Trainees learn technical forestry skills at Table Rocks

Published April 12, 2024

Today our Rogue Valley Youth Ecological Forestry Training Program crew and inter-tribal crew from the Chiloquin/Klamath Falls tribal community joined up at Upper Table Rock for a technical forestry training provided by Lomakatsi Restoration Forester Megan Abeyta and Restoration Technicians Liam Cislo and Neil Garry.

The training provided an overview of the basic tools of forestry and the processes for collecting data to inform restoration projects, while introducing crew members to technical forestry career paths. Crew members became familiarized with the forestry inventory equipment used to collect data on forest structure and composition and capture the impacts of treatments. Surrounded by spring blooms, trainees had the great opportunity to see the ecological benefits of controlled hand pile burning that our crews accomplished in early February on 100 acres of oak woodland through a long-term partnership between Lomakatsi and the BLM Medford District.

Tech Training Upper Table Rock 04-12-24 - Megan Abeyta

A big thank you to training lead Megan, who joined the Lomakatsi team in February. Today, Megan shared her excitement to be contributing to forest health projects like the long-term oak habitat restoration efforts at Table Rocks, helping to protect the site’s cultural significance and unique biodiversity. We also thank Oregon Conservation Corps (Oregon Youth Works) for funding our training program and our amazing partners at the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network for over a decade of collaborative restoration at Table Rocks.