A BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR THE FORESTRY COMMUNITY OF GEORGIA
Georgia
FORESTRY TODAY March | April 2013 Volume 9, Issue 2
Silviculture’S Next challeNge: a tortoiSe aNd a SNake See story on page 8
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March | April 2013
Georgia Forestry Today
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On the Cover: See story on page 8.
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Printed in the USA
PUBLISHER: A4 Inc. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alva Hopkins ahopkins@a4inc.com At least 9,000,000 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat in Georgia will be included in a conservation program for the protection of the species.
PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Wendy Burnett Alva Hopkins Jesse Johnson Stasia Kelly Sandi Martin Roland Petersen-Frey Brian Stone Steve McWilliams
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY is published bi-monthly by A4 Inc., 1154 Lower LAMAR CANTRELL
CANTRELL FOREST PRODUCTS INC.
We buy all types of timber. Bio-fuel producer cantrellforest@earthlink.net 1433 Galilee Church Road Jefferson, GA 30549 Office: (706) 367-4813 Mobile: (706) 498-6243 Home: (706) 367-1521
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Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115. Recipients include participants of the Forest Stewardship Program and the American Tree Farm System. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, A4 Inc., nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to A4 Inc. at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to A4 Inc. at the e-mail address: p.frey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to A4 Inc. or to Alva Hopkins. GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115
March | April 2013
Volume 9, Issue 2
March | April 2013
Georgia
FORESTRY TODAY P.08
Silviculture’s Next Challenge: a Tortoise and a Snake
P.11
Message from the Georgia Forestry Commission Director
P.12
GFC News
P.13
Fun and Games: Forests’ Hidden Value
P.16
Pine Savanna Restoration and the Northern Bobwhite
P.20
Dr. William Hubbard Wins American Foresters Award
P.21
New Model Could Help States Set Alligator Harvesting Rules
P.22
Hope Grows in a Tree
P.24
GFT News
P.28
Georgia Forestry Association
If you have a forestry event you’d like to see on our calendar, please contact Alva Hopkins at ahopkins@a4inc.com with the subject line ‘Calendar Event.’
Forestry Calendar March 28 Fourth Annual Georgia Forestry Foundation Longleaf Classic | Hawkinsville, Georgia
April 16 7th Annual Urban Forest Festival Outdoor Activity Center | 1442 Richland Rd. Atlanta, Georgia | RSVP: 404-752-5385
June 5-7 2013 National Conference of Private Forest Landowners | e Coeur d’Alene Resort Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
June 17-21 Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center Visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110
Georgia Forestry Today
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liSt of advertiSerS American Forest Management......................................30
International Forest Company .......................................6
Arborgen......................................................................27
James Bates LLP.............................................................7
Beach Timber Company Inc. .......................................30
LandMark Spatial Solutions .........................................25
Blanton’s ......................................................................18
Lanigan & Associates ...................................................20
Canal Wood LLC.........................................................30
Meeks’ Farms & Nursery ....................Inside Front Cover
Cantrell Forest Products Inc...........................................4
MorBark ......................................................................30
Davis - Garvin .............................................................19
Outdoor Underwriters .................................................17
F2M ..............................................................................4
Plum Creek....................................................................5
Farm Credit Associations ...............................................6
Prudential ....................................................................19
Flint Equipment Company ..........................................30
Quality Equipment & Parts Inc. ..................................21
Forest Resource Consultants ........................................18
Rivers Edge Forest Products .........................................30
Forest Resource Services Inc.........................................30
Smith, Gambrell & Russell ............................................3
Forestar ........................................................................29
UPC | Georgia 811 ........................................Back Cover
F&W Forestry Service..................................................14
Weyerhaeuser ...............................................................18
Gillis Bros. Inc. Forestry Fertilization ...........................24
Vulcan on Board Scales .................................................4
HEI..............................................................................20
Yancey Brothers ...................................Inside Back Cover
Georgia Forestry Today
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Silviculture’s Next Challenge: a Tortoise and a Snake By Douglas Rillstone | Partner | Broad and Cassel GT: gopher tortoise EDR: eastern diamondback rattlesnake
This gopher tortoise was found in Tift County, Georgia. Credit: Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Page 9: Top: Eastern diamondback in EmanualCounty, Georgia. Credit: James Henderson, Golden Delight Honey, Bugwood.org 8
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Who would have thought the next threat to agriculture in the southeastern United States, including at least 9,000,000 acres in Georgia, would be two reptiles—a slow moving tortoise and a venomous snake. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is only several steps away from designating the common gopher tortoise and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Unless efforts are taken to change or reverse the expected outcome, the anticipated listing of the GT and EDR creates the threat of civil and criminal prosecution for routine agriculture operations in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida if federal permits are not first obtained—permits that often take years to issue. Life changed back in 2006 when two environmental organizations petitioned the Service to designate the GT as a threatened species in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. The prevailing thought was that if Florida, with the largest population of GTs and rapid urbanization, revised its permitting program to prohibit the gopher tortoise ‘entombment’ from real estate development, and effectively managed the species in Florida, there was little chance the GT would be listed, and the ESA’s draconian measures to protect the species at any cost would be avoided by all. Florida implemented an elaborate, cumbersome, and expensive regulatory process that prohibited entombment and required the relocation of every GT before developing any property in Florida. However, on July 27, 2011, the Service determined that designation of the GT was warranted throughout its historical range (Figure 2). In August 2011, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petitioned the Service to designate the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (EDR) as a threatened species. CBD contended that the EDR population in its historic range (Figure 1) was declining from rattlesnake roundups and habitat loss from agriculture, urbanization, and fire suppression. The Service, in May 2012, concluded that CBD presented enough information to start a 12-month review of the EDR status to determine whether the EDR listing was warranted. To understand the impact to forestry, or any other agri Figure 1
Georgia Forestry Today
culture operation, from the GT and EDR listing, it is important to know some of the ESA basics and current Service policy and practice. The ESA was intended as the means of last resort to prevent the extinction of species within the United States. A species must be listed and critical habitat designated when the best scientific and commercial data available demonstrates that a species trips any one of five subjective criteria in the ESA. Once listed, any ‘take’ of the GT or EDR, including habitat modification, is prohibited without prior authorization from the Service. Failure to obtain Service authorization can result in civil and criminal penalties, including incarceration. The authorization is generally available if the landowner can demonstrate the activity will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild, a process that often takes up to three years to complete. The Service often presumes the presence of a species where habitat is or was present, forcing the landowner to either endure the approval process or demonstrate absence of the species, often requiring several years of monitoring, in order to obtain some level of Service assurance that the activity will not result in an enforcement action. Critical habitat includes any habitat that is, or could be, occupied by the species that is essential to the conservation of the species (see Figures 1 and 2). In general, if an area of critical habitat is important for the conservation of the species (e.g., to recover the species to a point where it no longer warrants listing), then no federal agency can permit, fund, authorize or carry out any activity that would modify or destroy the habitat, whether or not the species is present. Actions subject to this prohibition include federal grants, loan guarantees, leases, permits, and floodplain determinations, among other actions. The impact of listing either the EDR or GT in Georgia is dramatic. A rough estimate of EDR’s current or historical range is shown in Figure 1. The Service estimates there are at least 9,000,000 acres of potential GT habitat in Georgia (Figure 2), and has acknowledged that this underestimates habitat in the coastal lowland regions, including coastal or near-coastal portions of Georgia. GT are found in a range of land cover types including longleaf pine sand hills, xeric oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods and plantations, dry prairies, and coastal dunes as well as within man-made environments, such as pas9
tures, old fields, and grassy roadsides with well-drained sandy soils for digging burrows, herbaceous food plants, and open areas for nesting and basking. If listed, activities that could be unlawful (e.g., constitute a ‘take’ under Service policy) without Service authorization include: • Converting native range, pasture, or fallow land to timber; •
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•
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Timber management, understory and pest control, harvesting, and bedding; Maintenance of structural berms, roads, runway aprons or utility corridors; Converting native range, pasture, timber or fallow land to crop production, residential, commercial, industrial or public projects and resource extraction; Land management or restoration resulting in unintended mortality or loss of species productivity.
