Dr. Douglas D. Piirto presently owns and operates a small consulting business referred to as Crestline Forestry Inc. (www.crestlineforestry.com ). He also owns Piirto Farms Inc. in Trout Creek, Michigan. He has 30 years of experience (1985 to 2015) as Professor, Scientist and Forester in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. During that time, he served as NRES Dept. Head for 14 years (2001 to 2015). Dr. Piirto taught courses in silviculture, forest harvesting, environmental impact analysis, forest management, resource fire control, introduction to forestry, and other forestry/conservation courses. He served as the Forestry Projects Coordinator for Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific School Forest and Ranch from 1986 to 2015. Prior to 1985, Dr. Piirto worked 10 years for the USDA Forest Service as a professional forester where he helped coordinate forestry work, archeological and environmental surveys for federal timber sales.
Dr. Piirto received his Ph.D. in Wood Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1977. He received his M.S. in Forest and Wood Science from Colorado State University in 1971, and his B.S. in Forestry from the University of Nevada in 1970. Dr. Piirto is a Registered Professional forester (RPF #2179) in California, a certified Forester with the Society of American Foresters, and while employed by the USDA Forest Service he was a certified Silviculturist. Dr. Piirto has completed the Certified Archaeological Surveyor Training March 24, 2017.
Dr. Piirto has served on the: 1.) federal advisory Giant Sequoia National Monument Science Board as a consulting scientist appointed by the President of the U.S.; 2.) the State Pitch Canker Task Force; 3.) the Cal Poly Athletic Governing Board appointed by the Academic Senate and University President; 4.) California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection appointed by the Governor; 5.) Resource Conservation District for the Las Tablas Upper Salinas River as a Director appointed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Piirto has spent a good part of his career working as a practicing forester for the Forest Service and as a private consultant. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters since 1970. Dr. Piirto is a recipient of: 1.) 2016 California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Francis Raymond award for outstanding career achievement in forestry/natural resources; and 2.) 2010 Society of American Foresters Fellow Award for outstanding lifetime career achievement and service; 3.) 2014 Swanton Pacific Award for outstanding professional service in support of Cal Poly’s School Forest and Ranch; 4.) 2000 Plant Science Outstanding Contribution to the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly State University; 5.) 1995 Cal Poly College of Agriculture Outstanding Teacher Award sponsored by Dole Food Company; 6.) USDA Forest Service 2008 Certificate of Appreciation for service as a member of the Giant Sequoia National Monument Scientific Advisory Board. 7.) Various Marquis Who=s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. 8.) Recipient of two Marquis awards between 2020 and 2023 focused on lifetime achievement/humanitarian assistance. This recognition is featured in a current edition (February 2023) of the Wall Street Journal.
A list of funded research projects, publications, study guides, technical reports, and invited papers can be provided upon request and is shown in his CV. He has done numerous radio/TV interviews and several news stories focused on his forestry expertise area. He has served as featured applied forest scientist in the: 1.) Modern Marvels 2004 Logging Technology documentary; 2.) Forest Foundation and California Forest Products Commission DVD titled “Rethinking Forests” in July 2008; and 3.) March 2009 Fox Sport Science program focused on decline of white ash forests and the ultimate impact on the game of professional baseball. Additionally, Dr. Piirto has completed 18 consulting project contracts.
Dr. Piirto was asked to assist with the planning of the 1992 Giant Sequoia Symposium, the 1996, 2004 and 2011 Coast Redwood Symposiums. He has recently completed four major research projects focused on: 1.) pitch canker forest health concerns in Monterey pine; 2.) thinning/prescribed burning management approaches in giant sequoia/mixed conifer stands; 3.) uneven-age coast redwood forest management; 4.) preparation and delivery of a U.S. Forest Service short course on Basic Timber Sale Preparation.