OESF Learning Community

Essential to the T3 Watershed Experiment is learning-based collaboration (LBC)– wherein managers, researchers, stakeholders, and tribes collaborate to address management questions and options through the scientific process. A key element of LBC is that group members might agree or disagree about any one aspect of land management, but they can agree to discuss, learn together, and scientifically test ideas. LBC is essential for whole-ecosystem wellbeing, wherein environmental, social, and economic needs and values are considered simultaneously and with equal emphasis on all. 

In the Olympic Experimental State Forest (OESF), we are merging our former topic-specific Learning Groups (LGs) into a single larger Learning Community, with an emphasis on all of the OESF, including but not limited to the T3 Watershed Experiment. Small topic-specific LGs will form and dissolve as needed for implementation of a study, project or activity in the OESF. For instance, there is an ongoing need for the Cedar LG to continue meeting as we plant, treat, and monitor the experimental units in the cedar regeneration study. In contrast, we dissolved the remote sensing LG due to lack of a specific project and members who were stretched too thin to develop yet another task for themselves.

In addition to advising and collaborating on ongoing studies, the Learning Community is essential to identify potential new research needs, and to find students and researchers who can process field samples and analyze the copious data.

If you would like to join a group or want additional information, please contact Tracy Petroske at Tracy.Petroske@dnr.wa.gov. In addition, below is a calendar showing all of the upcoming meetings with links to attend virtually. Please feel free to join any upcoming meeting.