There is no practical mechanism to grandfather, vest or exempt existing or ongoing activities from the ESA prohibitions. Landowners would be required to abate these activities and obtain Service authorization to reduce the risk of enforcement or third party lawsuits seeking to force compliance with the ESA. Ac10
tivities subject to Federal funding or approvals will require ‘further review’ and action by the Service. These Service approvals would only be issued where the landowner, to the maximum extent practicable, minimizes and mitigates actual or potential impacts to the GT and EDR (e.g., removing areas from production, surveys, relocations, operational changes, habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement). Assuming Service personnel and permitting infrastructure were in place to process just the applications required for ongoing activities, Service authorizations would likely take no less than 12 to 36 months. The Service suggests it will be years before a formal listing decision is made on either GT or EDR. The Service has encouraged revisions to Florida’s elaborate regulatory program, the adoption of new regulatory programs in Georgia and other states, and that landowners enter voluntarily long-term agreements to manage and conserve their land to protect these species—at no insignificant cost to such landowners. Many believe the Service’s early findings regarding the GT and EDR are not well supported by the best scientific and commercial data available or the law. These findings understate agriculture’s contribution to the long-term management of wildlife, and overstate its adverse impact to the GT and EDR. Advances in timber management from
bedding to harvesting, as well as different planting densities, provide increased conservation value for many species, including the GT and EDR. The failure to adequately consider this contribution is significant since agriculture, particularly silviculture, comprise the largest extent of the lands reflected in Figures 1 and 2. Population declines in all states have been inferred from habitat conversion in the absence of baseline and actual conditions. The final listing determination must be based on an affirmative demonstration from the best scientific and commercial data available, and cannot be made on either anecdotal information or the absence of data. The consequences are severe, and in light of recent events, the Service’s timing could be accelerated by a number of years. It is important to work with the Georgia Forestry Association and other similar state and regional associations to develop and coordinate implementation of an offensive strategy to avoid an adverse listing decision or minimize the affects from a decision to list either the GT or EDR. Douglas Rillstone is a Partner in the Tallahassee office of Broad and Cassel, the chairperson of the Firm’s Land Use and Environmental Law Practice Group, and a member of the Government Relations and Real Estate Practice Groups. v Figure 2
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Georgia Forestry Commission
Message from the Director Dear GFT Reader, ’ve just kicked the dirt off my work boots brought in from a very special place in Macon—a place I might never have seen, if it weren’t for the big hearts found in our forestry family and an awesome plan spearheaded by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee. The dirt was from the construction site where Habitat for Humanity is building a house that will soon be home to a family in need. Perhaps you’ve taken part in a Habitat build before, but I had not. How glad I am to have been given the opportunity to lend a hand. This year, the Georgia Forestry Commission marked Arbor Day by partnering with Habitat and representatives from the Georgia Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Georgia Forestry Association Emerging Leaders, Georgia Forestry Foundation, Georgia Tree Farm, and Georgia’s Society of American Foresters. Together, we helped build a house made up of donated wood products made right here in Georgia. At the same time, we were able to raise awareness about Georgia’s sustainable forests and the many benefits they provide. Let me tell you, those nail guns made a happy racket as we ‘raised the roof!’ We built floor joists, laid subflooring, and snapped to when the construction foreman gave us a task. What a great feeling it was to see so many volunteers from the forestry community working together. Even the weather cooperated; it was an unusually sunny and warm February day that came on the heels of lots of rain. And I have to add, getting up close and personal with the
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Georgia Forestry Today
feel and smell of southern yellow pine framing lumber, decking, and pressure treated wood always makes me grateful for the amazing resource we protect. The average Habitat House utilizes176 pieces of dimensional lumber, 324 wood studs, 102 pieces of treated wood, and 138 sheets of plywood for flooring, walls, and roof. Each is a valuable piece of the puzzle that comprises a structure built to endure the elements outside while providing a safe haven inside. That never gets old. To bring the sustainable forestry story full circle, a white oak tree was planted in the home’s back yard. The tree is a descendant of Athens’ famous ‘Tree
Robert Farris
That Owns Itself,’ which you can read more about in the ‘Legacy Trees’ section of the January/February issue of Georgia Forestry Today. Like other trees, this one will help filter the air and water, shade the house, provide a home to wildlife and beauty for generations to come. Surrounded by state dignitaries, the family who’ll be living in this home helped shovel dirt onto the tree. The smiles of everyone present are memories I won’t soon forget. (You can follow construc-
tion of the house on Facebook; ‘Like’ Georgia Forestry Community Habitat for Humanity Build.) Our message of sustainable Georgia forests is so powerful that a documentary film will soon be released, called ‘A Case for Sustainable Managed Forests.’ The film crew was on hand for the Habitat build and production should be complete by May. We’ll keep you posted about the premier! As always, thanks for doing your part for Georgia forestry.
