Individual papers, photo album, and streaming video of most presentations may be viewed on the symposium web page: www.familyforestrysymposium.wsu.edu

In March 2004, forestry researchers from around the world gathered for the Human Dimensions of Family, Farm and Community Forestry International Symposium at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, USA to learn and share knowledge on issues that face family forest owners face. Nearly ninety participants from 20 countries attended the symposium sponsored by IUFRO Research Group 3.08: Small Scale Forestry in cooperation with Washington State University (WSU), Rural Technology Initiative (RTI), US Forest Service, and others. WSU Professor David Baumgartner organized the symposium.

Subject matter covered aspects of family forestry in a variety of countries including: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, India, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and the United States.

Researchers often study forestland ownership patterns and values relative to how important the ownership or the goods produced are to the country, whether for timber production or the protection of environmental quality. The Human Dimensions Symposium asked: "Who are the forest owners and what is important to them?" Knowledge of land ownership patterns, reasons for ownership and the owners sense of place can be useful to researchers, educators and policy makers when developing assistance and education programs for private forestland owners.

Fifty-four presentations were made at the symposium and a 307 page proceedings with sixty-two papers and abstracts was produced.

Main topics include: Financial Viability, Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity, Well-Being, Collaboration, Cooperatives and Organizations, Agroforestry,and Social and Economic Determinants. The proceedings Human Dimensions of Family, Farm, and Community Forestry, MISC0526, David M. Baumgartner, ed.(ISBN 0-9721994-5-4) is available for purchase.The prodceedings may be ordered on-line or by downloadable form from the proceedings web page: http://familyforestry-proceedings.wsu.edu

Individual papers, photo album, and streaming video of most presentations may be viewed on the symposium web page: www.familyforestrysymposium.wsu.edu

The in-conference field tour focused on native American history and culture as well as a 5-hour jet-boat excursion on the Snake River in Hells Canyon, North Americas deepest river goarge.

The post-symposium tour explored natural resource management in forests of the inland northwest and concluded with a visit to a family owned and operated working guest ranch.