Whether tracking tree growth, mapping, measuring topography or detecting streams, remote sensing has become an indispensable tool for foresters and researchers.

With so much tech involved, talking remote sensing can get technical fast, which can make it hard to understand.

This article explores the nuts and bolts of modern remote sensing in a layperson’s terms with New England Forestry’s Research and Development remote sensing team: Remote Sensing Manager Trevor Host and Remote Sensing Forester Aaron Evans.

Here, you’ll learn:

• What is Remote Sensing?
• How Remote Sensing Works in Forestry
• Benefits of Remote Sensing for Forest Management
• Challenges of Remote Sensing in Forestry
• A Typical Day As a New England Forestry Remote Sensing Forestry Researcher
• The Future of Remote Sensing in Forestry

What Is Remote Sensing? A Brief History & Explanation

Remote sensing uses technology such as cameras, lasers, satellites and various aircraft to collect data about a particular area or landscape.

“Remote sensing has been around since we’ve been able to put cameras in something that could go up,” Trevor says. “For instance, hot air balloons used to be used for remote sensing.

“With satellites, a lot has been driven by military operations. One of the primary uses of the first satellites was to get a remote view and create maps of countries that were at war. The cold war led to a lot of development of remote sensing.”

There are two types of remote sensing: Active vs. Passive

The difference between active and passive remote sensing comes down to the energy source used to gather data.

1. Active: This is performed using artificial energy sources like light bulbs or the flash of a camera.
2. Passive: This is performed using natural reflective light, like energy from the sun.

Remote sensing technologies use one of these two methods to gather information depending on the environment and the type of data needed.

Some examples of remote sensing technologies include:

• LiDAR: Uses light or lasers to measure distance
• Radar: Uses radio signals to collect data
• Sonar: Uses sound to create images of the ocean floor
• Specialized cameras: These take photographs or video to capture data from drones, aircraft, or satellites

Choosing the Right Remote Sensing Tool for the Job

Trevor explains that each remote sensing technology and application has benefits and drawbacks.
Each of these technologies gathers data differently, and the best one to use depends on the goal, environment and level of detail needed.

“We use drones, aircraft or satellites depending on what we want to look at. Drones fly much lower and are more detailed, but you can only cover a small area. Satellites cover full counties on a regular basis, and it’s repeated, but the images have coarser resolutions and cloud cover, so you can’t always tell the details as well.”

Regardless, they all play an important role in tracking the health, viability and growth of forests.

Different Types of Remote Sensing Used in Forestry

Forestry researchers use various remote sensing devices and technology to gather data.

Trevor says New England Forestry obtains most of its remote sensing data from federal programs and some from in-house operations, including LiDAR.

Why LiDAR Technology Has Become Important for Forestry Remote Sensing

Trevor is spearheading a new LiDAR data project in which laser scanners mounted on aircraft collect 3D imagery, providing highly detailed terrain maps for New England Forestry forest managers and researchers.

LiDAR, an acronym for light detection and ranging, was born from radar (radio detection and ranging) and is the most commonly used active airborne sensor.

While radar uses radio waves to measure things, Lidar uses pulses of light—or lasers—which measure the elevation of things, such as the ground and trees, in three-dimensional space.

The capabilities of LiDAR technology make it possible for remote sensing scientists to:

• Map ground elevation using light angle, altitude, and tilt
• Measure forest structure in 3D, including tree height, spacing, and density
• See through forest canopies to gather data about the forest floor
• Identify natural features such as water flow patterns, stream beds, and terrain variation

How does LiDAR work?

In a nutshell, the lasers emit a pulse of light that travels to the ground or trees below, which then reflects information back to the LiDAR sensor, including the time it takes for the light to travel from the ground or object back to the LiDAR system.

From there, the LiDAR system uses the speed of light to calculate the distance between the top of the measured object, such as a tree, and the plane.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:

• A laser pulse is emitted toward the ground or object
• The pulse reflects off the surface and returns to the sensor
• The system measures the time it took for the light to return
• Using that time and the speed of light, it calculates distance
• Additional data like light angle, altitude and tilt are used to determine ground elevation

The Value of LiDAR for Forest Management

LiDAR is invaluable in forestry for providing 3D imagery of forest structures, topography, streams, ground elevation and more.

Plus, LiDAR sensors filter through the forest canopy, from the top of the trees to the ground below.

Think of it like light streaming through the trees, which gives a detailed and holistic view of the forest structure, not just the treetops.

This gives researchers and foresters much more information than aerial or satellite images.

“LiDAR is used to create a 3-D map,” explains Trevor, “so you’ll get the returns of the position with that laser pulse bounced off the ground, and that can tell you something about the 3D elevation of the ground with precise detail to the point when you can see gaps between houses and trees, where water flows, and where streams are, which are all important for us. It’s also useful for mapping tree heights.

“It allows us to cover the entire footprint of our landbase, whereas most of our other measurements are specific to forest stands. It also tells us the value of maintaining the forest.”

LiDAR can gather valuable information about tree density, height, shape and even the forest floor, which has been game-changing for forest research and management.

Benefits of Remote Sensing for Forest Management

The benefits of remote sensing for forest management and research fall into two categories, Trevor says:

“First, you save time planning out timber sales. We have to map out where the boundary of a timber sale will be. Those depend on how close you are to the stream channel, and remote sensing technology, such as LiDAR, helps us determine that accurately.

“Second, remote sensing provides the measurements used in things like assessing tree height growth. This helps us see if the stand is on track with what we expect for that age of a stand and how variable the heights are within the stand.”

And trees aren’t the only plant life captured, Aaron adds: “These technologies will give you helpful information on vegetation growth as well.”

Foresters also can gain important insight into water features that are important to understand at all stages in the forest lifecycle.

“It’s great for stream mapping and delineations,” Aaron says. “We can identify more waterways, spot distinctive water features, and have an insight of the stand before getting there.”

The Biggest Challenges of Remote Sensing in Forestry

Remote sensing is all about collecting data that must be reviewed and sorted by the research team.

“It definitely generates a lot of data,” Trevor says, “so data management, quality of imagery and interpretation takes up a lot of our time. We have a whole research team, but Aaron and I pretty much review all the data.”

Both researchers also mentioned general challenges with limitations in technology.

“We try to make imagery available on phones, but if you don’t have a network connection out in the woods, there are challenges there,” says Trevor.

A Typical Day As a New England Forestry Remote Sensing Forestry Researcher

The researchers said there isn’t one typical kind of day in their line of work. Their responsibilities vary depending on project needs, but often include:

• Collecting field measurements using mobile technology
• Developing and testing new remote sensing tools
• Training foresters on how to use new technology
• Collaborating across teams to solve specific forest management challenges
• Conducting research and development reviews
• Leading workshops and sharing insights with peers and partners

“We spend some days in the field doing measurements from our phones and some days back at the office,” Aaron says. “It just depends on the questions being asked and what’s needed.”

“A big part of what we do, since this is newer technology, is developing the tools, then trying to train foresters on how to use them,” Trevor says.

“Everyone’s coming from different backgrounds. So, a big part of it is just meeting everyone where they are and working with them to identify one thing that can help them make the job easier.”

Trevor and Aaron say the response from foresters of all tenures to the new technologies has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The folks who have been doing this work in the field for years are so excited about it,” Trevor says. “It is exciting for them to pull it up on an app and see, ‘Hey, this is exactly what my field knowledge confirms.’ I think a lot of people who have been doing this for a long time love it and take to it really quickly.”

Trevor emphasized he and Aaron also spend a lot of time providing training and workshops, doing research and development reviews, and sharing information on various topics with the New England Forestry team as well as organizations and educational institutions outside New England Forestry.

What’s Up and Coming in the World of Remote Sensing in Forestry?

Both Trevor and Aaron are excited about the expansion of AI in streamlining remote sensing data mining and management.

“Remote sensing data is pretty well-suited for AI,” Trevor says, “because if you think about satellite imagery, the data it collects is very standardized and that lends itself well to AI capability.

“If you can have an AI algorithm just look through thousands of images and kick out the cloudy ones, that can save a lot of time and take clear images stacked together. It can get you 75% of the way there, and that is a significant time-saver.”

Aaron would also like to see remote sensing technology improve for tree measurement:

“If you have an iPhone Pro, it has a LiDAR sensor, but it only goes about 15 feet. You can scan your room with a small LiDAR sensor and it will provide measurements. I’d like to see it work for larger trees.”

Aaron added he could see LiDAR playing a greater role in habitat management and biodiversity in the future.

Trevor expects LiDAR usage to expand in the same way foresters’ drone usage has in the field.

“I’d say drones have become a regular tool in the back of the forester’s pickup truck. When you think back to 10 years ago, that wasn’t the case. You don’t need anything fancy. It’s just a way to get a view in the sky.”

New England Forestry is Proud to Help Advance Research and Development Through Remote Sensing in Forestry

For over 75 years, New England Forestry has invested in its in-house Forest Research Center, one of only two industry-led research teams in the country.

Here, our scientists use modern research and technologies, like remote sensing, to gain a better understanding of what’s needed to support thriving pine trees, clean watersheds and diverse plant and animal species on active forestlands.

Learn more about how we’re making a difference to forestry science and the planet in:

• New England Forestry Scientists Bring Deep Knowledge to Forest Management
• What Are Land-Based Solutions?
• What Does A Forest Biometrician Do?

Interested in a Career in Remote Sensing?

Remote sensing researchers like Trevor and Aaron are shaping the future of forestry with innovative technologies that help protect and manage our forests more effectively.

If you’re passionate about the environment and excited by the idea of using cutting-edge tools to better understand the world around us, a career in remote sensing might be the perfect fit.

Learn more about careers like these at ForestryCareers.com and explore how to get started by visiting the Remote Sensing Researcher Profile.

The post How Modern Remote Sensing Is Transforming The Future of Forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Public affairs plays a vital role in ensuring that companies like New England Forestry can sustainably manage land while navigating public policy, community relationships and industry dynamics.

Shawn DeRome has a natural knack for building and maintaining relationships. Without realizing it, her cumulative experience and years of networking opened the doors to the dream job she currently holds at New England Forestry.

She began her forestry career as a procurement forester at a sawmill, purchasing timber for the mill. Now, she advocates on New England Forestry’s behalf as the Eastern Director of Public Affairs, covering four states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

“I got into forestry because I love nature and spending time outside,” she says. “I also enjoy the networking and building of relationships aspect of it. My job is so diverse. It includes industry work, non-industry work, and interacting with our communities. It’s so different from any other job in the industry. But it all comes back to forestry, and that’s my passion.”