Sincerely, Robert Farris v 11
GFC News The value of prescribed fire earned the official state spotlight when Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation declaring February 3-9 ‘Prescribed Fire Awareness Week’ in Georgia. The event is observed annually during the first week in February to raise awareness about prescribed fire, which is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health, and reduce wildfire risk. The highlighted week also brings attention to land managers who protect and maintain Georgia’s healthy forests, which provide clean air, clean water, and diverse wildlife populations for residents and visitors. e The Georgia Forestry Commission partnered with Habitat for Humanity this year in recognition of Georgia’s 122nd Arbor Day. A big celebration was held on February 15 to mark the value of Georgia’s sustainable forests and the numerous products working forests provide. Many of those products were used in the construction of a new Habitat home in Macon, which was unveiled in conjunction with the Arbor Day event. A white oak tree, a descendant of Athens’ noted ‘Tree That Owns Itself,’ was planted at the Habitat home to mark the occasion. e The forestry community now has easier access to forestry Best Management Practices through online training. The Southeastern Wood Processors Association and Georgia Forestry Commission have created half-hour training modules on a variety of topics, including Temporary Stream Crossings, Stream Classification, and Timber Harvest Planning. The modules posted on both sites are identical, however only the SWPA Web site (www.swpa.ag) has testing capabilities for CLE credit. Access GFC’s Web site at GaTrees.org. e A study by the Georgia Institute of Technology shows economic activity generated by the forest industry in 2011 totaled more than $25 billion in output and provided 118,459 jobs in Georgia. Other highlights of the ‘Economic Benefits of the Forest Industry in Georgia: 2011 report show that between 2010 and 2011, wages and salaries for the state’s forest industry workers rose 13.3 percent, and the industry generated more than $487 million in revenues for the state budget. The full report can be accessed at GaTrees.org. e 12
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By Stasia kelly
Clay and Lucy Calhoun review their Forest Stewardship Plan with GFC Forester Jeff Kastle.
fun and games : forests’ hidden value In her 1878 book, Molly Bawn, Margaret Wolfe Hungerford penned the phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” e words have been applied to countless situations and ring especially true for those who live and love forestry. From the planter plugging seedlings into the soil to the logger estimating a harvest’s yield and the hunter examining a deer’s tracks, tracts of timber are rich sights to a whole lot of Georgians. Forestry advocates are proud to repeat the impressive statistics: Georgia boasts 24.8 million acres of forest land, the largest area of forest cover in the South; forest-related industries inject $25 billion and 108,112 jobs into the state’s economy; ecosystem services provided by forest land have been valued at $37 billion annually, which is in addition to the value of timber, forest products, and recreation. “Recreation is one of the more under-recognized values of owning forest land,” said the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Staff Stewardship Forester, Buford Sanders. “In reality, though, that’s Georgia Forestry Today
one of the strongest motivations for private land ownership.” Part of the challenge of placing value on this feature is its ‘priceless’ system of measurement. What’s the vision of a covey of quail flushing into the sunset worth? How does one put a price tag on the rustle of an approaching deer or the slippery, cold sensation of unhooking a big bass taken from a favorite fishing hole? Even more impossible would be gauging the value of a grandchild sharing those experiences with family members on family land. University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Associate Professor, Dr. Gary Green, is a leading researcher in natural resources, recreation, and tourism. He believes our state and our nation are witnessing important changes in the more intangible aspects of forest land value. “People used to focus mainly on timber,” said Green, “but any time there’s a recession, it’s wise to diversify. e recreation value of forest land has really started to increase since timber value 13
has declined. Why sell it for less when it will continue to grow?” Post 9-11 focus on the family Green cites the tragedies of September 11 as a turning point that’s prompted people to spend more time with their families. Other forces that influence enhanced recreation value of private land, he said, include budget cuts that have curtailed public park resources, population growth, urban sprawl, and the recognition that each generation is spending less and less time in close contact with nature. “Ask a child where a chicken comes from, and he answers ‘Kroger!’” said Green. “Spending time in nature helps children understand relationships and it boosts their social and psychological development.” For forest landowners, Green said enhancing recreation value can be “as simple as constructing a pavilion, tables, and grills.” And while those features might be considered everyday amenities for family and friends, Green promotes the importance of perspective. “People are willing to pay to be able to do what they want, when they want, without the crowds,” Green said. “Part of this is driven by the economy and part of it is driven by people who want to spend time with their friends and families.”
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Horse-friendly fields were utilized in the past for cotton, cattle, sheep, timber, and grass seed.
As proof of the growing importance of these values, it’s worth noting it was only in 2005 that UGA’s Warnell School added a natural resources, recreation, and tourism major. In recent years, this major has witnessed a significant growth in enrollment as more students seek a career in natural resources, recreation, and tourism. Hunting leases have long been income generators for forest landowners. In 2011, the total economic impact of recreational hunting in Georgia was $1.6 billion, with much of that spent for the privilege of hunting on private land. Green said, however, there’s more to be enjoyed out there than traditional hunting. His studies show an increasing number of people are looking at land as private recreation havens. Popular activities that are taking place on private lands include mountain biking, hiking, all-terrainvehicle riding, horseback riding, camping, birding, fishing, and more. Advancing technology has also encouraged the outdoor experience, according to Green. Lighter equipment, more information, and cell phone connectivity with GPS have all led to greater use of the great outdoors. “e geocaching trend is growing, too,” said Green of the popular outdoor treasure hunt game. According to Green, these and more activities should be considered as viable markets by Georgia forest landowners.
