• MASON, BRUCE, & GIRARD, INC. (MG&B). Mason, Bruce, and Girard has been providing natural resource consulting services to public and private sector clients, nationally and internationally, since 1921. With offices in Portland, Oregon and Redding, California, USA, MB&G provides forestry, GIS, and environmental services for both small and large-scale projects. Our Inventory and Biometrics Group has expertise in all phases of natural resource assessment, including sample design, data collection and analysis, data management, modeling, and reporting. For more information about our services, including short courses and cruising and inventory software, please contact Dr. Steve Fairweather (sfairweather@masonbruce.com, Tel: +1-503-224-3445) or visit our website at www.masonbruce.com.

• HANDHELD SYSTEMS, INC. - providing rugged handheld computers and data collection software to the forest products industry. Many field crews currently use our products to electronically record tree inventory, cruising, log scale, and wildlife data. To find out more about our products and services, visit our web site at www.handheldsystems.com, or email us at sales@handheldsystems.com

• ELECTRONIC DATA SOLUTIONS AND TAYLOR CONSULTING. They are proud to bring you http://www.geoposition.com, an on-line mall of geospatial products and resources. You will find pricing and information for Trimble GPS for mapping, ESRI ArcView and ArcPad products, All Topo Maps by iGage, Laser Tech. rangefinders, Juniper Systems Field Computers, DataPlus software, Hydrolab water quality instrumentation, and Calitech water quality calibration solutions.

• Dan Altrell - FORM, FAO
• Kalyanasundaram Kumaran
• Tim Ryan - Timber Resources Manager, Larex, Inc. www.larex.com

FSC LAKE STATES-CENTRAL HARDWOODS STANDARDS OPEN FOR REVIEW - The Forest Stewardship Council and the FSC Lake States Working Group (LSWG) is releasing draft standards for the Lake States and Central Hardwoods region for public review and comment. The public comment period will last 60 days and close 23 June 2001. The LSWG region includes forested areas in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. These standards when finalized will be the basis for certification assessments conducted by FSC accredited certifiers in this region. The easiest way to review the draft standards is via the internet (http://www.fscstandards.org/). Click on the Lake States Region in the U.S. map on the top of the page. That will take you to the regional draft and a user-friendly, on-line comment forum. You also may download the regional draft in PDF format. Or if you prefer that we mail you a hard copy, please contact Michelle Peach (mpeach@iatp.org).

DEMAND-DRIVEN IN CENTRAL AMERICA - From Duncan Macqueen - Surveys of the priority problems faced by FRP's four focus-groups of forest-dependent poor people in the management of forest and tree resources were conducted in the DFID Forestry Partner Countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The surveys, based on semi-structured interview techniques, involved more than 80 key informants from government departments, NARS and civil society. Matters of policy and institutional capability were higher priority constraints than lack of technologies. This is consistent with past findings which have prompted the evolution of FRP from its former, primarily technological focus, towards research which explicitly sets out to address policy, decision making and institutional issues. The full report from the programme development project ZF0143 is available in PDF format on the Internet at: www.nrinternational.co.uk/ then click on research management, then forestry, then programme news.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS - See Cooperation in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training between the European Community and the United States of America - http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/ec-usa/usa.html#call

INCLUDE VOLUME CONTOURS ON YOUR CRUISE REPORTS - From Harry Wiant, Jr. - Foresters often include maps when providing clients with cruise reports. A map with contours indicating volumes is very helpful, especially to potential buyers of timber who may want to concentrate their field examination on the portions of the tract with greater volumes. This is easily done if the cruise program you use provides per-acre estimates for each point or plot. A version of my Cruise99 inventory program, called CruzPlot, does this (contact me if you wish to obtain a copy: hwiant@juno.com). The contour software is simple to use. Go to www.zdnet.com, search for Qgrid.zip, and download the program. It is free to try and cost only $37.50 if you wish to keep it. Harry V. Wiant, Jr., 113 Scenery Drive, Morgantown WV 26505 USA. Phone/fax: +1-304-599-6618 URL: http://homestead.juno.com/hwiant/index.html

