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What's F.R.E.E. Network all about?Who We Are:
The Forest Resource Environmental Education (F.R.E.E.) Network began as a coalition of representatives from state and federal government agencies, the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota forest products industry to facilitate dissemination of information about forest resources and the products that flow from them. In 2007, administration of the F.R.E.E. Network website was transferred from the University of Minnesota to Dovetail Partners, Inc. Dovetail Partners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that fosters sustainability and responsible behaviors by collaborating to develop unique concepts, systems, models and programs. Dovetail Partners Mission Statement: To provide authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions, including consumption choices, land use, and policy alternatives. Why the F.R.E.E. Network was Formed:
While a great many educational products focus on forests and environmental issues related to forests, there is relatively little information today about forests and the products that flow from them that:
The F.R.E.E. Network was created for the purpose of identifying and facilitating the distribution and use of educational materials that meet the above criteria. What We Do:
The F.R.E.E. Network collects and evaluates existing educational materials related to forests, forest management, and forest products. We determine if they are scientifically accurate and if the following concepts are addressed:
The evaluation process is directed by Kathryn Fernholz*, a professional forester and Executive Director of Dovetail Partners, and by Dr. Jim Bowyer,* professor emeritus of the Department of Bioproducts and Bioprocess Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Once materials are evaluated, the information is cataloged into the F.R.E.E Network database and directory that is made available to teachers, students, and others through this website and through the SEEK (Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge) resource directory and website of the State of Minnesota. Materials are periodically re-evaluated to ensure that information is up to date.
How to Contact Us:
Dovetail Partners, Inc. 528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55403 Tel: (612) 333-0430 Fax: (612) 333-0432 E-mail: info@dovetailinc.org
Check out our list of contributing organizations . Dovetail Staff *
Kathryn Fernholz has worked
on development and forest management issues in a range of roles.
With a consulting firm, Kathryn was a member of the environmental services
department where her work included natural resource inventories, comprehensive
planning, environmental impact assessments and the use of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). While working for the Community Forestry
Resource Center, Kathryn developed and managed a group certification
project for family forests and worked to increase local capacity to
provide forest management and marketing services that are compatible
with certification standards.
*Dr. Jim Bowyer is professor emeritus, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. He is an Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science; President of Bowyer & Associates, Inc. – a wood science and bioenergy consulting firm; past-Chairman of the Tropical Forest Foundation (Alexandria, Virginia) – an organization with major operations in Brazil, Guyana, Indonesia, and Gabon; Member of the Governance Board and past-Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Temperate Forest Foundation (Portland, Oregon).
Bowyer has served as President of the Forest Products Society (1993-94) and of the Society of Wood Science and Technology (1987-88), and as Vice President of the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (1992-2003). He was Head of the University of Minnesota's Department of Wood & Paper Science from 1984 to 1994, and Founder and Director of the Forest Products Management Development Institute at the University of Minnesota (an organization dedicated to education and development of industry professionals) from 1994-2003.
Dr. Bowyer earned a BS degree in forest management from Oklahoma State University (1964), a MS in forest products from Michigan State University (1966), and a PhD in wood science and technology from the University of Minnesota (1973). He has published widely on the topics of wood science and technology, bioenergy, and environmental life cycle analysis. He is also coauthor of the leading introductory wood science textbook in North America “Forest Products and Wood Science – an Introduction,” now in its 5th edition (2007), and of the widely used CD-ROM “The Nature of Wood and Wood Products.” The FREE Network Advisory Group *Dorothy Anderson: professor emeritus, University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources *Laura Duffey: Project Learning Tree, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources *Angie Gupta: University of Minnesota Extension *Jeff Howe: Fullerton Lumber Company *Kathy Kinzig: Eco Education *BJ Kohlstedt: North Shore Community School *Rob Marohn: Proctor Public Schools *Jim Marshall: UPM Blandin *Kathleen Preece: Minnesota Forestry Association *Eli Sagor: University of Minnesota Extension *Colleen Schoenecker: SEEK, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency *Paula Siewert: Northwestern Lumber Association
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