Discovering new values at Ashland Farm On a 430-acre swath of land nestled near the borders of Newton, Walton, Rockdale, and Gwinnett Counties, Lucy and Clay Calhoun have devoted nearly 30 years of their lives in pursuit of a sustainable rural living, while experimenting boldly with the ‘added value’ proposition. “ere aren’t many prototypes for what we’ve done,” said Lucy Calhoun. What they’ve done is transformed family property through hard work and dreams to create ‘Ashland Farm.’ Here, aesthetics, wildlife, natural resources, recreation, greenhouse farming and timber co-exist to create unique value for the Calhouns. eir story mirrors that of many Georgians who, intent on retaining family land, work diligently to keep the books balanced. “Since the forties,” Clay said, “since cotton—this farm has been one continuous experiment: purebred cattle, grassseed, sheep, timber, even kudzu! In the eighties we started ‘niche marketing’— growing heirloom vegetables and specialty produce.” Eventually, at the request of chef customers, they began greenhouse production of ‘micro greens,’ tiny, intensely flavored and beautiful seedlings, which March | April 2013
they now deliver to more than 50 high end Atlanta area restaurants. Horses became part of the picture, too, when the Calhouns’ daughter, Katie, took up riding and became active in the local ‘pony club.’ Before long, it made sense to open the property for equestrian activities. “In 2001, we built the barn,” said Lucy. “Even though we’d both ridden as kids, we really didn’t know what we were getting into!” at barn led to the boarding of horses, construction of trails and a cross country course, and formal riding events. e evolution also includes one of the property’s most notable features, the equestrian membership program. Basic and full membership levels are offered at $175 and $450 per year, respectively. Details about this unique program and a riding-focused social network can be found on their Web site, www.ashlandfarm.org. e Calhouns credit a group of close friends, advisors, and forestry professionals with helping them sort through their options over the years. Included in that trusted coterie is Lynn Hennelly, a friend who’d worked with the Audubon Society and “wanted to do something conservation-related.” In 2004, she moved to Ashland Farm to help manage the property. “I feel very invested,” she said. Regional Regeneration Specialist for the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, George Hernandez, and Jeff Kastle, forester with the Georgia Forestry Commission, have also played important roles. ey worked to create a detailed Forest Stewardship Plan for the property in 2011, which spells out the Calhouns’ goals and how they will be achieved. “We knew this would not be the typical Forest Stewardship Plan,” Hernandez said. “is is a working farm, but it’s also a business. It was complex,” said Hernandez. “It was Buford Sanders who recommended we get Dr. Green from the University of Georgia involved,” said Kastle,
“so we all met here, walked the property, talked about goals and got started on the project.” e Forest Stewardship Plan defines three primary objectives for the property: aesthetics, soil and water, and wildlife. Secondary objectives are recreation (hunting and nature enjoyment) and timber, whose harvest is limited to forest health and species mix needs. e plan covers specific forest management recommendations through 2021. Dr. Green also created a recreation plan for the Calhouns. According to Green’s plan, the property’s existing amenities and proximity to Atlanta offer several additional opportunities for future recreation development, which include history and cultural activities, charity
events, and much more. “e potential is limitless,” said George Hernandez of Ashland Farm's future. e same can be said for other forest landowners and their properties that likely hold many untapped possibilities for recreation. For those considering ways to enhance their land’s recreation potential, Clay Calhoun recommends research, visits to other properties, and experimentation in your own back yard. “We saw a lot of what not to do,” he said. “Not all things can co-exist,” added Lucy, “so we have gone slowly. And it’s really important to figure out what you love doing, because you’ll be doing a lot of it.” Oh, and one more thing, Clay said, “Find a good banker!” v
Sharon Bradley oversees the cultivation of Ashland Farm's thriving micro-greens supply business. Georgia Forestry Today
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PINE SAVANNA RESTORATION and the Northern Bobwhite A 23-year old loblolly pine stand with 50 square feet of basal area and quality ground cover for wildlife being maintained with a two-year fire frequency. (Credit: Reggie Thackston/GaDNR)
LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION AT WORK By Reggie ackston & Jon Ambrose | Georgia Department of Natural Resources
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onservation projects can range greatly in scale from microsite to landscape level. In some instances, rare or declining species can be conserved through protection of small, discrete habitat patches such as caves, springs, and outcrops. In many cases, however, conserving species associated with an extensive interspersion or ‘matrix’ of habitats includes a combination of strategic habitat conservation and broad-scale restoration programs. In Georgia and throughout the Southeast, restoration of pine savanna habitat is an example of this landscapescale conservation that benefits many native species. Pine savannas are characterized by open-canopy forests with diverse grassforb-shrub groundcover vegetation. In a sense it is a prairie under the trees. Prior to European settlement, this habitat type 16
dominated as much as three-fourths of the Southeastern Coastal Plain (Platt 1999). ese forests were predominately two-layered, with an overstory of widely spaced pines and a diverse herbaceous ground cover maintained by frequent fire (Frost 1998). It has been estimated that pine savannas covered as much as
17,000 square miles of Georgia’s Coastal Plain (Wharton 1978). Pine and oak-pine savannas also occurred on xeric ridges of the Ridge and Valley and Piedmont physiographic provinces. Functional examples of this forest type now comprise less than five percent of the Southeastern Coastal Plain (Platt 1999). Restoring this habitat, especially longleaf pine savanna, is a high priority in a variety of conservation plans developed by federal, state, and non-governmental conservation organizations. Examples of these efforts include Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan, the Georgia National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Implementation Plan (GA NBCI), and America’s Longleaf Initiative. e drastic loss of pine savanna, resulting primarily from conversion to other land uses and forest types along with reduction in fire occurrence and frequency, has contributed to the severe decline of numerous wildlife species that rely fully or in part on savanna habitats. Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 20 high conservation priority animals and 56 highpriority plants associated with fire-maintained pine savannas. e northern bobwhite, our state game bird, is an example of a species in conservation need that is largely dependent on pine savanna. Georgia’s bobwhite population has declined by 5.5 percent per year since 1966 (Sauer et al. 2011). at equates to a population reduction of more than March | April 2013
85 percent! Research shows that closed canopy pine stands and stands that are either not burned or are infrequently burned provide poor habitat for bobwhites and other grassland species, and may serve as ecological sinks, i.e., sites that contribute to population declines due to high predation rates. When appropriately applied, frequent prescribed fire and forest thinning mimic the ecosystem processes that once occurred naturally across landscapes to create and maintain woodland savannas. Without thinning, tree canopies close and shade out ground cover. Without frequent prescribed fire, woody plants and forest litter replace grasses and forbs. Forest management practices that optimize bobwhite habitat across most forested sites include: 1) Frequent forest thinning to maintain at least 60 percent of the ground in direct sunlight. First thins may take stands to 70 2 basal area (BA) to maintain forest health, reduce disease and wind-throw risks, and increase future economic returns, but subsequent thins should maintain a 40-70 2 BA range, with 70 2 BA being the trigger for thinning. 2) Prescribed burning on a two-year frequency in small units—100 acres or less and ideally 20-50 acres—and in a mosaic or checkerboard pattern.
Reggie Thackston is Private Lands program manager and bobwhite project leader for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. Jon Ambrose is assistant chief of the division’s Nongame Conservation Section.