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - Note: If you can help with any of the requests below, please take the time to do so. Do not assume others will respond - they are assuming the same. Your kind assistance will be appreciated and rewarded. Thanks, Gyde

• COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE AND GET A FREE CD- From Alex Korotkov. As you know the main report on the Temperate and Boreal Forest Resources Assessment (TBFRA-2000) was published in the paper format as "Forest Resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand" (ECE/TIM/SP/17), and posted on the UN/ECE Timber Committee website http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/. The TBFRA-2000 Electronic Database and Main Report are available now on CD-Rom. The UN-ECE/FAO team in Geneva has also launched the “TBFRA-2000 Use and Policy Implications Survey”, and distributed the relevant questionnaire to the current and potential users of the TBFRA data/information. By responding to the questionnaire you may contribute significantly to the further development of the UN/ECE-FAO Temperate and Boreal Forest Resources Assessment Programme, and provide a real influence on the scope, contents and quality of future international Forest Resources Assessments. This concise questionnaire and the explanatory notes are available on web: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/fra/welcome.htm . Please send the TBFRA Use and Implications Survey questionnaire filled with your replies (comments and suggestions) to Geneva: e-mail alexander.korotkov@unece.org, or by fax + 41 22 917 28 79, and you may get (if interested) the free CD-Rom with the TBFRA-2000 database and report. By answering the questionnaire you will provide valuable contribution for future work in this area.

• GIS REFERENCES SOUGHT - Dan Orcherton writes, "I am interested in the following references, if you know were I can get a hold of them? References regarding: Valuation of tropical rainforests using GIS systems, Nature Services and analysis using GIS, Data base management and GIS systems (for example, I have to use WINATK Agroforestry Knowledge Toolkit, and incorporate a GIS component?)." If you can help, please contact Dan at dorchert@powersurfr.com.

• CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES WITH IWOKRAMA (Guyana) - From the Forest list - The Iwokrama International Centre has extended the deadline to May 15th for applying for the following positions. 1. Business development: Sustainable timber market feasibility study, Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) marketing study, Business management advisors. 2. Training & capacity building: NTFP processing, Monitoring costs of forest management. 3. Planning & management consultancy: Forest Impact monitoring advisor, Protected areas management planner, International protected area application specialist. Detailed information can be found on Iwokrama's homepage: http://www.iwokrama.org/EmploymentOpportunities/EmploymentOpportunities.html

• GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP - From Scott Roberts via the Forest List. ( M.S.-Level) in Environmental Forestry Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University. Starts 01 August 2001, or sooner. A graduate research assistant (GRA) is sought for a project studying the application of poultry waste to forest land. Mississippi's top poultry producing counties also contain some of the state's most valuable and heavily forested timberlands. Despite widespread agricultural use of poultry waste, it has not been applied to forests. There is an urgent need to know the degree to which forests can contain excess nutrients in poultry waste. At the same time, there is a need to know the degree to which it will enhance forest growth. The project has regional and national value to biosolids issues. The position will be for two years and will provide a $13,500 annual stipend, plus graduate tuition and opportunities for travel. The GRA will be expected to assist in field and laboratory activities in support of an existing project on poultry litter application to a loblolly pine forest. Qualifications are: B.S. degree in forestry, ecology, or related field; good written and oral communication skills; and an interest in phytoremediation, environmental quality, or restoration ecology. The preferred start date for this position is 01 August 2001. Materials must be received by 01 July 2001. Interested individuals should send: (1) resume, (2) academic transcripts, (3) a letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position, and (4) contact information for three references. Mississippi State University is a Doctoral-I institution with a thriving graduate student population. The forest biology area within the Forestry Department has a good record of M.S. graduate placement in private corporations, Ph.D. programs, and public institutions. Any inquiries about this position will be welcomed. Contact: Dr. Alexander L. Friend, MSU Forestry Department, BOX 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9681 USA; alf2@ra.msstate.edu; +1-662-325-2779.