In this career spotlight, we’ll explore how Shawn found her path, what her role involves, and how public affairs connects communities, policy and sustainable forest management.

• How Shawn Got Her Start in Forestry
• How Shawn’s Career in Forestry Evolved at New England Forestry
• What Does a New England Forestry Director of Public Affairs Do?
• How Public Affairs Supports New England Forestry’s Timber and Non-Timber Operations
• Why Advocating for Sustainable Forestry Matters

How Shawn Got Her Start in Forestry

Like many forestry professionals, Shawn didn’t set out knowing exactly where her career would lead—but her education helped point the way. Her journey into forestry began in college, where a love for the outdoors sparked an unexpected career path.

Discovering Forestry Through Education

While studying for her undergrad at the University of Georgia, Shawn discovered her interest in forestry. She excelled in many of her classes, including a Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology course in which her professor observed her passion for the outdoors.

“For class, we would stomp around in the creek, collecting tiny freshwater invertebrates for observation. I could always remember the scientific names and random facts about the invertebrates. My professor took notice and encouraged me to apply to Warnell, the forestry school at the University of Georgia.

“The Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism program was a great fit and I was able to tailor it as a forestry-focused education.”

Connecting with the Forestry Industry Through Hands-On Experience

During her education and various internships, Shawn discovered her interest and passion for what she describes as the “bridge between society and working forests.” As a student, she served as a student ambassador, helping with events and volunteering with organizations such as the Georgia Forestry Association. 

She even worked at the school’s Deer Research Facilities, where she often led tours to educate the public about deer habitat and population management.

“As an undergrad, I was given many opportunities to network. The experience I received throughout my time at Warnell continued to build my interest in the rich history of forestry in the Southeast, natural resource management, and how people interact with their land and communities.”

Why Graduate School Was the Next Step

Shawn’s original plan was to graduate and get a job. However, a professor and mentor encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree from the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia.

“Pursuing my master’s degree provided me with further industrial forestry networking opportunities combined with a solid financial foundation,” Shawn says. “I came out of that program having networked for a solid four years. I enjoyed it, but didn’t realize how much it would come full circle later.”

How Shawn’s Career in Forestry Evolved at New England Forestry

Right out of school, Shawn began working in procurement forestry, buying trees for a sawmill, working with loggers, and looking at special projects for the company. After about two years, she applied for a timber marketing forester position with New England Forestry. But the company saw her potential for a different role.

Gaining Industry Insight as a Business Development Analyst

“When I interviewed, New England Forestry saw that I was well-suited for a business development analyst position,” recalls Shawn. “In that role, I was the person digging into market intelligence research for the company, looking at everything from hyperlocal timber markets to global economics. I analyzed how it all fit together and was responsible for understanding the ins and outs of housing and lumber prices, foreign markets, what timber prices we were getting in each of our regions, and how we strategize with this data moving forward. That position built a deep understanding of the industry and continues to help me in my current role.”

Preparing for a Leadership Role in Public Affairs

While working as a business development analyst, Shawn still engaged with trade associations and with the forestry school at the University of Georgia. She began serving on the school’s Young Alumni Committee and is currently the Chair. She has continued to build industry relationships, growing her interest in the connection between policy and forestry.

How Mentorship Shaped Shawn’s Career

“After a few years, the gentleman who had held the position of Director of Public Affairs, Dan Roach, was retiring. I spent a lot of time with him before he officially retired, which has proven to be essential for this role. He had been with the company for 44 years and knew the history and people like the back of his hand. I definitely couldn’t do this job as well without him.

“I had expressed my interest and applied for the role. When I got the job, I was overjoyed. It was confirmation that everything I had done—my networking, my passion for the industry, all of my experience—all of it was coming together.”

What Does a New England Forestry Director of Public Affairs Do?

The Director of Public Affairs at New England Forestry works across departments to support forestry operations, community outreach and public policy engagement.

The Director of Public Affairs’ primary responsibilities include:

• Works with our teams to identify areas or projects in need of additional support and develops strategies.
• Concentrates on current and emerging public policy and community issues that impact the company’s diverse interests.
• Builds bridges and fosters understanding among various (and at times competing) stakeholders such as industry associations, legislators and community leaders.

How Relationships and Strategy Shape the Role

“I like to say my job encompasses strategy and problem-solving,” Shawn explains. “Building genuine relationships at both the local and state levels is a big part of what I do. My job is to help maintain a healthy business climate so that New England Forestry can do what New England Forestry does best: stewardship and sustainable land management.”

What a Typical Day Looks Like in Public Affairs

When asked what a typical day is like, Shawn chuckles and says, “It’s the coolest job there is because I get to work with everybody in the company, and everybody externally. No day is typical or the same. One day, I might meet with an environmental group concerned about water quality. The next, I’m talking with landowners about palmetto berry theft. The next, I could be speaking to legislators about rare plants or wildlife that we help protect.”

How Public Affairs Supports New England Forestry’s Timber and Non-Timber Operations

At New England Forestry, we operate within two categories of business: timber and non-timber activities. As the Eastern Director of Public Affairs, Shawn must divide her attention among the two.

The Timber Side of New England Forestry

Education and advocacy make up a large portion of Shawn’s timber-related job activities. This includes working with external stakeholders to help them understand the benefits of forestry and the challenges that it faces.

In her public affairs role, Shawn works to raise awareness of:

• The environmental value of sustainable forestry — including clean air, clean water, and habitat for wildlife.
• How forestry works — including the 25-year forest lifecycle of growing and harvesting trees in the Southeast.
• The economic importance of forestry — from supporting rural communities to the essential role of loggers and truck drivers.
• Why education matters — helping community members, legislators, and other stakeholders better understand forestry’s impact.

“We focus on how forestry provides clean air, clean water and habitat for wildlife. For about 25 years per-rotation, our forests grow, we manage them accordingly, harvest the timber and then the process starts over again. The forestry industry also provides hundreds of thousands of rural jobs. Without loggers and truck drivers, none of this would be possible. They really do the hard work. Much of this, I believe, gets lost in translation and people just need the education and tools to better understand what all goes into sustainable forestry, why it’s important to society, and where New England Forestry fits in.”

Shawn is involved in about 30 different local and state groups, providing her with opportunities to discuss forestry and land management. She serves on boards, committees, task groups, and more. Consistent communication and collaboration with stakeholder groups allows Shawn the opportunity to share and better understand outside perceptions.

In addition to collaboration, Shawn is also involved in forestry advocacy related to fair policies.

“Legislators need to know and understand how forestry fits into the picture. They may not fully understand why we need to focus on issues such as landowner rights or trespassing laws. But it matters because it all comes back to our business model. We need policies that allow us to manage our land sustainably.”

The Non-Timber Side of New England Forestry

In addition to timber, New England Forestry manages a variety of non-timber businesses across its land base. Shawn works closely with these business partners to ensure that non-timber operations align with New England Forestry’s standards for responsible land use.

Her work includes:

• Supporting sustainable land-based businesses – including hunting and recreation, pine straw and fill dirt, just to name a few.
• Evaluating emerging opportunities – like the increasing demand for renewable energy.
• Ensuring responsible land stewardship – by maintaining high standards across all activities.

Solar projects, for example, are one of those emerging opportunities and have increased in popularity in the forestry industry. Although New England Forestry has established solar operations, the increased interest is new for our company.

“Solar is an important and valuable source of renewable energy, but it’s a different conversation than growing trees. Understanding the balance is important.”

“It all ties together, coming back to the big picture of sustainability. It’s our land and we want it to remain healthy and all activities to be conducted responsibly. We have high standards. Every aspect of our business has the same theme—there are just different ways of getting there.”

Why Advocating for Sustainable Forestry Matters

For Shawn, forestry provides solutions for many of the issues our world faces.

“Everything is centered around forestry. The products we use every day, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Without sustainable, well-managed forests—not just trees growing, but managed timber—we would have none of these things.”

The bridge between forest management and society is an important piece of Shawn’s role at New England Forestry. Maintaining a balance between stewardship and sustainability while ensuring society and policymakers are aware and well-educated is critical to her role as Eastern Director of Public Affairs.

“Within New England Forestry, sustainable and responsible stewardship of the land is what grounds it all. Strong markets for our timber and fair policies provide us, and the industry as a whole, with a positive and healthy business climate. Without all of these things, our industry could not function. Advocating and minimizing the risk to our business is an important aspect of my job.

“What it all boils down to is ensuring society is aware of responsible land management, and that it’s important and beneficial to our everyday lives.”

Interested in Becoming a Forestry Professional?

Shawn’s role at New England Forestry is a testament to how diverse forestry careers can be. Her work reinforces a simple but powerful truth: sustainable forestry isn’t just a practice—it’s a pathway to ensuring forests remain healthy and valued for generations to come.

If you love the outdoors and are passionate about the environment, visit ForestryCareers.com to explore the many careers in forestry and learn how to get started on this exciting career path by visiting the Public Affairs Director Profile.

The post What Does a Director of Public Affairs Do in Forestry? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

When it comes to forestry and forest management, we often think about the professionals in the woods. But what you may not realize is there is a whole background team that supports “traditional foresters” in the woods. One of the most crucial pieces of forestry support is GIS. 

Although in seemingly different parts of the “world” when it comes to technical expertise, field foresters and GIS professionals go together like peanut butter and jelly, like salt and pepper, or even like chicken and waffles (don’t knock it until you try it!).

Each role is crucial in its own regard. Let’s dive into what GIS really is and get an inside point of view from New England Forestry’s GIS Analyst Emily Ramirez, based in our corporate headquarters in Wildlight, Florida.  

• What is GIS and why is it important in forestry?
• What does GIS stand for?
• What is the difference between Everyday Mapping and GIS Mapping?
• What is the role of a GIS analyst in the forestry industry?
• Why don’t foresters create their own maps?
• Where do GIS analysts get the information they need?
• Meet a GIS Analyst: Emily Ramirez

What is GIS and why is it important in forestry?

GIS is a powerful tool that allows forestry professionals to analyze and manage geographically referenced data. While field foresters navigate the landscape, GIS analysts process and interpret spatial data to guide decision-making.