Credit: Special from GaDNR
3) Establishing 5-20 percent or more of the forest acreage in fallow managed openings 2-5 acres in size and maintained with rotational winter disking, fire or herbicides. 4) And, chemical control of exotic grasses and invasive hardwoods as needed. Managing pine savanna in this way results in economic tradeoffs or opportunity costs for landowners. ese costs may be especially high when stands are carried well beyond the optimum economic rotation age. Cost share and incentive funding provided through private lands programs
Frost, C.C. 1998. Presettlement fire frequency regimes of the United States: a first approximation. Pages 70-81 in Theresa L. Pruden and Leonard A. Brennan (eds.). Fire in ecosystem management: shifting the paradigm from suppression to prescription. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, No. 20, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee Florida. National Bobwhite Technical Committee (NBTC). 2011. Palmer, W.E., T.M. Terhune, and D.F. McKenzie (eds.). The National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative: a rangewide plan for re-covering bobwhites. National Bobwhite Technical Committee Technical Publication Version 2.0. Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Platt, W.J. 1999. Southeastern pine savannas. In: Anderson, R.C., Fralish, J.S. & Baskin, J. (eds.). The savanna, barren, and rock outcrop communities of North America, pp. 23–51. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, J.E. Fallon, K.L. Pardieck, D.J. Ziolkowski Jr., and W.A. Link. 2011. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, results and analysis 1966-2009. Version 3.23.2011. USGS, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 2008. Forest Inventory and Analysis Data. Forest Inventory Data Online.http:// 199.128.173.26/fido/index.html. Date accessed: November 2009. Wharton, C.H. 1978.The Natural Environments of Georgia. Bulletin 114. Geologic and Water Resources Division and Resource Planning Section, Office of Planning and Research, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia 227 p.
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can offset costs and encourage landowners to restore and maintain longleaf and other pine savanna systems. Since 1999, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s bobwhite restoration efforts have centered on the state’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative. BQI began as a pilot program to restore habitat for bobwhites and other grassland species on private farm and forest lands in 15 counties. Overall, BQI has shown that: • Bobwhite numbers can be increased
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through judicious application of habitat management practices across suitable landscapes at the appropriate scale. •
Landowner demand for bobwhites is high, but adequate levels of financial incentives and qualified staff for technical assistance are essential.
•
Habitat enhancements must occur across large landscapes (1,500 or more acres) to produce and sustain a
positive response in the bobwhite population. Georgia’s bobwhite restoration efforts are expanding to portions of more than 68 upper Coastal Plain counties. is transition is guided by lessons learned from 11 years of implementing BQI coupled with a recent revision of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (e NBTC 2011). e revision was led by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conser-
March | April 2013
vancy and in Georgia included 12 state, federal, and non-governmental conservation partners. is process facilitated the development of the Georgia NBCI Implementation Plan. is plan will serve as a guide for working intensively on a voluntary basis with private landowners, and across suitable public lands within prioritized landscapes, to target available management programs, funding, technical assistance, research, and monitoring. e restoration potential is high. As of 2012, across 68 counties of Georgia’s Upper Coastal Plain there were 721,778 acres of longleaf and more than 4.3 million acres of loblolly or slash pine (U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service 2008) that could feasibly be restored to, or maintained as, functional pine savanna. In addition, more than three million acres of harvested cropland are suitable for fallow native grass/forb/ shrub field borders and field corners. Some of this acreage also could be restored to longleaf pine. More specifically, within the 23 GA NBCI High Priority Focal Landscapes in these 68 counties, the five-year projected needs for habitat include 58,325 acres of pine thinning, 209,498 additional acres of prescribed burning and 62,861 acres of fallow cropland habitats. Ultimately, the success of restoring pine savanna ecosystems and bobwhite populations depends on private landowner interest and willingness to manage the resource, coupled with public land management at the appropriate intensity and scale. is will require the collaboration of private landowners, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental conservation partners working together to secure professional technical assistance and funding for management practices. is will not be easily accomplished, but this is an ecosystem and a bird worth saving for both present and future generations. For more information on pine savanna and bobwhite ecology and management, please visit the following sites: www.georgiawildlife.com and www.ttrs.org. v Georgia Forestry Today
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Dr. William Hubbard Wins Society of American Foresters Award of Excellence Dr. William G. Hubbard, UGA-based Southern Regional Extension Forester, has won the Southeastern Society of American Foresters Public Education and Technology Transfer Award of Excellence. The Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in educational activities and programs that have significantly advanced public understanding of forests and forestry and contributed to the continuing education of forestry professionals in the Southeastern United States. As the Southern Regional Extension Forester, he facilitates regional education, Extension and technology transfer programs among the 13 southern land-grant universities, the USDA Forest Service, state forestry agencies, and others within the southern forestry community. Dr. Hubbard has provided leadership on a number of nationally recognized, award-winning education and technology transfer efforts. These include the Master Tree Farmer satellite and Internet series and the forestrywebinars.net program. The Master Tree Farmer program received recognition from the Secretary of Agriculture and the forestrywebinars.net effort was awarded a Two-Chief's Award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service. Dr. Hubbard has also received recognition from the Southern Group of State Foresters through reception of the Henry Hardtner Award for forest management leadership activities in the region and received the U.S. Forest Service Chief's Southern Centennial Forum Award for efforts to educate and inform landowners and professionals. Other notable efforts include leadership in the production of the Tree Planting in the Southern United States video, editorship of woody biomass training materials and manuals for professionals, and co-instructor of the 20
technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and, to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society. v
Forestry for Non-foresters Workshop held every year at the University of Georgia. He has also chaired and assisted with several regional and national conferences, including the Slash Pine Symposium and the Southern Regional Conference on Extension & Technology Transfer. The award was presented in Mobile at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Society of American Foresters on January 28, 2013. The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. The mission of the SAF is to advance the science, education,
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New Model Could Help States Set Alligator Harvesting Rules By Sandi Martin | Warnell School of Forestry | UGA
