FWP AT WORK Jason Parke, FWP Forester

TREE TENDER

JASON PARKE FWP Forester, Helena

As FWP’s first—and only—forester, my main job is to oversee forest management on state wildlife management areas (WMAs). That sometimes involves designing and overseeing carefully prescribed timber harvest. Many people aren’t aware that selectively cutting trees can benefit wildlife. For instance, we might want to prune back conifers expanding into grasslands and shrublands that elk and mule deer use.

In this photo, I’m taking a core sample that tells me how old the tree is. By aging trees on WMAs, we can learn things like how long they’ve been growing in open habitats.

We look at conifers differently depending on the region. For instance, in the northwest, we try to encourage Douglas fir regeneration, while at Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA near Ovando, we want to get rid of conifers that are overtaking prairie and aspen stands.

Because of FWP’s mission, wildlife habitat is the main lens I use to view any timber harvest on WMAs. But I also consider insect and disease issues, fuel reduction where residences are nearby, and how timber harvest might help pay for habitat enhancement projects. I also help our Parks and Fisheries Divisions manage forests on state parks and fishing access sites.