This collaboration is vital when you think about the complexities of managing hundreds of thousands of acres—millions even, when you look at the entire footprint New England Forestry holds in forestland investments!

What does GIS stand for?

If you look up the technical definition of GIS, you’ll read that it stands for “geographical information systems” and is defined as “a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information.”

But when asked to define what GIS is, Emily says, “GIS is spatial analysis. A coworker once mentioned to me that it is ‘putting data in its place’ and that really sums it up for me: we are creating, managing and editing data associated with spatial places.”

What is the difference between Everyday Mapping and GIS Mapping?

In modern times, we’re all familiar with satellite imagery and “spatial” systems, as they’re the norms for every iPhone, mapping GPS system and even in everyday use through Google Earth and Google maps.

Most professional foresters and natural resource professionals are proficient at deciphering satellite and aerial imagery to be able to navigate their forested landscape.

So what truly makes GIS work differently from anyone simply looking at Google Earth imagery?

GIS analysts take this technology further, combining multiple types of data to create comprehensive maps that provide deeper insights than imagery alone.

Emily shares, “While looking at satellite imagery is very important, looking at imagery does not tell you the entire story. With GIS, you can combine many types of data—including imagery—to be able to build and analyze so many different types of spatial data way beyond just imagery.”

What is the role of a GIS analyst in the forestry industry?

Incorporating all those layers of data into a map system, GIS analysts like Emily can really make a difference in forestry!

By compiling the information foresters gather in the woods, GIS analysts can create a complete, map-based dataset that truly tells a story and helps foresters anticipate and make the best management decisions.

Key Contributions of GIS Analysts:

• Field Mapping: Foresters use GIS-based maps to plan logging operations or silvicultural practices, such as planting and thinning.
• Data Integration: GIS analysts compile data gathered by foresters in the field, creating comprehensive datasets.
• Efficiency: High-quality maps produced by GIS analysts save foresters time, allowing them to focus on fieldwork.

Why Don’t Foresters Create Their Own Maps?

There are times foresters print their own maps out before they hit their logging sites or start their silvicultural management practices.

If foresters print out their own maps, why wouldn’t they just make their own maps and do their own data entry after they gather it from the fields? I mean, they’re the ones IN the woods and would know the layout of the ground better than anyone else in an office setting, right?

Emily helps provide clarification with that too:

“Some foresters do make their own maps, and they’re excellent,” Emily says. “But just as they are experts in the woods, we are experts in mapping. There is a whole art and science behind cartography, and we take pride in producing quality maps. Also, it is about efficiency. I make maps all the time, and I can make a good map quickly. A map made by our department allows the field to spend more time, well, in the field!”

Where do GIS analysts get the information they need?

But you’re probably wondering: how do GIS analysts make determinations on their maps without ever setting foot in the woods?

If all of their work is computer-based, created in an office, and their job is to help the field team spend more efficient time in the woods, how are they making accurate determinations? As we’ll see from Emily, it’s a team effort.

Tools and Technology in GIS

Creating accurate maps requires advanced tools and data sources. Emily highlights some of the key technologies used to gather information for GIS analysts:

• Drone Imagery: Foresters capture high-resolution images of the landscape.
• LiDAR: This technology reveals hidden features under the canopy, such as streams and roads.
• Digitized Field Maps: Foresters communicate directly with GIS systems from the field, capturing real-time data using a tablet.

“We rely on a variety of sources,” she explains. “Imagery is hugely important. We have drone imagery that our own foresters fly, as well as satellite and digital imagery. Also, we have really come to embrace LiDAR. This allows us to see streams, roads and other natural features that we could not see from imagery alone. It really lets us see what’s underneath the canopy!”

And the database GIS analysts like Emily use is constantly being updated by employees who are in the woods.

“Our field foresters utilize GIS technology in the field, particularly Field Maps,” Emily says. “This allows them to communicate with the GIS systems directly from the field, capturing points, lines and polygons for all sorts of events we could not see from imagery.”

So now that we have the basic understanding of GIS and the relationship between field foresters and GIS, let’s really get to know Emily.

Meet a GIS Analyst: Emily Ramirez

To better understand the role of a GIS analyst, we spoke with Emily Ramirez, who has been with New England Forestry for over 10 years.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with a GIS emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado. She has extensive experience in spatial analysis, cartography, and data integration.

At New England Forestry, Emily has played a pivotal role in advancing GIS applications to support forestry operations and decision-making.

Here, she shares more about her career and experiences in GIS.

Q: What does a typical day look like for a GIS analyst?

A: This is what makes my career so exciting. It really is never the same on a given day. We support the entire company, so one day we may be working with an accounting request, or a solar request, or determining if an acquisition is a good fit for our portfolio. We make maps, answer questions, assist our field users with GIS applications and software, and constantly look at growing our skills to make sure we are on top of the ever changing GIS landscape!

Q: What is the craziest story or memory you have working in GIS?

A: I started my GIS career as an intern at Miami Dade County and they were really focused on bringing 3D and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) data into their systems. I was tasked with creating DEM of the city. I spent almost two days trying to figure out why my DEM was failing and just giving me a flat area. I zoomed into a small area and saw a divot in the landscape. Turns out, it wasn’t failing. Miami is really just that flat!

Q: What’s a real challenge for you in GIS?

A: Having people understand what we do. It is so much more than looking at satellite imagery or Google Earth. We also need to speak up more and show that GIS is integrated in almost everyone’s lives at some point or another.

Q: What’s one thing you wish people knew about GIS work?

A: How diverse the job is. We really do it all, from analysis to cartography. I get to use programming languages, create web and phone applications for our field to use, and use my geospatial analytical skills to answer any question. GIS is a set of skills that can be used in any field, not just forestry. It’s incredibly powerful not only for analysis but for telling a story. A good map is priceless. If you want to relay a message to an audience or just have it as a locating tool, a good map is crucial. The work that goes behind a good map takes a lot of effort!

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to maps and GIS?

A: When the map is cluttered or unbalanced! I understand people want to see a lot of items on a map, but there’s just no way you’re going to be able to tell what you’re looking at if the map has so many layers. Simple is sometimes the best!

Q: Technology is always changing. What has been the best blessing in GIS advancement that makes your job so much more efficient, and what do you think GIS will look like in the future?

A: Using programming languages to automate a lot of repeatable tasks is fantastic. For the future, I think it would be fun to go into more Virtual Reality areas. How neat would it be to be dropped into the forest and create layers based on where you see the streams, plantings, etc.?

Q: What would you advise to someone who is just learning about GIS and looking to get into forestry?

A: Don’t be intimidated by the screen. GIS is using technology to help make foresters more proficient, safer and able to collect valuable data as easily as possible! We rely so much on foresters’ input. We can’t see what is going on in the woods from behind a computer. That’s why we’ve empowered our foresters to implement easy-to-use GIS technology to help create a quality and comprehensive GIS database.

Q: What would you advise someone who is considering a career within GIS?

A: Take a course, a class or even watch some Youtube videos on programming languages! I heard so many times throughout my college career that I would need it, but I didn’t think it was true. Now, 10 years into my career, I love learning and using programming languages! I use SQL probably on a daily basis. It is incredibly helpful.

Interested in becoming a GIS Professional?

If Emily’s story has inspired you to explore a career in GIS, you can learn more about what it takes to become a GIS analyst. Visit the Explore Green Jobs: GIS Analyst page on our website, ForestryCareers.com, to find out the educational requirements, skills and other guidance to get started on this exciting career path.

Article written by Danielle Atkins of Land & Ladies.

The post What does a GIS Analyst do in Forestry? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

WASHINGTON STATE – While New England Forestry is known for sustainable forestry, our forests also provide valuable non-timber resources. Deep in New England Forestry’s Washington forests, under the shade of the trees, a thick evergreen shrub called salal grows.

Floral companies all over the world seek out this bushy filler plant, as it provides volume and a beautiful greenery backdrop for floral arrangements and bouquets.

Also known as lemon leaf, salal is unique to the Pacific Northwest, thriving in the cool, damp conditions the region is famous for. It does especially well in coniferous forests, which provide the shade salal grows best in. Well-drained, acidic soils are best for this beautiful shrub.

Each year, nearly 3 million bunches of salal are harvested from New England Forestry land. By allowing responsible harvesting on our land, we help support the floral industry while ensuring the long-term health of our forests.

This article explores how salal is grown, harvested, and delivered to florists, all while maintaining responsible forest management practices.

• What is salal?
• Where is salal grown?
• How is salal harvested from New England Forestry forests?
• When can you harvest salal?
• How to pick salal without damaging the plant
• How the best salal leaves are selected for floral arrangements
• The demand for salal and industry challenges
• The role of wild-harvested plants in the floral industry
  

What is Salal? Exploring This Evergreen Shrub Used in Floral Arrangements

With the scientific name Gaulthoria shallon, salal is a dense evergreen shrub that grows native to the Pacific Northwest. Well-established in New England Forestry forests, the brush spreads across the forest floor and can grow up to 5 feet tall.

Known for its deep green, waxy, oblong leaves, salal is a highly sought after plant in the floral industry. Used most commonly as a filler plant, it’s a popular choice for florists, designers, and event planners who use it to add volume and texture to:

• Bouquets – Provides a natural greenery backdrop.
• Wreaths & holiday décor – Holds up well in arrangements.
• Centerpieces & floral displays – Adds fullness and contrast to flowers.

Where is Salal Grown? Why New England Forestry’s Forests Provide the Ideal Conditions

Each year, millions of bunches of salal are harvested from New England Forestry forests to supply the global floral industry. But what makes these forests such a prime location for salal growth?

Salal is native to the Pacific Northwest, thriving in Washington State’s cool, damp forests. It grows especially well under the shade of towering conifers, making New England Forestry’s forests a prime environment for sustainable salal harvesting.

“New England Forestry forests provide salal with favorable growing conditions,” says George Brulotte, Senior Development Manager at New England Forestry. “It thrives in the shade when a stand of trees is about 12 to 14 years of age and is starting to close in.”

Salal grows best in:

• Dense coniferous forests – The shade helps regulate moisture and temperature.
• Cool, damp environments – The mild, wet climate supports year-round growth.
• Well-drained, acidic soils – Essential for root development and plant health.

Because salal naturally regenerates, responsible harvesting ensures a continuous supply while maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem. New England Forestry works closely with its clients who harvest to ensure that salal collection is done sustainably, preserving both the plant and its habitat for future growth.