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A new Warnell School research project could improve how three states handle the public harvesting of alligators. Researchers specifically hope to develop a population model the states can use to make decisions about how many alligators can be harvested based on how many are counted in annual surveys. Their work is complicated by the fact that the different agencies overseeing the hunting have different management goals and sets of regulatory options. The value of the work, according to Clint Moore, the lead researcher of the study, is that it “allows states to make harvest decisions on a more transparent and defensible footing, in a way that is robust to uncertainties, and that are directly evaluated on the basis of population sustainability.” Moore, who has a dual role as Warnell faculty and a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, has a $30,000 grant from the USGS and a Ph.D stipend support from Warnell for the four-year project, slated to begin in late 2012. The goal is to develop tools that can be used to set annual regulations for the public harvest of alligators in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. All three states allow alligator hunting as part of their manageGeorgia Forestry Today
ment programs. Alligators are native across the South, ranging from Texas to the tip of North Carolina. The carnivores can reach weights of 800 pounds or more, and can be more than ten feet in length. Harvesting is allowed to properly manage the alligator population and remove nuisance ones that could pose dangers to humans. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allows up to two alligators per permit, while South Carolina’s and Georgia’s departments of natural resources limit hunters to one. The number of hunting permits is limited by each state to control how many alligators are harvested. But all three states use different methods to determine what the limits are. They all rely on an annual measurement of the population to guide the regulations, and they all track harvesting data. And all three use statistical models to make these harvesting decisions. The problem, Moore says, is that these models sometimes fail to predict observations that don’t follow the historic trend, perhaps because they don’t account for underlying biological mechanisms and environmental conditions. Essentially, they do not consider how populations
respond to harvest and population density through their effects on survival and recruitment. They also do not account for the fact that the annual surveys are an imperfect measure of the larger population, and this measurement error, if not recognized, introduces some risk— either by harming the alligators or needless restriction of hunter opportunities. That’s where Moore’s team comes in. They want to devise a dynamic control model that will include those elements. Then it “might be able to predict a real population response induced by harvest,” he said. “By building the model around biological mechanisms, managers would be able to consider impacts of a harvest rule under different hypotheses about how the alligator population responds to hunting. A special feature of the dynamic control model is that it can be analyzed to provide harvest recommendations that account for how the population may grow or decline in the future.” Once the common model is developed, he said, it will be tailored to each state. v
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Hope Grows in a Tree By John Trussell
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. Every time a person plants a tree, he is hoping for a better tomorrow. In many types of literature, trees become a metaphor for life itself in many forms. Thomas Jefferson is quoted in saying that “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” This line by Jefferson was written during a time of violent revolution, but his softer and intellectual side was also smitten by trees and the natural world. His quest for knowledge and a better tomorrow for America led him to form the Lewis and Clark expedi22
tion and a great expansion of our borders. The expedition kept a detailed listing and description of all the plants and animals along the journey. One of Jefferson's less famous quotes says, “I never knew the full value of trees. Under them I breakfast, dine, write, read and receive my company,” and his Monticello estate became a living museum of unusual plants and trees that inspired learning and the formation of the University of Virginia. One of my favorite Greek proverbs states that, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” Yes, there are many
reasons to admire trees, but one of the best is that they grow MONEY and are one of Americas most renewable resources. In Georgia alone the forestry industry is worth billions of dollars. A new study on the economic benefits of the forest industry in Georgia has been completed by Georgia Tech for the Georgia Forestry Commission. The study covers 2011 and shows that all economic indicators measured have improved since the last analysis in 2010. Economic activity is measured by output, employment, and compensation generated directly by the state’s forest industry. The report shows that in 2011, almost $15.1 billion in total revenue was generated by forestry sectors (forest management/logging; lumber and wood preservation; veneer, plywood, and engineered wood; pulp and paper; secondary products), up 4.0 percent from the previous year. Employment rose 6.8 percent to 46,378 jobs over 2010 levels, and compensation was more than $2.9 billion, an increase of 13.3 percent. Statewide, the forest industry ranks second in wages and salaries, and ranks third in employment, when compared to other industries. The forest industry also generated $487 million for state revenue, an increase of 8.71 percent over the previous year. Combining these benefits produces a total impact of Georgia's forest industry at just over $25 billion, an increase of 5.6 percent over 2010. Thus, the value of the forestry industry continues to grow in Georgia, and we need to keep on planting trees. Of course, the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, but the second best time is today! There are many sources for trees. One that shouldn’t be overlooked is the Georgia Forestry Commission. The mission of the Reforestation Department is to provide quality tree planting stock to Georgia landowners at reasonable prices. This is accomplished by developing genetically improved varieties of slash and loblolly pines; producing vigorous, high-quality nursery stock from superior selections and locally adapted seed sources; and using an efficient statewide delivery network. DepartMarch | April 2013
mental expenses, including salaries and benefits, are funded through the sale of tree seedlings. The Georgia Forestry Commission’s (GFC) Flint River Nursery is located in Byromville, Georgia, and it is Georgia’s principal source for tree nursery stock. It is managed by Jeff Fields, Nursery Coordinator, who earned his B.S. Degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management from UGA in 1995. He is aided by administrative assistant Renee Allen, receptionist Sue James, and a host of other dedicated workers. The nursery also has a cooperative agreement with Dooley State Prison for an inmate crew to harvest trees and other tasks, which provides meaningful work to inmates and helps keep the costs down to all citizens who purchase trees. As another cost saving venture, the nursery has a solar electric project that supplies power to the nursery’s three deep wells, which irrigate the trees. When not being used for in-house power needs, the solar power energy is sold to the local EMC for local homes and businesses, which further reduces the costs of operating the nursery, says Fields. The Flint River Nursery is comprised of a total of 832 acres, of which 210 are irrigated and 65 acres are currently used to grow trees. The nursery grows approximately 15-20 million seedlings each year capable of reforesting over 30,000 acres. The seedling crop is predominantly slash and loblolly pines. Loblolly is generally preferred in North Georgia because slash pines are not tolerant of ice storms, says Fields, and slash is preferred by some buyers in South Georgia. But the selling numbers of the two main pine species run pretty even during most years, says Fields. A variety of hardwoods and other conifers are also grown. Hardwood species, such as saw tooth and white oaks remain in high demand for wildlife plantings. Seed Orchards and Production All seedlings sold through the GFC nurseries are grown from seed adapted to Georgia’s unique climate and soils. Seed production orchards have been established at two locations - at the Flint River comGeorgia Forestry Today
Jeff Fields displays a few loblolly pine seedlings that the Flint River Nursery produces each year to meet the growing needs of the Georgia forestry industry.
