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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University and the World Forestry Center have formally agreed to join forces for research, education, and exhibits to promote better public understanding about forests and forestry issues in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

A formal agreement was signed this week by Glen Gilbert, president of the World Forestry Center, Paul Risser, president of OSU, and Hal Salwasser, dean of the OSU College of Forestry.

"This is a natural partnership," said Risser. "Oregon State University is known for its world-class College of Forestry and the World Forestry Center is dedicated to educating the general public about the important economic and environmental contributions made by managed forests."

The World Forestry Center is a non-profit educational institution founded in Portland in 1966. Its mission is to promote the establishment, protection, and sustainable management of forests and related resources globally through education, research, and demonstration.

"We are delighted to formalize our long-standing relationship with OSU and look forward to working together in the future, especially in international forestry and the center's fellowship program," Gilbert said.

Although the two institutions have worked on a variety of projects over the years, this new pact outlines specific areas in which the two will cooperate. They include:

• Promoting the World Forestry Center's international fellowship program and forming linkages between OSU students and the Center's international fellows. The World Forest Institute is WFC's research and information subsidiary. It offers an international fellowship program, which brings young forestry professionals to Oregon for a one-year residency during which each fellow receives exposure to forestry issues in the Pacific Northwest and completes a research project of interest. 
• Fostering internships at WFC by OSU students; developing exhibits for WFC's museum; jointly promoting OSU's International Forest Engineering Institute; participating jointly in OSU's Oregon Forestry Institute for Teachers and in WFC's International Summer Educators' Workshop; and organization of field visits and other forestry-related activities for the general public. 
• Cooperatively pursuing projects of mutual interest and benefit that will serve the people of the state and the profession of forestry. Principals of both parties will meet at least twice a year to review and evaluate joint activities and examine possibilities for additional cooperation.