How is Salal Harvested From New England Forestry Forests?

Salal harvesting on New England Forestry land is a carefully managed process. It starts with companies like Continental Floral Greens, which contracts with New England Forestry in order to be able to harvest salal from specific New England Forestry forests.

Continental Floral Greens then sells permits to contractors, who go to New England Forestry’s land to pick the salal. Pickers use the company’s mapping system to navigate the forest and find the shrubs. Many of the pickers have been working with the company for generations.

At the end of the day, the contractors bring bunches of salal back to Continental’s company warehouse, where it is stored before it is shipped out.

“We’ve had a great working relationship with New England Forestry since 1994,” says Joshua Eveland, Land Manager at Continental Floral Greens. “We manage the harvesting of salal and other various forest products.”

On New England Forestry land specifically, Continental Floral Greens also harvests rush, bear grass and huck.

When Can You Harvest Salal From the Forest?

Salal is a seasonal forest product. Harvesting typically takes place over a 10-month period beginning in mid-July and ending in April or mid-May. From May to July, harvesting ends to allow the salal time to grow, develop, and harden. Then, the process repeats.

“Depending upon the weather, picking season may vary,” explains Gus Gerrits, Business Development Manager at New England Forestry. “Some years we’ve had cool spring seasons, slowing the plant’s growth. In that case, companies will extend their picking season.”

How to Pick Salal Without Damaging the Plant

During picking season, best management practices are strictly enforced to ensure salal is harvested responsibly. Mechanical tools and knives are prohibited because the salal fibers are somewhat sensitive and require careful handling.

To protect the plant fibers, salal stems are broken off by hand.

Why Hand-Picking Salal is Essential

When cut with a knife, or other mechanical tool, the salal doesn’t grow back as efficiently as it should. The action of cutting ends up killing about three to six inches of the stem. It will grow back, but it can stunt the next year’s growth.

The proper harvesting method involves:

• Breaking off 12 to 18-inch salal stems by hand.
• The picker grips the stem between their thumb and forefinger.
• With enough pressure, the salad naturally separates.

According to Joshua, a single picker can cover about an acre of land per-day (an acre is about the size of a football field).

“That’s harvesting sparingly,” he says. “We don’t want to overharvest the plant. We’re looking to get the new growth, stripping away any old leaves, and making sure the shrub will grow back the following year.”

Ensuring Sustainable Harvesting of Salal

To avoid improper cutting and overharvesting, New England Forestry offers multi-year contracts to companies that practice sustainable harvesting, like Continental Floral Greens. These contracts provide assurance that the salal will grow back each year.

“Multi-year contracts are positive for everyone involved,” says George. “The companies maintain the understory, enforce protocols for accurate and sustainable picking, and in return, the salal grows back each year. It’s a win-win for both our customers and New England Forestry.”

What Happens After Harvesting Salal?

After a day of picking, the salal is bundled up and carried out of the forest. It’s taken to the company’s warehouse, where it is stored and preserved in large commercial coolers.

“In a cooler, salal can stay fresh for about 2 to 3 months,” says Gus. “It’s a very hardy plant. It has to be, because some of it is later packaged in a container and shipped by boat to Europe and other countries.”

According to Continental Floral Greens, salal “has the longest vase life of any floral product” and can actually last an entire year in a cooler.

How the Best Salal Leaves are Selected for Floral Arrangements

After picking is complete, Continental Floral Greens’ employees sort and inspect the salal leaves against their premium standards.

What Makes the Perfect Salal Leaf?

• Deep green color – No yellowing or discoloration.
• Unblemished surface – Leaves must be free of bug chew, tree sap, or deformities.
• Strong, healthy stems – Ensures longevity in floral arrangements.

“In order for it to pass the test, the salal must have dark green, unblemished leaves,” Joshua explains. “Any blemished leaves, leaves with any kind of deformity, damage from tree sap or bug chew on them are physically removed by hand.”

Salal stems that pass the criteria are packaged and sold to wholesalers throughout the United States, Japan, the European Union, South America, and Australia.

The Demand for Salal: Industry Challenges & Market Trends

By far, the company’s largest customer base is the United States. But its customers are all around the world too.

“Europe is more traditional in that flowers are a large part of their culture,” says George. “In Europe, it’s common to see fresh bouquets displayed around hotels and on every table in restaurants.”

Salal also appears in bouquets in the U.S. during holidays and other special occasions, like weddings.

The Role of Wild-Harvested Plants in the Floral Industry

While many products used in floral arrangements are carefully grown specifically for that purpose, wild products like salal and evergreen boughs also play a very important role in the floral industry.

New England Forestry is proud to play a role in supporting sustainable, responsible land management that supports the floral industry as well as the forestry industry. By allowing sustainable salal harvesting, we help maintain the long-term health of our forests while supplying florists worldwide with high-quality greenery.

To learn more about how New England Forestry uses land resources like salal, visit our Land Resources page.

The post How Salal is Responsibly Harvested from New England Forestry Forests to Florists appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

For decades, most city skylines have been composed of skyscrapers and tall buildings made of concrete, steel and glass.

But what if there were a building material that was strong enough to construct an 18-story building, came from entirely renewable resources, didn’t make cities hotter and helped sequester carbon and other pollutants?

Meet mass timber, the durable, beautiful, fire-resistant and environmentally-friendly building material that is changing the face of skylines. This wood-based building material has a considerably lower carbon footprint, generating fewer carbon emissions during and after construction.

In fact, one study found a 19 percent reduction in emissions when comparing a mass timber structure with an equally sized steel structure.¹ Mass timber also comes from a renewable, naturally-growing resource: trees.

In this guide, we’re looking at the benefits of mass timber and how it is reshaping the commercial building industry. We’re also taking a close look at the story of 619 Ponce, an entirely locally-sourced mass timber structure championed in part by the Georgia Forestry Foundation in the heart of Atlanta.

• What is Mass Timber (and why is it important)?
• Types of Mass Timber Products
• Why are Mass Timber Buildings Gaining Popularity?
• What Type of Trees is Mass Timber Made From?
• What are the Benefits of Mass Timber?
• Examples of Mass Timber Buildings
• 619 Ponce Mass Timber Building Success Story
• New England Forestry’s Role in the Mass Timber Revolution

What is Mass Timber (and why is it important)?

Mass timber is made from prefabricated, multilayered, solid wood panels that create solid timber building materials, such as:

• Beams and columns,
• Floor, roof and wall panels,
• Tall wall framing studs and roof rafters,
• Door and window headers, and more.

Types of Mass Timber Products

Mass timber products, like those made with New England Forestry timber, come from renewable and sustainably-harvested wood products. Types of mass timber products include:

• Cross-laminated timber (CLT): Layers of wood stacked and glued at right angles, creating strong, stable panels ideal for walls, floors and roofs.
  
  
• Glue-laminated timber (glulam): Long beams made from layers of wood bonded together, often used for load-bearing columns and arches. It can be curved or bent for unique architectural designs during its construction.
  
  
• Nail-laminated timber (NLT): Panels made by nailing or screwing layers of wood together, a cost-effective choice for floors, walls and roofs. This material also can be customized for a variety of textured appearances and unique forms.
  
  
• Structural composite lumber (SCL): Engineered wood made from wood strands or veneers, using a moisture-resistant adhesive. SCL can come in panels as much as 8 feet wide and is designed for use in beams, headers, columns and other structural components.

Why are Mass Timber Buildings Gaining Popularity?

Using mass timber is a tremendous win for builders, architects, designers, consumers and environmentally-responsible cities seeking healthier and more eco-functional building materials to benefit their cities and citizens.

Until recently, mass timber was used only in residential homes and smaller buildings no larger than six stories or 85 feet. This was due in large part to outdated building codes, which were established with more traditional lumber materials in mind.

However, in light of the specific qualities that make mass timber different, such as its fire resistance and sturdiness even against natural disasters, changes to International Building Codes in 2021 deemed it safe to use mass timber in buildings up to 18 stories high.

What Type of Trees Is Mass Timber Made From?

Common species used in mass timber include Douglas fir, pine, and spruce—all of which are known for their strength and renewability. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about modern timber materials is that they are sourced from forests in a way that will deplete timber resources.

Today, the majority of timber products are sourced from sustainably managed forests grown for the purposes of harvesting.

These forests are then replanted, beginning the process of growing timber all over again.

What are the Benefits of Mass Timber?

Mass timber offers specific benefits across three main areas: the environment, the economy, and human well-being.

Environmental Benefits of Mass Timber 

When you compare the impacts of building with sustainably grown trees to traditional building materials, like steel and concrete, the environmental benefits are significant. For instance:

• Renewable resource: Trees used to manufacture mass timber products are grown in sustainably managed forests and replanted after harvest, making mass timber an entirely renewable resource.
  
  
• Minimized waste: Sawmill residues are typically used in mass timber manufacturing, helping reduce waste associated with production.
  
  
• Reduced resource extraction: Unlike concrete and steel, mass timber does not require mined materials or fossil fuels.
  
  
• Biodegradable and repurposable: Mass timber is biodegradable or, in some cases, can be repurposed—like barn wood.
  
  
• Water efficiency: Mass timber production uses far less water than concrete and steel.
  
  
• Carbon storage: Studies have also shown mass timber can help store carbon and other pollutants for the life of the building.²
  
  For example: A 2024 study showed mass timber materials have the potential to store between 9.9 and 16.5 million tons of CO₂ per-year, spanning 50 years, from 2020 to 2070. These carbon benefits equate to 12-20% of the total U.S. harvested wood products carbon storage for 2020.³
  
  
• Long-Term Carbon Impact: Experts and advocates have even suggested mass timber can help the North American construction industry store more carbon than it emits by 2034.⁴

All of these characteristics contribute to making mass timber a low-carbon material compared to concrete and steel.

Economic Benefits of Mass Timber

Research has shown building with mass timber has economic benefits for builders and construction companies, including:

• Faster Construction Time: Mass timber construction can be faster than traditional methods.
  
  For example: According to reports from builders of mass timber structures, such as the Ascent, a 25-story mass timber hybrid building in Milwaukee, mass timber can speed construction time by 20-30%.⁵ Studies have also shown mass timber shortens construction time.⁶
  
  
• Improved Project Efficiency: The use of prefabricated mass timber products requires less on-site assembly, streamlining the construction process and enhancing overall project efficiency.
  