plex and the Arrowhead Seed Orchard near Cochran, Georgia. Loblolly and slash pine seed production comes entirely from genetically superior sources developed through a rigorous breeding and testing program. Seed collection areas have been established for over thirty other species at these facilities, providing a source for high quality, locally adapted superior seeds. Seeds for the other non-pine species come from a variety of locations—orchards, seed production areas, and wild collections. These sources produce locally adapted seedlings that can withstand the various site and weather conditions across Georgia. All seeds are sent to the seed conditioning plant in Macon for cleaning. Husks, wings, and debris must be removed from each seedlot; damaged or unhealthy seeds are discarded, then seeds are dried for storage or prepared for immediate planting. According to Tommy Hunter, in the book ‘Deer and Turkey Management- Beyond Food Plots’ by Kent Kammermeyer and Reggie Thaxton, you can easily plant your own acorns from mature trees. The basics are to put the acorns in a bucket of water and the bad acorns will float to the top, the good acorns sink. Acorns from the white oak
family can be planted immediately in pots or in the ground in the same fall collected. Acorns from the red oak family need to be stored in the refrigerator until the next spring and then planted. Of course it is satisfying to grow your plants your own seeds, but you lose a year of growth that you gain from buying healthy plants from the Georgia Forestry commission. Each year, the Georgia Forestry Commission supplies seedlings to Georgia landowners for reforestation, beautification, and wildlife habitat. Seedlings can be ordered in quantities ranging from ten to hundreds of thousands. The GFC begins processing orders on July 1 for the following planting season. The planting season in Georgia is from December through February. Orders can be delivered to, and picked up, at any Georgia Forestry office across the state without additional charge. For additional information on tree species and placing orders, go to www.gfc.state. ga.us. Yes, trees are important in Georgia. According to the Georgia Forestry Association, Georgia has 23.8 million acres of privately owned forest land, more than any other state. Yes, hope for a better tomorrow does grow in Georgia trees. And hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. v 23
F
arms hold a central role in the heritage of our state, having formed the economic, cultural, and family foundation for generations of Georgians. Some farms have been continuously operating for over 100 years and are recognized for their historical importance. is year, the Georgia Centennial Farm Program Celebrates its 20th year of honoring the contributions of farm families throughout Georgia. is program was created to draw attention to historic farms and to encourage their preservation. Since 1993, the program has recognized 426 farms around the state. Nominees must be a working farm with a minimum of ten acres of the origi-
2013 Georgia Centennial Farm Application Due May 1 nal purchase actively involved in agricultural production and must generate at least $1000 in annual farm-generated income. In addition, farms must have been continuously farmed by members of the same family for at least 100 years. Qualifying Georgia Centennial Farms are recognized each October at an awards ceremony at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. e Georgia Centennial Farm program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; Georgia Department of Agriculture; Georgia Forestry Commission; and the Georgia National Fair and Agricenter. For more information, contact Steven
Moffson, chair of the Georgia Centennial Farm Committee, at 404-651-5906 or at steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us.e postmark deadline for applications is May 1 of each year. v
Rayonier to Sell Wood Products Business to Interfor
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ayonier announced on Tuesday, Jan. 22, that it has reached agreement to sell all of the assets of its Wood Products business to International Forest Products Limited (Interfor) for $80 million. The sale, expected to close in the first quarter, will result in an after-tax gain of approximately $40 million. Rayonier’s Wood Products business, headquartered in Baxley, Georgia., consists of three lumber mills located in Baxley, Swainsboro and Eatonton, Georgia. As part of the transaction, Interfor has agreed to hire all 260 current Wood
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Products employees. The three mills contributed approximately $10 million in operating income to Rayonier in 2012. “This sale represents another key move in our strategy to fully position our manufacturing operations in the specialty chemicals sector,” said Paul Boynton, Rayonier chairman, president and CEO. “At the same time, the conversion of our commodity fluff pulp business to cellulose specialties remains on track for mid-2013 startup.” “We are delighted with this opportunity to transition our Wood Products operations to a world-class company fo-
cused on lumber and wood products manufacturing,” continued Boynton. “Rayonier has enjoyed a long association with Interfor, supplying their lumber business in the Pacific Northwest for many years, and we look forward to expanding that relationship into the Southeast.” Interfor, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a leading producer of lumber and wood products, primarily in the Northwest U.S. and Canada. This will be its first acquisition of manufacturing assets in the Southeast U.S. v March | April 2013
Arborgen Donates 75,000 Longleaf Pine Seedlings to Support the College of Charleston Foundation’s Forest Restoration at Dixie Plantation
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rborGen has announced that it has formed a long-term partnership with the College of Charleston Foundation to support its forest conservation and restoration efforts at Dixie Plantation. In a show of support, ArborGen has agreed to donate 75,000 Longleaf Pine seedlings, which will be planted during the winter of 20122013 on 144 acres of Dixie Plantation. “We are grateful for ArborGen's partnership,” said George P. Watt Jr., executive director of the College of Charleston Foundation. “is generous support will further enable the Foundation and the College’s mission to protect and preserve this ‘living laboratory’ and vital Lowcountry habitat while providing educational benefits at Dixie Plantation for generations to come.”
Georgia Forestry Today
Dixie Plantation is a historic 881-acre property along the Stono River and the Intercoastal Waterway. e myriad ecosystems include Longleaf Pine forests, wetlands, savannahs, tidal marshes, as well as brackish, saltwater, and fresh-water ponds. Today, in collaboration with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, the College of Charleston Foundation has embarked on a comprehensive plan to restore Dixie to its original purpose as a ‘conservationist’s classroom.’ Native, diverse ecosystems will be restored and maintained to provide experiential learning and research opportunities for College of Charleston students and faculty. Dixie Plantation enables the college to educate its students in an unparalleled natural setting; inspire collaboration across campus, industry, and governmental agencies; and prepare students and faculty to be leaders in today's
environmentally volatile, global society. “As a company dedicated to advancements in forestry, we commend the College of Charleston Foundation for doing a tremendous job preserving Dixie Plantation, and we are pleased to be a partner in the restoration efforts,” said Andrew Baum, president and chief executive officer of ArborGen. “One hundred and fiy years ago, Longleaf was the dominant Pine stretching through nine states from Virginia to Texas. Since then, its range has been greatly diminished. Both ArborGen and the College of Charleston Foundation are working diligently to change that and planting the 75,000 seedlings will not only help restore our region’s Longleaf Pine trees, but also contribute to the region's ecosystem.” v
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Harley Langdale Jr. Passes Away
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arley Langdale Jr. (BSF ’37), one of Warnell’s strongest supporters and recognizable alums, died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Valdosta. He was 98. Mr. Langdale, a previous winner of the Warnell School’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, created one of Georgia’s most lucrative forest products companies and was a leader in the industry for more than 70 years. Aer receiving his bachelor’s degree from what was then the George Foster Peabody School of Forestry, Langdale embarked on a storied career that changed the forest industry, including becoming a pioneer in sound forest management. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Harley Langdale, a treasured friend of the Warnell School,” said Dean Mike Clutter. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Langdale’s family during this sad time. Mr. Langdale will always be remembered for the tremendous impact he had on the forest industry and natural resources community.” Mr. Langdale was a primary contributor to the advancement of forestry in Georgia. When ‘Mr. Harley’ started his career, the primary use of southern pine forests was to produce naval stores and provide logs to lumber mills. He was a great proponent of expanding uses and markets for forest products in Georgia’s forest industry. As the CEO of e Langdale Company, he developed manufacturing capabilities in 26
lumber, poles and medium density fiber board, and provided pulpwood to the emerging pulp and paper industry starting in the late 1940s. “Over the years, Harley has been a strong proponent of the concept that healthy forests exist because forestland owners have healthy and diverse markets into which they sell their products,” Clutter said. “We will miss Mr. Langdale for his sage advice and clear understanding of the relationships between forests and their uses.” Mr. Langdale was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1914, and was the oldest of four children to Harley and alia Lee Langdale. He graduated from Valdosta High School and then attended the Citadel before transferring to UGA to study forestry. Aer graduating with his BSF in 1937, Mr. Langdale became heavily involved in the forest industry, creating e Langdale Company, which grew from a small turpentine and land holding company into a fully-integrated diversified forest products company under his leadership. Mr. Langdale, who was the third registered forester in Georgia, focused on ways to manage forests better, including growing more and better trees per acre and converting a timber industry from one that historically le the land stripped during the clearing process. Mr. Langdale, an environmentalist, helped turn the industry into one that better managed the land and its products for future use, leaving the land able to support several generations of trees and wildlife.