• MATHEMATICAL STATISTICIAN/BIOMETRICIAN (GS-11/12) - From Chip Scott - The USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station has an opening for a Mathematical Statistician/Biometrician to serve as an internal consultant to Forest Service scientists across the 13 Northeastern states. A Master's degree and experience or a PhD is required, as is a strong background in statistics. Background in forestry or other natural resources is beneficial. US citizens either in or out of federal government are eligible to apply. We are looking to fill the position in mid to late summer. The position is located at the Station headquarters in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA. The announcement opened on 4/30/01 and closes on 5/29/01. The vacancy is open two ways, to status Government employees via #NESC-RM-01-19G, and to all eligible U.S. citizens, inside and outside of Government, via #NESC-RM-01D-18. The entire vacancy announcement may be read by pointing your web browser to the following address: http://fsweb.ne.fs.fed.us/hrm/employment/index.html and clicking on: NE/NA permanent positions and clicking on: NESC-RM-01-19G and NESC-RM-01D-18. Both vacancy announcements are also available on the Office of Personnel Management's web page, called USA JOBS at: www.usajobs.opm.gov. There will be a similar forest biometrics position within Forest Inventory and Analysis unit starting in October 2001. Please contact Chip (ctscott@fs.fed.us) directly about interest in that research position.

• ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS BRANCH - No.: M08-1-DB72FIU, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Ecosystems Branch, Canada. Duties: lead a multi-disciplinary group of forest ecosystem specialists for the purpose of understanding the ecology of the provincial forests and developing ecologically sound management guidelines, determine sustainable outputs of forest ecosystems, perform the functions of Assistant Director of the Branch and act as advocate and liaison for the Saskatchewan Forest Centre, lead and implement an extensive ecosystem science transfer program to various client groups, facilitate the understanding of forest ecology in Saskatchewan. Typically the knowledge and abilities for this position would be attained through the completion of a Master of Science in Forestry or related discipline, and extensive experience in managing large science programs. A more complete description of the requirements for this position can be found on our Web site at http://www.gov.sk.ca/psc/jobs/May4-2.htm or by calling the Saskatchewan Public Service Commission at +1-306-787-2168. E-mail: careers@psc1.gov.sk.ca. Closing Date: May 18, 2001

• Anon. 1995. Use of remote sensing for ecological monitoring in Canada. Report of a Workshop. 16-17 June, 1995. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. http://www.cciw.ca/eman-temp/reports/publications/remote-sens/main.html
• Beck, Louisa R. et al. 2000. Remote Sensing and Human Health: New Sensors and New Opportunities. Emerging Infectious Diseases 6(3): http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol6no3/beck.htm
• Burgan, Robert E. et al. 2000. Fuel Models and Fire Potential from Satellite and Surface Observations. http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/firepot/fpipap.htm
• Camaran, Valentina. 1999. How to Effectively Analyze Deforestation in the Amazon Basin Through the Use of Binary and Fieldwork Data. http://studentweb.hunter.cuny.edu/~vcamaran/
• Duke, Guy; Aycrigg, Maria 2000. World Bank Biodiversity and Environmental Assessment Toolkit - http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/essd/essd.nsf/f308a5a687dbdec8852567eb00658cb7/a45ed771361d5f08852568dd0064d5a0?OpenDocument
• Gjertsen, Arnt Kristian. N.d. Mapping of forest based on satellite imagery and two-phase sampling for stratification. http://www.itek.norut.no/itek/sat/projects/2ppsystemv2.fm.html
• Kerasote, Ted. 2001. The Future of Our Forests. Audubon Magazine - January-February . http://magazine.audubon.org/features0101/future.html
• Leakey, Roger R.B. 2001. Win:Win landuse strategies for Africa: 1. Building on experience with agroforests in Asia and Latin America. International Forestry Review, 3: 321-330
• Leakey, Roger R.B. 2001. Win:Win landuse strategies for Africa: 2. Capturing economic and environmental benefits with multistrata agroforests. International Forestry Review, 3: 331-340
• Ministry of Forests. 2001. Procedures and Guidelines for Operational Forest Resource Survey and Mapping Using Global Positioning System Technology. British Columbia, MOF. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ric/pubs/teveg/opfield/
• Putz, F. E.,et al. 2001. Tropical forest management and conservation of biodiversity: an overview. Conservation Biology 15:7-20.
• Thoen, Bill. 2001. Find hidden treasures in the "deep web." GEOWorld 14(4):28-29. http://www.geoplace.com.
• Weber, Chuck. Nd. Faster, cheaper, and better than a tree inventory: a management survey - http://www.ci.huntsville.al.us/Landscape/Trees/UFSubpageInventory.htm
• Whitten, T., et al. 2001. Conservation biology: A displacement behavior for academia? Conservation Biology 15:1-3.
• Wilkie, David S; Finn, John T. 1996. Remote Sensing Imagery for Natural Resources Monitoring: A Guide for First-Time Users. Columbia University Press, New York (ISBN 0-231-07928-1). 295 p. http://bandersnatch.fnr.umass.edu/pub/rs.html(this completes citation from the 30 APR FIU)

