Humboldt State University is set to receive 884 acres of forest which “encompasses a large portion of the Jacoby Creek watershed,” according to Rick Zechman, the associate dean of HSU’s College of Natural Resources and Sciences.

“This is certainly significant for us,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for field trips for students … and it’s available to all kinds of different majors, not just forestry.”

According to an HSU statement, programs that might utilize the forest include “geology, fisheries, environmental sciences and management, wildlife, Native American studies, anthropology, forestry, soils, and recreation management.”

“It’s a really great thing for a lot of different programs,” Zechman said.

Another benefit to owning land is that it will allow students to set up permanent research sites to collect data long term, whereas students are currently at the whim of private property owners, he said.

“A big mission at HSU is to provide students with research experience,” he said. “For a large number of our majors, this tract of land provides an opportunity for them to conduct research.”

David Greene, who heads the forestry department at HSU said the new acquisition is going to offer forestry students “the best experience that we can possibly give them.”

“They can go through the whole process,” he said, from forest inventory to the creation of a timber harvest plan.

Greene said the forest will eventually generate revenue through limited harvesting, which could be utilized to fund field trips for university students. HSU currently owns an area Greene called the “Schatz tree farm,” which provides educational opportunities as well, but it’s 45 minutes away, he said. Greene said the 884-acre tract slotted for acquisition is only 15 minutes away, which will allow students much more “on-site” time.

“We’re just happy as can be,” he said. “This is a great thing.”

HSU students are excited as well, Greene said. When students are conducting activities like forest inventory, “knowing it’ll be used long after they’ve graduated creates a sense of gratitude of being part of a larger porject in time,” Greene said.

Mark Andre, Arcata’s director of environmental services, said the initial contact that sparked this land acquisition was made 10 years ago. In addition to the educational benefit to HSU, Andre said the acquisition represents a large piece of the city’s long-term conservation plan. The city will be receiving an additional 83 acres of the forest tract.

“It’s more desirable to keep large areas of working forestland intact,” he said. “Keeping it in a large undeveloped state will be of public benefit.”

Andre said the acquisition will prevent the fragmentation of the land, which could result in land use conversions that might mean development.

In an email to the Times-Standard, Andre said, “the proposed land acquisition will prohibit subdivision and residential development, [and] prevent significant water withdrawals.”

The city has had a good relationship with the university, he said, and will “develop a Cooperative Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperative and complimentary forest management,” with the university.

Philip Santos can be reached at 707-441-0506.