During this time, he married Eileen Cox of Valdosta in 1943, and the couple strongly supported the Warnell School over their long marriage. Mrs. Langdale passed away in September 2010 aer 67 years of marriage. Mr. Langdale was also very active in the community, serving as director of Georgia Southern & Florida Railway Co. for 39 years, director for the Citizens and Southern National Bank for more than 29 years, and was a member of the bank’s executive committee for more than ten years. He also served in some capacity for the Georgia International Life Insurance Co., Herty Foundation, Southern Forest Products Association, Forest Farmers Association, Georgia Forestry Association, Forest Research Society, Society of American Foresters, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, ValdostaLowndes County Hospital Authority, and the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation. Mr. Langdale’s contributions to the forest industry have been recognized with many awards, including the National Forest Products Association's Forest Management Award, Georgia Man of the Year Service to Agriculture Progressive Farmer Award, Forest Farmer Award, J.W. Fanning Leadership Georgia Award, and Georgia Forestry Association Wise Owl Award. He was also inducted into the Society of American Foresters Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame. v March | April 2013
Georgia Forestry Today
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GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
John Godbee to Serve as 2013 GFA Chairman
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ohn Godbee, Forest Certification & Environmental Compliance Programs Manager at F&W Forestry Services, took office as the 53rd Chairman of the Georgia Forestry Association on January 1, 2013. John has been heavily involved with the Association since 1978 and is a well-known leader in the forestry community in Georgia and throughout the southeast. John joined F&W, one of the nation’s oldest and largest forestry management and consulting firms, in 2001 following a distinguished career with International Paper Company and UnionCamp Corporation. While at Union-Camp, John managed the environmental compliance and public policy program for the Forest Resources group and served on a pulp and paper committee that worked to develop the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), now the dominant forest certification program in the U.S. Throughout his career with F&W, John has initiated and administered key
certification programs through Forest Stewardship Council, SFI and the American Tree Farm System to assist clients and other private landowners in the management of their forestland in a sustainable manner. Currently, John’s responsibilities extend across 14 states including land acquisition and management, as well as environmental programs in Uruguay and Brazil. In those roles, he has played a key part in providing policy leadership, including testimony to the United States House and Senate and the Georgia legislature. “John has made significant contributions to the forest industry in the United States, and his optimistic outlook and leadership skills will undoubtedly help to guide association activities in 2013,” GFA President Steve McWilliams said. “I expect to learn a lot while working side-by-side with him this year.” Before becoming GFA chairman, John served several years as the chair of the environmental committee, co-chairing efforts to develop Georgia’s Forest
Best Management Practices. He has also served on several other task forces and committees including the governance, timberland taxation, legislative, and nomination committees. In his role as chairman, John said he would like to increase membership engagement, complete the ongoing strategic review of our mission, and facilitate alignment of GFA’s mission with the human and financial resources necessary to achieve the Association’s long-term objectives. “I am extremely optimistic about the status of forestry in Georgia,” John said. “We are blessed with an abundance of the most productive and well managed forests in the world. There is always room for improvement, but there is ample evidence that our industry is committed to ensuring a long-term sustainable forest business sector.” John’s track record of contributions to Georgia’s forest sector is evidence that GFA is in good hands to move forward in 2013.v
GFA Accepting Nominations for Logger of the Year & Wise Owl Awards
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very year, the Georgia Forestry Association honors certain individuals in the forestry community who make substantial contributions to better forestry in Georgia and the South. This year is no different as GFA is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Logger of the Year and Wise Owl award. Both awards will be presented at the 2013 Annual Conference & Forestry Expo in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on July 20-22.
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The Logger of the Year nominees are judged on the basis of their ability to be compliant with all applicable laws, practice safety and loss control programs, establish and maintain equipment security practices, and practice sound business management. Also, participation in the Master Timber Harvester Program is a key factor. Since 1980, GFA has given the Wise Owl Award, its most prestigious recognition, to an individual who has made countless outstanding contributions to
the forestry community. It recognizes not only forestry advocacy, but also an uncommon passion to improve the industry for all landowners and forestry related businesses. The deadline to submit nominations is March 30. Nomination forms can be found on GFA’s Web site at www.gfagrow.org. For more information, contact GFA at info@gfagrow.org or 478-992-8110. v March | April 2013
Georgia Forestry Today
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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
BEACH TIMBER COMPANY INC. 128 Beach Timber Road Alma, Ga 31510 Office: (912) 632-2800 Gary Strickland Foresters We Buy Wood! Owner bchtimco@accessatc.net Available
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FOREST RESOURCE SERVICES INC.
Buyers of Land and Timber in Georgia and the South Canal Wood LLC 601 North Belair Square, Suite 21 Evans, Georgia 30809 Phone: (800) 833-8178 E-mail: dollars4trees@canalwood.com
Specializing in Land and Timber Management & Sales
BOBBY D. BROWN Registered Forester GA Number: 2164 Licensed Realtor GA Number: 165520 20364 GA Hwy #3 Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-1919 brown@ftrealty.com
March | April 2013
Georgia Forestry Today
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