Episode 73 - Post Wildfire Recovery, pt. 2

OSU Extension forester Jake Barker interviews Becca Shively of Sustainable Northwest about post-fire recovery and restoration after Oregon’s 2020 wildfires, focusing on the Western Oregon Cascades Recovery Effort (WOCRE). Shively explains Sustainable Northwest’s forestry work and describes WOCRE’s landowner assistance program, which provides intensive technical support and financial help to small family forest landowners facing barriers such as limited seedling access, lack of capacity after trauma, contractor shortages, and cost-share requirements. She outlines how the program aggregates bulk seedling orders and bundled contractor bids, pays contractors directly, and coordinates with conservation districts, USDA NRCS RCPP funding, a Forest Service grant funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, and American Forests for seedlings. The program will serve 40 landowners across Clackamas, Marion, Lane, and Jackson counties, treating about 2,000 acres, and has faced federal funding disruptions and staffing constraints. ·      00:00 Podcast Intro·      00:41 Why Post Fire Recovery·      01:58 Meet Becca Shively·      02:48 Sustainable Northwest Overview·      04:04 Recovery Work Categories;·      06:24 Behind The Scenes Work·      07:52 Landowner Assistance Barriers·      12:13 Enrollment Status And Reach·      13:17 Partners Funding Seedlings·      16:59 Aggregation And Contracts·      21:29 Planning And Eligibility·      23:16 Scaling The Model·      26:20 Federal Funding Curveballs·      29:08 Why Reforestation Matters·      34:56 Fit In Regional Recovery·      38:09 Lightning Round·      39:40 Wrap Up And Credits