The Decade of the Oak: Oregons Mighty Tree for Common Ground

This event highlighted the many ways that Oregon white oaks have played a significant role in local history, including with Indigenous communities, settlers, and even local wildlife. These iconic trees have supported people in this ecosystem for over 10,000 years, and this talk highlighted many stories about local oaks, biodiversity, and how they shaped our region.

The event also coincided with the kickoff of the Decade of the Oak campaign, which is a new initiative that “celebrates oak trees and the myriad of species that depend on them. This decade-long, grassroots outreach initiative will build awareness and support for oak conservation by connecting individuals with their communities.” You can learn more about Decade of the Oak and get involved at https://oakalliance.org/about-pnoa/decade-of-the-oak/.

David Craig has been a behavioral ecologist since 1987, focusing his field-oriented research on the response of animals to human-modified ecosystems and subsequent changes in distribution and movement patterns. The work combines life history and physiological and ecological information to address questions related to migration, predation, parental care, and social behavior. Today, Craig has a particular interest in nuthatches, oaks, & public health but has expertise with many species, including crows, ravens, jays, terns, cormorants, gulls, plovers, murrelets, squirrels, and grasshoppers. He grew up in Scappoose, Oregon, and attended Lewis & Clark College, the University of Colorado, and Oregon State University before becoming a Professor of Biology and the Co-director of the Science Collaborative Research Program at Willamette University. Craig’s passion for interdisciplinary and collaborative work helped grow undergraduate research programs in the Pacific Northwest funded by the National Science Foundation, Carnegie Mellon Foundation, and MJ Murdock Charitable Trust. He is studying chinuk wawa, always reading a new book, and planning his next trip or meal with a large circle of friends and family. You can find him on most social media @DavidPCraig.