Assessment 1: Application & Integration Exercise (Teacher Page)

Investigative Report - Teacher Instructions

• Have students read “Private Forestlands and the Rights of the Landowners.”

• Assign Investigative Report

• Pass out Investigative Report Student Directions & Student Checklist. Read the student directions together as a class and go over the assignment with students.

• After the students have turned in their reports, have each student give a little three minute synopsis of their findings. Then lead a discussion on the issues facing landowners.

• What do the students think is the greatest obstacle private forestland owners face? And what would the students recommend for overcoming this obstacle?
• After, completing all of these activities, what do the students think of private forestland owners? Would they like to own forestland?

Things you may want to consider or do before assigning this project:

• You may want this project to be a group assignment.

• Give students a list of places to look for this information:

• Information about potential topics: http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/privateforests/forest101/ .

• Endangered and Threatened Species on your Land?, answers eight common questions on the issue of having endangered species on your land.

• Threatened & Endangered Species and the Landowner , this web publication from the Fish & Wildlife Service answers common questions related to threatened & endangered species issues.

• 2005 Forest Health Highlights

• Forest Health Management in Oregon, web site listing of insect/pest notes.

• Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry article on forest insects.

• You may consider contacting your Local State Forester to help find a local private forestland owner in your area to interview or to ask questions about issues facing private forestland owners in your area currently.
  
• Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers national positions on a variety of forest policies which may be a useful source for various issue topics.