  
• Increased Safety: In addition to improved building time, project safety is improved due to the prefabrication of the materials, which requires less on-site construction in high or precarious places.
  
  
• Reduced Labor Needs: Using mass timber requires half the amount of workers, saving companies and their clients money.
  
  
• Cost-Competitive with Traditional Materials: Mass timber is often cost-competitive with conventional materials, as outlined in a case study by the University of British Columbia.⁷
  
  
• Job Creation in Diverse Communities: The growing, harvesting, processing and manufacturing of mass timber products also creates substantial job opportunities in rural and urban communities for people with various skill sets.

Human Benefits of Mass Timber:

Mass timber has numerous benefits to human health and well-being, including:

• Improved Air Quality: Mass timber is one of the only commercial building materials shown to store carbon while not creating extra heat, unlike concrete or steel buildings.
  
  
• Noise Reduction and Tranquility: Research from the University of British Columbia in 2016 showed mass timber buildings provide excellent sound insulation and absorption properties⁸, promoting a peaceful indoor environment.
  
  
• Excellent Fire Resistance: Mass timber’s natural fire resistance makes it a safer building material for homes and offices. When ignited, the outer layers form a char layer, which protects and insulates the inner layers of the material.
  
  
• Overall Health and Wellness Benefits: Ample research has shown exposure to nature and the natural elements, including natural building materials, supports various aspects of health, including: cognitive function, blood pressure, stress response, immune function, faster recovery and healing, and psychological well-being. ^{9 10 11 12}

Bottom line: research has shown mass timber benefits the planet, its people and its economies.

Examples of Mass Timber Buildings

Mass timber buildings, also known as Tall Wood Buildings, are still dwarfed by their steel and concrete predecessors.

However, several cities worldwide have been early adopters of this type of construction. Some North American examples include:

• Carbon 12 building in Portland, Oregon: This eight-story mass timber building includes residences on the upper floors as well as commercial space on the ground floor. Architects Kaiser + Path worked with local and state officials to waive building codes limiting the height of wood buildings. Learn more about how it was built at kaiserpath.com/carbon12.
  
  
• The Brock Commons at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This 18-story dormitory residential building is the largest mass timber building in the world to date.
  
  
• The Ascent: A 25-story, 285-foot mass timber hybrid building in Milwaukee featuring luxury rentals, the Ascent became the tallest hybrid mass timber building in the world when construction was completed in 2022.
  
  
• The Kendeda Building of Sustainable and Innovative Design at Georgia Tech in Atlanta: The first building in Georgia and 28th in the world to earn Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification, the world’s most ambitious and holistic green building achievement. Used for education, research and outreach, among the building’s accolades are zero carbon construction, net positive energy and net positive water, thanks to a design that incorporates mass timber, a solar canopy and rain capture.
  
  
• The High Line Timber Bridge in New York City: This 260-foot-long bridge is set amidst a lush garden-like landscape in the heart of Manhattan, allowing pedestrians to travel above busy streets.
  
  
• The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library: The design of this 93,000-square-foot library in Medora, North Dakota, was inspired by Roosevelt’s personal reflections on the landscape, his interest in environmental stewardship and periods of quiet introspection and civic engagement in his life.
  
  
• 619 Ponce: Located in Atlanta next to the popular Ponce City Market, this office and retail space is Georgia’s first building constructed using locally-sourced mass timber.

Supporting Atlanta’s 619 Ponce: A Mass Timber Building Success Story

For an insider’s perspective, we talked to Matt Hestad, Vice President of the Georgia Forestry Foundation (Foundation), about their participation in spearheading the mass timber building, 619 Ponce in Atlanta. Matt noted that the Foundation’s focus on mass timber not only served to support Georgia’s working forests by promoting new markets for locally grown sustainable wood products, but it has also built an important thought bridge between people living in urban Atlanta and the rural parts of Georgia, where sustainable forestry happens every day.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of everyday Georgians knowing where the wood products that they depend on every day come from and the trust that is built from knowing that it is sustainably produced and sourced,” he says.

Georgia’s Forestry Leadership in Mass Timber Production

It is commonly presumed that tree-adorned Washington State or Oregon are the country’s largest source of timber. 

However, as Matt told us, Georgia is the #1 forestry state in the nation, with 22 million acres of commercially available private timberland.¹³ Georgia also leads the country in annual timber harvest volume, forest product exports and seedling production for reforestation.

But the Foundation hasn’t been alone in its quest to support mass timber development.  Since 2017, through the work of its parent organization, the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), several pieces of legislation have been passed by Georgia’s Legislature to advance opportunities for mass timber construction in the state.

These include stopping a ban on the use of lumber in buildings over 3 stories, adopting international building codes that allow construction with mass timber up to 18 stories, and creating a sustainable development carbon registry that allows builders to register and monetize the carbon stored in mass timber buildings.

Anticipating the impact mass timber could have on community sustainability

“As the top forestry state, we have an abundant supply of available timber that can be locally sourced for mass timber construction projects,” Matt says.

“Mass timber can play a significant role in the sustainability of our communities because more than 40 percent of the world’s emissions come from the built environment. When you think about the fact we can replace carbon-emitting materials like steel and concrete with mass timber where, as trees grow in a forest, it’s sequestering carbon and releasing oxygen,” he says. “It’s also holding carbon as 50% of the dry wood, so that’s locked up in the building materials. We have a huge opportunity to start shifting the emissions portfolio of our communities from a really carbon-intensive process to one where we’re storing carbon.”

Benefits for Timberland Owners and Local Economies

GFF also sees mass timber benefiting private timberland owners and local economies: 

“From a markets perspective, we understand that forestry and land management investments follow the demand for forest products,” Matt explains.

“If society values the products that come from working forests, it will value the land as a real estate asset. If the land is valuable, landowners will be incentivized to continue using their own dollars to invest in forest management and reforestation.”

Making timberland investments even more valuable

“Mass timber layers on another value proposition for society, and therefore is an opportunity to further incentivize those forest landowners, which makes their timberland even more valuable,” Matt says.

A New Market for Mass Timber Beyond Single-Family Homes

In addition, GFA sees mass timber as a solution to the lack of demand for new construction single-family homes, which has plagued the forestry market since the housing collapse in 2008.

“The forestry sector has traditionally relied on single-family homes to drive the need for lumber. Since 2008, that market has been lagging,” Matt says. “I think mass timber shows a lot of promise in introducing a new market for forest products in which we have the opportunity to increase demand for mass timber as a primary structural material for multi-family and mixed-use developments.”

Expanding Mass Timber’s Role in Mid-Rise Buildings

Many experts believe that the most significant opportunity lies in mid-rise (Type IV) buildings. These traditionally four- or five-story buildings are ideal uses for mass timber, as they replace the need for concrete and steel and can be built faster and more efficiently.

One such example is the aforementioned 619 Ponce, a showcase mass timber building  developed by Jamestown LP next door to the iconic Ponce City Market in Atlanta. The Georgia Forestry Foundation launched its Seedlings to Solutions Initiative to tell the story of mass timber and the benefits of sourcing it locally. One feature of the project includes the Torus Arch, a mass timber education feature. The video below shows how it was made:

“On this project, Jamestown was told the best, most cost-effective way to obtain the mass timber was to import it from Austria because the market is much more mature in that part of the world.

“Right now, the only mass timber facility in the U.S. South is in Dothan, Alabama. So, unfortunately, it is more expensive, in some cases, to source mass timber locally, but that’s changing,” Matt explains. “We hope that, with people like Jamestown investing in mass timber, it will bring more mass timber manufacturing to the U.S. South, and developers will be able to greater realize the cost savings with faster construction time and less labor.”

The project went forward using mass timber sourced locally from West Georgia on Jamestown-owned land.

Per a U.S. Forestry Service Forest Inventory Analysis, Georgia grows enough wood to supply a mass timber building of the scale of 619 Ponce every 16 minutes.¹⁴

Andres Villegas, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at New England Forestry, has been on the Georgia Forestry Foundation Board since 2015 and currently serves as the Vice Chairman. He recounts his experience watching the construction of 619 Ponce in comparison to a traditional concrete and steel building happening simultaneously:

“It was surprising to see an entire building go up quickly with only 8-10 workers and a crane on the worksite. Mass timber has clear advantages in terms of the speed, efficiency and beauty compared to traditional construction projects that is measurable from a profit and loss perspective. That is important because the buildings not only have to be appealing to consumers, they also have to be competitive for the developer to build.” 

Far-reaching aesthetic and environmental benefits

“Today, 619 Ponce is a beautiful, warm and inviting space,” Andres says.

“It’s interesting to see, when you take people on tours, they automatically want to hug one of the mass timber beams! You can’t deny the biophilic benefits of being in this natural environment, and developers tend to do a good job making sure there’s plenty of sunlight. It is a key differentiator of the space. It feels different.”

“At the end of the day, that allows investors to realize an appreciation in their rent,” he says. “They can charge a little bit more to folks leasing these spaces because they know that their tenants are looking for a sustainable option that gives them a competitive edge with recruiting great talent and retaining great customers.”

Exploring Carbon Credits with Mass Timber

Matt also mentioned the benefits of mass timber for acquiring and selling carbon credits.

“In 2022, we asked ourselves: ‘What if we supported developers for investing in a building material that reduces carbon emissions rather than emitting them?’ GFA worked with elected officials to pass a bill that expanded Georgia’s existing carbon registry to consider the embodied and embedded carbon in materials—like mass timber. It’s really a first-of-its-kind registry, where developers—if they choose to list their embodied and embedded carbon—can get it third-party verified and listed.

“We’re hoping 619 Ponce will be the first one listed on that registry. Once the carbon is listed, the owners can do whatever they want to with it. For example, they can monetize it and turn it into carbon credits they’d sell to someone trying to offset their emissions.”

Matt acknowledges it’s a long-term play, but projects like 619 Ponce serve as a critical learning environment and a prime example of what’s possible with mass timber sourced within a 600-mile range.

Click here to learn more about GFA’s mass timber projects and initiatives.

New England Forestry’s Role in the Mass Timber Revolution

New England Forestry has been an early adopter and thus has a long history of environmental responsibility and stewardship in forestry.

We practice a land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation, managing, growing, nurturing and harvesting trees as an economic enterprise with the conservation of natural resources and energy, wildlife and fish habitats and aesthetics.

