News
FEATURES
Course correction needed quickly to avoid pathway to ‘hothouse Earth’ scenario, scientists say
Scientists say multiple Earth system components appear closer to destabilization than previously believed, putting the planet at increased risk of a “hothouse” trajectory driven by feedback loops that can amplify the consequences of global warming. Published in the journal One Earth, “The risk of a hothouse Earth trajectory” is an analysis by an international collaboration led by Oregon State University’s William Ripple that synthesizes scientific findings on climate feedback loops and 16 tipping elements – Earth subsystems that may undergo loss of stability if critical temperature thresholds are passed.
Mary McDonald and the forest that endures
Beginning in the mid-1920s, Mary McDonald donated land in southern Oregon, which the college sold to help finance forest acquisitions near Corvallis, and provided direct financial support and scholarships for forestry students. By the time of her death in 1935, roughly 3,000 acres had been acquired for what would become the McDonald Forest. In her will, she left all her Oregon property to Oregon Agricultural College.
Where fires used to be frequent, old forests now face high risk of devastating blazes
A new analysis shows that the Pacific Northwest’s mature and old-growth forests are most at risk of severe wildfire in areas that historically burned frequently at lower severity. The study by scientists at Oregon State University and USDA Forest Service Research & Development is important because those forests are culturally, economically and ecologically significant, supporting biodiversity while storing vast amounts of carbon, and they are under increasing threat of stand-replacing wildfire.
Celebrating 100 years of stewardship in the McDonald Forest
In 2026, Oregon State University’s College of Forestry will celebrate 100 years of stewardship of the McDonald research forest — a living legacy that has shaped forest management, education, research and recreation across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. To mark this centennial milestone, the College of Forestry will be hosting a number of events, reflecting on the past, present and future of the forests, and investing in new signage and interpretation on the McDonald Forest.
RESEARCH
A closer look into the Wildfire and Water Security Research Project
Clean drinking water is a vital resource that every person depends on, but it is increasingly at risk in many Pacific Northwest communities that rely on forested watersheds for their supply. After large wildfires, water quality can be threatened, and availability can shift for downstream communities for decades after the flames are out.
To address this challenge, a federally-funded, transdisciplinary research initiative led by Oregon State University’s College of Forestry is working to arm forest and water managers — and the communities they serve — with the knowledge and tools needed to strengthen watershed resilience and safeguard drinking water systems.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Take care of the forest, and it will take care of you: how Matt Mattioda found his purpose in forestry
Inspired by the regenerative cycle of the forest and a desire to care for the land, alumnus Matt Mattioda ’95 has worked in forestry and construction since graduating from Oregon State University. He now leads a career focused on communication, collaboration and long-term forest stewardship at Miller Timber Services.
FORESTRY & NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION
Tree School Lane brings wide-ranging natural resources learning
Tree School Lane, organized by Oregon State University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program, featured 32 classes designed to support the successful management of Oregon’s woodlands and to complement year-long natural resources education programs offered by Extension and its collaborators. The event brought woodland owners, forestry professionals and community members together for expert-led classes on forest management, reforestation, wildfire preparedness and tree care.
EVENTS
Starker Lecture Series: What We’ve Learned from Decades of Long-Term Forest Research
Drawing on decades of work across the U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research network, Dr. Fred Swanson will reflect on the major accomplishments of these programs — and why long-term inquiry remains vital to forest science, education and stewardship.
PFSC 117
Forest Health in Oregon: State of the State 2026
Registration now open! This 2026 hybrid conference will provide a comprehensive update on the trends shaping our ecosystem. Sessions will cover critical topics such as the ongoing effects of the 2021 heat dome, wildfire resilience, emerging insect outbreaks, and the latest strategies for disease management.
LaSells Stewart Center
PRAx and the College of Forestry Present: Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble: From Maxville to Vanport — A Celebration of Oregon's Black History
This profound collection of songs and short films focuses on two towns that were vital places of opportunity and refuge for Black Oregonians in the first half of the 20th century: Maxville, a logging town built by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company in 1923, and Vanport, built to house shipyard workers in 1942.
Detrick Hall, PRAx
COMMUNITY UPDATES
2025 Dean's Awards and Retiree Recognition
College of Forestry retirees and Dean’s Award recipients were recently celebrated with a ceremony and reception.
Welcome visiting scholar Rosilvam Sousa
Rosilvam Sousa is a forestry engineer from Brazil specializing in silviculture
Welcome Yago Lestido-Cardama
Welcome International Scholar Yago Lestido-Cardama
COF IN THE NEWS
Earth may be approaching irreversible climate tipping points
Earth.com
Feb. 14, 2026
The Future of Mass Timber: Innovation, Policy, and Global Leadership
YouTube
Jan. 21, 2026
Clackamas County Tourism funds new Hopkins Forest app
Oregon City News
Jan. 16, 2026
Oregon prescribed burn associations say ‘fight fire with fire’
Rogue Valley Times
Jan. 11, 2026
PUBLICATIONS
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