8 May 2001. The Russian Forest Sector on the Drawing Board. Seminar. 1200-1300. USDA Forest Service, 1099 14th Street, NW, Suite 5500W, Washington, DC. (Near McPherson Square Metro). Contact: Allie Hoover +1-202-273-4738

17-19 May 2001. Oregon SAF Annual Meeting, Focus on the Field: Emerging Technologies and Applications. Corvallis, Oregon, USA. $140 plus $20 for non-members, Tel: +1-541-737-2329, http://outreach.cof.orst.edu/osaf/

12 June 2001. GIS/Special Interest Group (SIG) 10th annual spatial/digital mapping conference. Rochester, New York, USA. Contact: Jeff Volpe, GIS/SIG, PO Box 14067, Rochester, NY 14614-4067. Tel: 716-232-5137 ext. 282. Fax: +1-716-325-8446. Email: volpe@gergmannppc.com. URL: http://www.gissig.org

17-20 June 2001. 11th Annual Gap Analysis Program Meeting. Brookings, South Dakota, USA. South Dakota State University, South Dakota Gap Analysis Project, NPB 138, Box 21408, Brookings, SD 57007 USA. $165.

24-27 June 2001. 3rd North American Forest Ecology Workshop – Issues of Scale – from theory to practice. Duluth, Minnesota, USA. Contact: Mary Ann Hellman, University of Minnesota, 1530 Cleveland Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 55108-6112 USA. Fax: 612-625-5212; Email: mhellman@forestry.umn.edu.

24-28 June 2001. Digital Earth 2001. Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Contact: Canadian Institute of Geomatics, Box 1133, Station A, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5C2, Canada. Fax: +1- 435-309-8100;
Email: info@digitalearth.ca; URL: www.digitalearth.ca

25-27 June 2001. The 8th Scandinavian Research Conference on Geographical Information Science. Ås, Norway. Contact: ScanGIS 2001, SEVU-NLH, PO Box 5090, N-1432, Ås, Norway. Tel: +47-64-94-75-60. Fax: +47-64-94-74-40. Email: scangis2001@nlh.no. URL: http://www.nlh.no/conf/scangis2001/

3-4 October 2001. Short course “Basic Statistics for Foresters.” Redding, California, USA. Mason, Bruce, & Girard, Inc. Day 1 will cover simple random sampling, stratified simple random sampling, estimating proportions, and regression estimation, including the calculation of basic statistics and confidence intervals. Day 2 will feature hypothesis testing, including t-tests and goodness-of-fit tests. If you ever find yourself faced with questions like “How many plots do I need to measure to get a good estimate?”, or “Are the seedlings I treated growing any better than the seedlings I did not treat?”, then this course is for you. Problems will be solved using both hand calculators and Excel. Cost of the 2-day course in $300. Contact Steve Fairweather +1-503-224-3445; sfairweather@masonbruce.com if you have questions about the course or would like to register.

Bird Monitoring in North America - http://www.im.nbs.gov/birds.html

GIS Bibliography - http://campus.esri.com/campus/library/bibliography

Glossary for Biogeography - http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/glossary.html

Glossary of Tree Terms - http://www.christree.org/treetype/glossary.html

How to Inventory and Monitor Wildlife on Your Land - download from - http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/publ/wildland.htm

Wildlife Species Life Form (characteristics and habitats of US species) - http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/index.html