To date, our working forests sequestered 13 million metric tonnes of carbon in 2023, removing approximately seven times more carbon than our efforts emitted. That’s the equivalent of removing over 3 million cars from the road.

Our commitment to environmental stewardship goes hand in hand with our passion for producing raw materials for environmentally friendly building products from our SFI-certified, sustainably managed forests, such as mass timber.

Wood products have always been used to create beautiful, functional and sustainable structures—long before concrete and steel came along.

We see mass timber as the next generation in sustainable wood construction, and we will continue investing in these innovations through forestry programs and sustainability programs, as well as our continued collaboration with organizations who champion working forests and the sustainable wood products that come from them.

Forests have always provided incredible inspiration and resources for humanity, and we see mass timber as an integral part of shaping a brighter and healthier future.

1. Hemmati, Messadi, Gu, Seddelmeyer and Hemmati. (April 2024.) “Comparison of Embodied Carbon Footprint of a Mass Timber Building Structure with a Steel Equivalent.” MDPI.  https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/5/1276

2. “Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures”. Sustainability

3. Nepal, P., Prestemon, J. P., Ganguly, I., Kumar, V., Bergman, R. D., & Poudyal, N. C. (2024). “The potential use of mass timber in mid-to high-rise construction and the associated carbon benefits in the United States”. PLOS ONE, 19(3), e0298379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298379

4. “2024 Mass Timber International Report”. https://masstimberconference.com/report/

5. “Mass Timber”. American Wood Council.

6. “Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures”. Sustainability.

7. Case Study: An 18-storey tall mass timber hybrid student residence at the University of British ColumbiaStudent residence Brock Commons Vancouver (18 story hybrid building). https://events.forum-holzbau.com/pdf/37_IHF_2016_Fast.pdf

8. Eighteen Storey Hybrid Mass Timber Student Residence at the University of British Columbia. Journal of Structural Engineering International. DOI: 10.2749/101686617X14676303588553

9. Interior wood use in classrooms reduces pupils’ stress levels. Conference: 9th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology At: Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

10. Appearance wood products and psychological well-being. January 2007. Wood and Fiber Science.

11. View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science. 1984 Apr 27;224(4647):420-1. doi: 10.1126/science.6143402. PMID: 6143402.

12. Zhong, W., Schröder, T., & Bekkering, J. (2022). Biophilic design in architecture and its contributions to health, well-being, and sustainability: A critical review. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 11(1), 114-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2021.07.006 

13. Georgia Forestry Commission. (2011). Georgia Forest Facts. Web; accessed: March 2020.

14. Based on U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis Data: Georgia timberlands took 989.8 seconds to grow the 1,845 cubic meters of wood.

The post A Guide to Mass Timber Construction: The Future of Sustainable Architecture and The Role of Forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

As our world seeks to transition to a low-carbon economy, the demand for land and renewable forest products is on the rise. We believe these resources will play a key role in addressing the impacts of climate change and the excess carbon in the atmosphere.

Many strategies to enhance and sustain the health of our planet will come from the proper use of land. As a landowner responsible for millions of acres of forests, New England Forestry is eager to deliver the land-based solutions our assets can provide.

These land uses address some of the key environmental needs of the world. We believe it’s our responsibility to lead, innovate and collaborate with others to ensure a healthy and sustainable future. We are working closely with community and business leaders to leverage our forestlands to make the greatest positive impact.

New England Forestry views land-based solutions through the following broad categories:

• Positioning land for alternative and additional uses
• Elevating the role our forests play in capturing carbon
• Producing the wood fiber needed to fuel bioenergy and biofuel systems of the future
• Embracing environmental and biodiversity conservation

Positioning land for alternative and additional uses

Alternative uses include solar and wind farms, which produce clean energy, powering homes and businesses while drastically reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions required to produce that energy.

“Renewables produce energy with a lot less carbon emissions than other traditional forms of power production, such as coal and gas,” explains our Vice President of Energy Resources Rob Fancher.

Renewable energy producers support a healthier environment by reducing air pollution, mitigating climate change, conserving water compared to fossil fuel plants and minimizing noise pollution. They also provide local jobs, increase tax revenue and make communities more attractive to new businesses.

“Many businesses are interested in lowering their carbon footprint and they’re looking to relocate their facilities to areas that have options for renewable energy,” Rob explains.

Leasing land for wind and solar farms

Sites with strong solar and wind potential are plentiful across New England Forestry’s ownership, which is attractive to solar companies because of our large land base and proximity to power substations.

Thanks to advancements in technology, solar power has become one of the most affordable energy sources, with the levelized cost of electricity declining more than 80% from 2008 to 2022, according to this Berkeley Lab study.

Solar makes up more than half of new energy

Due to its relative affordability and positive impact on climate, solar is now making up more than half of all new energy being introduced into the grid, as reported here by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In 2023, the first solar farm on New England Forestry land came online in Polk County, Texas. Longroad Energy’s 150 megawatt project produces enough clean energy to power 30,000 homes, avoiding an estimated 250,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

“When we’re looking for solar developers to pursue a project, we really want a reputable, trustworthy company that shares our core values and our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship,” says Business Development Manager Zan Frederick. He says his team was pleased with the steps Longroad Energy took to protect the environment around the project site.

The solar farm, which includes about 600 acres of New England Forestry land, implements water quality protection measures such as reservoirs and forest buffers. It also was built around wetlands to protect the ecosystems within its boundaries, with solar panels on only 1,300 acres of the approximately 2,500-acre site.

The first wind farm lease on New England Forestry land became operational in 2019 in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. Established on a high ridge that overlapped our property at the time and a neighboring landowner, the wind farm delivers enough clean energy to power 40,000 homes while the trees continue to grow around it. Our team carefully monitored the construction process to ensure waterways were protected at the same high standard our foresters adhere to when managing our timberlands.

Providing pore space for carbon capture and storage opportunities

In addition to green energy sites, New England Forestry owns land that is well-situated to provide carbon emitters, such as factories and power plants, access to pore space for carbon capture and storage—or, CCS—for their emissions. 

CCS begins with the CO₂ producer, who captures the CO₂ from the atmosphere or the point source of the emissions and pipes them into an underground pipe system. This system transports the emissions to our land in liquid form. The CO₂ is then sent deep underground—a half mile or more—and injected into a rock formation that is intended to store it permanently.

With more than half of the world’s 2,000 largest companies committed to net zero emissions, CCS is expected to be a major contributor to decarbonization. CCS demand is projected to grow rapidly, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 6.2 percent annually from 2023 to 2030, reaching more than 300 Mtpa (million tonnes per annum), according to the World Economic Forum.

Our southern land base includes large tracts of land with geologic capacity for CCS. Many of these properties are within close proximity to high-purity emissions sources as well as existing pipelines and rights-of-way.

As of 2024, New England Forestry has granted 75,000 acres of underground pore space lease agreements. These leases allow emitters to use our land for CCS. By making land available for CCS, we are facilitating a critical solution for reducing carbon emissions, while still preserving the primary use of our land for timber operations.

“By providing CCS pore space while continuing to sustainably manage the forests above, we’re able to deliver even more environmental benefits through our land resources,” said New England Forestry Executive Vice President and Chief Resource Officer Doug Long. “We’re committed to advancing these types of land-based solutions to combat climate change.”

Elevating the role our forests play in capturing carbon

Trees capture and store carbon not only while they’re growing, but also store carbon in the products they become, such as lumber and plywood for housing construction.

Beyond these direct product uses, we are able to leverage our foresters’ expertise and change how our forests are managed to maximize the carbon captured. These management changes produce carbon credits to be sold in offset markets.

In New Zealand, we participate in the nation’s regulated carbon offset market, known as the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. Through this market, registered forests generate credits known as New Zealand Units (NZUs). Companies looking to offset their emissions purchase the NZUs and “retire” them once they claim that credit. In 2023, New England Forestry generated $23 million in NZU sales.

Across our U.S. lands, where carbon markets are voluntary, we are exploring opportunities to elevate the carbon sequestered within the forests we manage.

Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects currently under consideration could maximize our carbon sequestration using science-driven forestry techniques. This might include extending how long timberlands grow before they’re harvested, establishing alternative native species, or managing the land in a different manner. 

Carbon credits can also be generated from afforestation activity, in which land that has been used for different purposes, such as cattle grazing, is converted into forests.

New England Forestry is currently working on both IFM and afforestation carbon credit projects in the U.S.

Producing the wood fiber needed to fuel bioenergy and biofuel systems of the future

There is a rising need for the wood fiber we grow as manufacturing facilities seek to become more environmentally positive. Wood-based biofuels for airplanes, ships and vehicles as well as electricity generated through wood-based bioenergy reduce carbon emissions. Using these products in place of traditional fuels can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the energy the world needs.

One specific area of opportunity is bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facilities. BECCS is a growing area of interest to address manufacturers’ emissions, especially in the U.S. South, where a large portion of our timberlands are concentrated. BECCS facilities burn woody biomass for energy production and then capture and store the emitted carbon—aiming to create a carbon-negative cycle.

The demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, known as SAF, is also on the rise. Air travel is currently responsible for 12% of all transportation-related CO₂ emissions, according to this article by the U.S. Department of Energy. Existing aircraft can use a blend of SAF and jet fuel to reduce emissions. 

Members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing more than 80 percent of global air traffic, have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050.  IATA’s Fly Net Zero strategy relies on SAF for 65% of the emission reductions, which will lead to significant increasing demand for SAF in the future.

Embracing environmental and biodiversity conservation

We are committed to sustainable land management practices that balance various uses while ensuring the protection of critical natural habitats. This includes implementing conservation strategies, maintaining or enhancing biodiversity and adhering to environmental regulations to conserve the ecological integrity of significant areas under our stewardship.

We’re actively involved in conservation easement solutions that permanently preclude certain activities such as high-density development or mining from taking place on those properties. These solutions make larger conservation efforts possible in areas near our ownership.

Through biodiversity enhancement efforts, such as the afforestation of lands from other uses to forests, we can prioritize habitat for vulnerable wildlife species, as well as help create continuity of wildlife corridors and sensitive areas, all in an effort to contribute to environmental conservation.

Proud to be Part of the Solution

At New England Forestry, we’re proud to continuously seek more ways to be part of the solution. Through the land-based solutions we work with stakeholders to deliver, as well as our timber business’s climate-smart forest management, we can play an important role in advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy and addressing the risks posed by climate change.

