Family owners of private forestland in Washington will have the opportunity to learn how to keep their forests safe and healthy at the Family Forest Expo on March 23 at Green River Community College.

Gates open at 8 a.m. and presentations begin at 9 a.m.

It is a Washington State University Extension educational event.

Some 215,000 families in Washington own more than half of the state’s private working forestland.

Participants will be able to attend up to six different expert presentations, choosing from more than two-dozen topics. Among the topics being offered are common tree and shrub identification, wildlife habitat, chainsaw safety, common forest insect and diseases, growing and tending forests, protecting your home and forest from fire, and thinning and pruning trees.

There also will be demonstrations of small-scale equipment, tool use, and tree falling. Owners of forestland located in Eastern Washington are especially encouraged to attend.

There will be a resource area featuring equipment exhibitors, vendors, and public, private, and nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to landowners. Refreshments will be available.

Some of the workshops and tours will be outdoors, so participants should wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear.

Advance registration received by March 15 is $40 per family. Registration at the door is $60 per family. Box lunches will be available for an additional $10 each. Because there are no restaurants or stores in the immediate area, attendees are encouraged to either sign up for the box lunch or plan to bring their own.

The registration form and additional information, including driving directions, are available at forestry.wsu.edu. Registration information is available through county WSU Extension offices, or by contacting WSU Chelan County Extension at 509-667-6540.

WSU Extension, GRCC, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Family Forest Foundation, and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service are sponsors of the Family Forest Expo.