Inside the Portland Airport Renovation: Sustainable Northwest Woods and Xena Forest Products

In this episode of the 'In the Woods' podcast, host Scott Leavengood from Oregon State University's Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Service dives into the recent renovations at Portland International Airport (PDX). Scott talks with Ryan Temple of Sustainable Northwest Woods and Ben Deunling of Xena Forest Products, two key figures in Oregon's forest products industry. They discuss the logistics, challenges, and stories behind sourcing and implementing local, sustainable wood products for the airport renovation. Learn about the specifics of sourcing from local forests, dealing with supply chain issues during a pandemic, and the importance of promoting diverse species for forest resilience.

For more information and resources concerning this episode and more, go to inthewoodspodcast.com.

00:00 Introduction to In the Woods Podcast

00:56 Meet Ryan Temple: Sustainable Northwest Wood

01:35 Ryan Temple's Journey and Sustainable Practices

04:36 Meet Ben Deunling: Xena Forest Products

05:13 Ben Deunling's Journey and Innovative Products

08:31 The Portland Airport Renovation Project

19:54 Challenges and Innovations in Wood Flooring

23:07 Scaling Up: Building the Facility

23:48 Challenges in Timing, Segregation, and Pricing

28:18 Partnerships and Coordination

28:36 Feedback and Future Projects

32:44 Lessons Learned and Reflections

35:39 Lightning Round: Favorite Tree Species

39:30 Resources and Final Thoughts

Episode 47: Managing Forest Carbon