The post What are Land-Based Solutions? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Entering the forestry workforce at New England Forestry almost a half-century ago, Bob McDonald remembers a time when paper maps and compasses were the best way to navigate jobs in the woods.

Celebrating his retirement after 47 years with the company, Bob shares how he came into the industry, the changes he saw and what’s ahead for him.

Bob, who grew up in St. Augustine, Fla., realized at a young age that he had a passion for the outdoors. He studied forestry in college, earning his associate’s degree before taking his first job with New England Forestry in 1976.

“I’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction out of the positions I’ve held at New England Forestry,” he says. “I always looked forward to work each day and am appreciative to all of the people I’ve worked with. I’m excited about retirement and am looking forward to new challenges.”

A Lifelong Career in Forestry

Bob was first hired as a Forest Technician, managing New England Forestry’s growing forests. He later worked in Gainesville, Fla., where he procured timber for the sawmill New England Forestry owned in Palatka. At the same time, he worked for New England Forestry’s pole business, which transformed large logs into poles that could be used for utility poles like the ones used for power lines as well as pilings for docks and piers.

As the company transformed over time, both of those end product-focused businesses were discontinued. But New England Forestry had a lot more in store for Bob. (New England Forestry continues to grow trees for poles and lumber to this day.)

“In 1987, I was fortunate enough that they offered me a job in Georgia, working as a Forest Supervisor at our Richmond Hill forest for about 21 years.”

“A little bit of everything”

It was one of his favorite roles with the company:

“I liked the fact that I was doing a little bit of everything there,” he recalls. “I was responsible for a couple of guys. We did roadwork, landlines and inventory cruising. Then I was cruising timber sales and leasing out land to hunting clubs. I also did some site prep and planting. It was satisfying to be involved with planting trees, watching them grow to harvest, and then doing it all over again.”

In 2006 and 2007, a large restructuring took place at New England Forestry, leading Bob into his next position as Land Manager working out of the Jesup, Ga., office, which he did for about a year. Bob then rounded out the final years of his career working in that same office as a Timber Marketing Forester. That role was focused on the sale of timber, as explained in our article, What does a Timber Marketing Manager Do?

In Timber Marketing, Bob found satisfaction in a different way: 

“I was heavily involved in putting together timber sales and the mapping and marketing of those sales,” he says. “I had the pleasure of working and dealing with folks in and outside of New England Forestry. I’ve been appreciative that most were more than willing to lend a hand when I needed help with something.”

Adapting to Technology Changes

When Bob first started with New England Forestry, use of technology was limited. As the company grew, advancements in technology required foresters to quickly adopt them.

“We didn’t have cell phones or bag phones back then,” he says. “We didn’t even have copiers or fax machines in our office. We used radios to communicate, so when we were out in the woods, we used paper maps and a compass to navigate the forest. Now we have GPS technology, which was a huge improvement.”

Coworker teaches complex GIS mapping tools

As technology evolved, Bob recalls the challenges of learning and adapting to new devices and applications. During one job change, he had to quickly learn how to navigate GIS-based mapping software such as ArcMap. Thankfully, a coworker more experienced with the programs brought him up to speed.

Joy Kent, a New England Forestry employee in Technical Services at the time, worked one-on-one with Bob to help him get comfortable with the technology.

“I really appreciate all the hours she put into helping me learn the new technologies,” he says. “Without her training, I wouldn’t have been able to get and keep my job. Being as skilled, kind and helpful as she was, that left such a big impression on me.”

Honoring a Kind and Professional Co-Worker

Joy, now a technical analyst on New England Forestry’s Land Information Services Team, describes Bob as a “kind and professional” colleague.

She worked closely with him starting in 2008, when she took a regional coordinator position with New England Forestry. Her new role involved technical training and support for New England Forestry foresters on forestry software.

“At that time, I supported the resource unit Bob was in and regularly traveled to our Jesup office,” she says. “ I had the opportunity to work with him frequently. It has always been pleasant to interact with Bob over the years.” 

And she recalls a special perk when it came to working with Bob: he often gave his coworkers satsumas from the citrus trees he grew at home.

Advice for Future Foresters

Bob’s passion for forestry has been evident across his many years at New England Forestry. As he moves into retirement, Bob shares advice for young and new foresters hoping to pursue a lifelong career in forestry:

“If you’re going to stay in forestry for as long as I have, there will be a lot of changes along the way. You have to be able to adapt to those changes.”

He also recommends gaining exposure to as many aspects of the forestry business as possible.

“New England Forestry is set up to do just that. With a lot of new and young people coming to the industry, New England Forestry makes it a point to grow and foster well-rounded employees. The more well-rounded you are, the more valuable you’ll be to the company.”

Retiring From New England Forestry, But Still Managing Trees

About three years ago, Bob and his wife sold their home in Richmond Hill and purchased a small farm in Southeast Georgia.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is owning and working on my own land,” he says.

But, has he had enough of working with trees? Not a chance!

“I’m going to plant pine and citrus trees, do a little bit of farming, and spend time by the fish pond,” he says. “My wife and I will also be looking for volunteer opportunities and we’ll do a little bit of traveling as well.”

As far as working for New England Forestry, Bob says he has always been grateful for a job where he felt valued. He also appreciates New England Forestry’s focus on safety.

“During my time at New England Forestry, safety has always been top of mind, but lately there’s been an even stronger emphasis on it. The fact that they are putting their money and efforts into providing safe working conditions says a lot. That way, at the end of the day, everyone can go home to their families. I’m proud to have worked for such an upstanding company.”

The post New England Forestry Retiree Recalls Half-Century of Forestry Experience appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

In the scorching heat of August 2023, New England Forestry’s Southwest teams in Louisiana and Texas braced themselves as wildfire season began.

Team members had monitored weather conditions for months, watching as a regional drought took hold over the summer and record-high temperatures persisted.

They went to wildfire prevention briefings, kept a close eye on our land, and when the first blaze broke out in Southwest Louisiana near one of our properties, they acted quickly to coordinate with state authorities and contractors to protect our forests.

But that first blaze was only the beginning of what would become a three-month battle against one of the worst wildfire seasons the region has seen in 100 years. In Louisiana, the Tiger Island Fire near Merryville was the largest fire ever recorded in the state’s history, impacting more than 31,000 acres. New England Forestry’s Louisiana team pushed hard to protect our forests, monitoring and putting out fires that popped up even on nights and weekends. Soon, state and local fire services were overwhelmed and had to call on firefighters from surrounding states for support. Likewise, our New England Forestry team needed help.

That’s when senior leadership in our Southwest Resource Unit (SWRU) called on New England Forestry’s internal firefighting crew.

“This was the first time in New England Forestry’s history that we brought a team over from Florida and Georgia,” says Billy Geier, Director of Operations for New England Forestry, SWRU. “They traveled over 850 miles to get here. Watching the fire team roll through DeRidder, Louisiana, and pull into our office parking lot on Labor Day weekend was one of my proudest moments as a New England Forestry employee.”

Fire triage—crisis in Texas

Billy’s relief didn’t last long, though. Just as our fire crew arrived in Louisiana, another wildfire broke out in Texas, threatening 20,000 acres of our forests. And just as in Louisiana, Texas resources were stretched thin. New England Forestry’s fire crew pivoted—driving their trucks and bulldozers to Huntsville, Texas—to respond to this more urgent threat. What would become known as the Game Preserve Fire would span more than 4400 acres, coming dangerously close to local homes and causing dozens of residents to evacuate.

Operations Safety Manager Patrick Hughes, acting as task force leader, met with Texas fire coordinators for a briefing on the overall plan and to establish communication channels with air support before mobilizing his crew.  

When they got to the head of the fire, they were the only firefighters on the ground. The Texas Forest Service and more than 100 local and state emergency personnel battled the rear of the fire as it threatened residential neighborhoods where dozens of people were forced to evacuate their homes. But this meant that the dangerous head fire was untended on the ground.

Our bulldozer operators, with the help of air support laying down fire retardant, started building containment lines at the head of the fire to stop its forward momentum.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with bulldozer operators from all over the country,” says Patrick. “And I’ve never been so proud to work with anybody as I was with our guys. They hit the ground running and stayed in the fight and knocked it out. They put in more containment lines than any other agency and all of the lines held, which is incredible.”

At all times, safety measures were top of mind. The team used interactive field maps to monitor real-time data that included where the fire was; the locations of all fire personnel and EMS crews; and guidance on escape routes, firelines and safety zones. In addition, Patrick says every member of the team carried the Incident Response Pocket Guide, a universal safety standard used by firefighters across the nation. The guide includes detailed methods firefighters use to ensure safety comes first, including the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and a document called “Watch Out Situations.”

New England Forestry’s fire team works year-round to prevent and fight fires on our lands in the Southeast, so they were well-equipped and prepared for the job.

They brought four bulldozers with them, including three heavy- and one medium-sized bulldozers, to build containment lines and safety zones. They also brought a type 6 fire engine, which is a brush truck designed for off-road firefighting and includes a 300-gallon water tank.

The fire team’s task force has more than 100 years of combined experience fighting fire. Some have worked at New England Forestry for decades and others come from a background of fighting fire alongside state and federal resources, where they fought extreme wildfires in multiple states.

Crucial support from SWRU staff and Texas neighbors

Forest Ranger Mike Stein says he was able to focus on his work at the head fire thanks to the support of SWRU leadership and administrative staff.

“When you’re having to operate every day for long hours, it’s nice not having to worry about anything else,” he says, noting it was a relief to have a hotel room and a hot shower waiting after working long, intense shifts. “When all of your logistics are being taken care of, you can go to the briefing in the morning and see that your lines have held and you’re ready to jump in and catch the next hot spot.” 

The team also had support from locals who brought home-cooked meals to show their appreciation as the fire team protected their homes. 

A county judge even stepped in to help. Judge Colt Christian of Walker County brought a fuel tanker when the team was running low, ensuring they could continue operations. He also arranged for a mechanic to come to the field and help with equipment issues. 

“Normally on these larger, more complex fires we would have support from other agencies,” says Forest Ranger Andrew Register. “The judge took charge and made things happen that would normally be handled by a command team.”

Later, when the fire was contained, Judge Christian made a proclamation, thanking the New England Forestry fire crew and other emergency personnel for their service. He said they were responsible for saving 54 homes in the fire’s path in what was known as the Game Preserve Fire, the largest wildfire in the county’s history. 

