forestry. And while no single word can encompass the man, what's certain is that few individuals have shaped how we understand—and manage—Pacific Northwest forests more than he has.

At this special Sense of Place event, Jerry Franklin will reflect on the path that led him into the woods—from an early fascination with trees to the research that helped overturn long-standing assumptions about old-growth forests. He’ll revisit the pivotal decades when science, policy, and public debate collided in the Northwest. From the emergence of New Forestry to the controversy surrounding the Northern Spotted Owl, and the political moment that produced the landmark Northwest Forest Plan. And he'll consider the present and future of Pacific Northwest forests, and his own evolving views on how we might steward them in an era of climate change, wildfire, and shifting public expectations.

Join us for this rare opportunity with renowned forest ecologist, Jerry Franklin, as he considers what we’ve learned, what remains uncertain, and where forest stewardship may need to go next.

BIO

Jerry Franklin is one of the most influential forest ecologists in the Pacific Northwest and a leading figure in transforming how forests are understood and managed. Over a career spanning more than six decades, his research fundamentally shifted scientific, economic, and public perception of forests and their management.

A longtime professor at the University of Washington and former scientist with the U.S. Forest Service, Franklin helped pioneer “New Forestry,” an approach that integrates ecological values and wildlife habitat into timber harvest strategies. His work also informed the landmark Northwest Forest Plan, which reshaped management of federal forests across Washington, Oregon, and California.

Through decades of research, mentorship, and public engagement, Franklin has profoundly shaped modern forest science and stewardship, and he remains an active thinker and advisor on the future of our national forests.

This Sense of Place event was made possible by support from Columbia Land Trust and Resilient Forestry, with special thanks to Adam Lieberg and Russell Kramer.

Ticket sales support this and future Sense of Place programs. Thank you for helping us share deep knowledge, preserve stories, and connect more people to this place—and each other.

Jerry Franklin: Rethinking Forests - Then and Now.

Join the "Father of New Forestry" for a Special Sense of Place Event