The debrief: we learn from experience

In a debrief meeting, SWRU staff and New England Forestry’s fire crew planned for next year’s wildfire season.

“This happened in the SWRU and it’s likely going to happen to another resource unit in the future,” says Senior Resource Land Manager Jesse Nichols, one of the foresters who manages our SWRU properties. “This has been a learning experience in preparedness and awareness.”

Technical Forester Jonathan Herrin says he hopes to see more foresters, managers and other staff learn from the fire crew. He earned his Wildland Fire Certification one day before the crew left for the SWRU and was able to go with them and get field training.

“How do we maintain that institutional knowledge of our operators?” he asks. “As a company, we need to keep that in mind and hand some of that knowledge down and get more folks involved in protecting our forests in the future.”

As we anticipate altered weather patterns in the years to come, we’ll rely on this institutional knowledge and the lessons we’ve learned fighting fire in the SWRU to protect our forests from fires and other environmental threats.

Thank you to our SWRU staff and Atlantic fire crew for their passion and dedication that helped protect New England Forestry land and our neighbors in Texas! This is what it means to be One New England Forestry.

You can learn more about how forestry companies like New England Forestry prevent and respond to wildfires at New England Forestry.com/fire.

The post New England Forestry’s Fire Crews Unite to Battle Historic Wildfires in the Southwest U.S. appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

WILDLIGHT, Fla.—Ever since New England Forestry bought its first forest property in Nassau County, Florida, in the 1930s, our stories have been intertwined. Together, we have strived to be the best stewards of our community and the land within it.

As Nassau County celebrates its bicentennial this year and New England Forestry prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2026, New England Forestry leaders reflect on the 87-year history of New England Forestry in Nassau and our vision for the company’s future here.

It’s a topic that excites everyone on our team—our voices are warm with pride when we talk about how we helped the community recover from the Great Depression and how we’ve adapted and evolved over the decades.

In 2017, we built our company headquarters at Wildlight, even further solidifying our relationship with the community.

Over the years, a unifying ethic has emerged and only grown stronger: this company, through its leaders and team members, considers itself a corporate citizen of Nassau, with a responsibility and a commitment to contribute to the community’s well-being.

Healthy economic growth since 1937

Mike Bell, New England Forestry’s Vice President of Public Affairs, describes our company’s relationship with Nassau County as one built around economic growth and constant reinvention. Mike looks to the past to illustrate how this legacy was built.

When New England Forestry first came to Nassau in 1937, the local economy had been devastated by the Great Depression. At that time, the community relied on a small number of agricultural products to survive. When New England Forestry built a manufacturing plant on Amelia Island, it diversified Nassau’s economy and created high-paying jobs that strengthened the community.

At first, the War Production Board took over the manufacturing plant to help make nitrocellulose, which was used in explosives, bullets, and rocket propellants during World War II. And as in many communities, that assistance in wartime production helped to stabilize the County’s economy.

Later, when New England Forestry was able to use the facility as a pulp and paper mill as it had originally intended, the local economy began to flourish. For one thing, those manufacturing jobs were some of the highest-paying jobs in the County. But there was also an indirect economic impact throughout the supply chain.

“New England Forestry helped sustain the region because we drew timber supply from a large radius,” says Mike. “That supported a lot of folks—tree growers, loggers, trucking companies—even if they weren’t working at the plant.”

In the 1930s, New England Forestry also entered the timber business in the region when we began to buy land throughout Northeast Florida to ensure a steady supply of wood for our mills. We started a cycle that continues today: planting, harvesting and replanting our pine forests to provide a sustainable resource.

“Through our dedicated reforestation efforts, we are now growing our fourth generation of trees on much of our property in Nassau County,” Mike says.

Together, the mills and the well-managed forests helped Nassau County increase its tax base and create a foundation for healthy economic growth.

New England Forestry has changed over time and now we no longer own manufacturing plants. We spun the pulp mills out into a separate public company now known as RYAM, but those mills are still operating and sustaining the County through taxes and high-paying jobs. They also support the timber industry in the region.

Now, we continue to grow timber, own and operate a real estate subsidiary and are involved in a number of non-timber related businesses on our land base.

“New England Forestry is still here because we keep reinventing ourselves,” says Mike.

Reinvention may be in our nature at New England Forestry, but certain principles have remained consistent throughout our history. One of these, Mike says, is New England Forestry’s legacy of promoting sustainable economic growth in the communities where it operates—and that’s especially true in Nassau County.

Sustainable forests support Nassau

Director of Operations Jeremy Flood leads our Coastal Resource Unit, which manages timberland in and around Nassau County. He says it can be difficult for people to realize the economic impact forestry continues to have in the region.

“You might not see it when you drive around on the paved roads,” Jeremy says. “But if you take a bird’s eye view of the County, you see mostly forests and New England Forestry owns a significant portion of those undeveloped areas.”

Today, we own 121,000 acres in Nassau County, which has roughly 415,000 acres of land altogether. Much of our land is timberland that we manage for a sustainable supply of wood over the long term.

“We’re just now cutting the trees we planted when I started my career,” Jeremy says. “Forestry is unique because it takes that kind of forward thinking to provide for the future.”

Jeremy credits New England Forestry with giving him early insight into the industry. His family moved to Nassau County when he was young, and he got to know several New England Forestry employees as he joined the community.

“I found forestry in part because I had this influence of New England Forestry folks—they were people I respected and looked up to,” he says. “It’s been a rewarding career. In forestry, you’re managing what’s naturally on the landscape, using wisdom and science to organize it and make it efficient.”

Jeremy is proud to be a forester because of the many benefits to natural ecosystems. With modern science-based management practices, our forests provide clean water, clean air and critical wildlife habitat, all while supplying society with important products like lumber, plywood and paper.

“I hope people see a lot of the good that’s already been done here by New England Forestry,” Jeremy says of Nassau County. “And I hope in the future they’ll see the six or eight generations of forestry still happening behind the scenes.”

Some Nassau County residents are already able to see behind the scenes as customers with New England Forestry’s Hunting & Recreation Program.

In this program, New England Forestry land is open to residents and visitors to Nassau for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and foraging. Currently, we have more than 900 customers in Nassau who are accessing our land to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends.

Wildlight: sustainable community development

In 2007, New England Forestry’s relationship with Nassau entered a new chapter when the County’s leadership approached our company to establish a public-private partnership, the result of which is the Wildlight development. At that time, population growth was on the horizon and the County wanted to be prepared.

Local leaders didn’t want to sit back and watch as developers capitalized on Nassau’s growth rate, buying up smaller parcels of land and developing them in a haphazard way with no thought to the bigger picture.

Instead, they asked New England Forestry, one of the County’s largest landowners, to work with them on a whole-landscape plan to prepare for inevitable population growth. This way, the County could follow a methodical, strategic approach—planning for residential neighborhoods, schools, police stations, parks and more in a logical way.

New England Forestry’s leaders were excited to work with the County.

“I’ve been in this business for 30 years and you rarely see this happen in development,” says Chris Corr, New England Forestry’s Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development. “It’s uncommon to have the opportunity to think on this larger scale, but because of New England Forestry’s land ownership that’s what we’ve been able to do.”

Chris, a Florida native, says the vision for Wildlight is to transition forest land into a healthy, sustainable community. It’s different, he says, from the pattern you see all too often in Florida, where the natural environment is often spoiled in favor of high-density development.

People and communities thrive when they have access to nature and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and exercise. And many people are drawn to Nassau County for its beaches, rivers and forests—so it’s important to preserve the best parts of the community even as it grows.

Chris and his team surveyed the 24,000 acres that would become Wildlight and identified 12,000 acres, including critical wildlife habitat and wetlands, to set aside in conservation easements. These lands will be undeveloped and protected forever, and the easements will be managed by the Conservation Habitat Network and the East Nassau Stewardship District.

Nassau residents and visitors will have access to much of this protected land, including a future park called the Green Ribbon, a 13-mile linear park alongside the St. Marys River.

New England Forestry is also building a trail network through the conserved areas and a new public boat ramp. There will be lots of opportunities for kayaking, hiking and biking in areas that were previously inaccessible to the public.

As New England Forestry continues to reinvent itself, this time as a partner to the County in sustainable community development, its core values remain the same.

“New England Forestry has been a steward of land for nearly 100 years with experience across states and countries managing land resources in a sustainable way,” Chris says. “So that ethic is in the heart—the blood stream—of New England Forestry. We get to bring that to community development and it’s a real thing.” To see future plans for Wildlight’s growth in the county, view its Next Chapter website here.

Rural Nassau and stewardship

In planning for the future, Nassau County’s leaders and residents have said it’s also important to preserve the community’s rural roots. Western Nassau has always been more rural than the rest of the County, with ranchettes, farms and forest land. This culture, they say, is important to Nassau and they don’t want development pressure to override this rich heritage.

New England Forestry’s rural land sales subsidiary, Raydient Rural, is committed to helping with this vision. We are turning forest land into small homesteads where land buyers can live rural lifestyles.

Jason Shearer, Raydient’s Senior Manager of Development and Sales, says that growing up rural helped him find his way to a career in forestry, where he was able to serve as a steward of the land.

“The people we’re providing homesteads for are growing up much like I did—on four or five acres, knowing where their food comes from and participating in 4-H and FFA,” Jason says. “We’re creating places where future stewards can be cultivated.”

Community service in Nassau

Mike Bell, our Vice President of Public Affairs, says that New England Forestry’s philanthropic work in Nassau is a natural outgrowth of our company’s core values.

“Our stewardship ethic goes beyond environmental stewardship. It’s a common thread that permeates everything we’ve done,” Mike says. “We’ve always thought about what’s best for our community and what makes it stronger.”

As a practical matter, Mike says this is important for business reasons. The health of our company is tied to the well-being of the community. But it’s also something that New England Forestry team members are passionate about. Many give their time freely to local organizations, volunteering as well as sitting on boards and committees and sharing their professional expertise. Mike focuses his own efforts on education: he sits on the District Board of Trustees for the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), a community college with five campuses in the area.

Despite Nassau County’s A-rated K-12 school district, he says that about 35 percent of local students pursue no post-secondary education. Mike believes every student needs a plan for the future and FSCJ provides an attainable option.

“FSCJ is incredibly affordable and it’s good for students who don’t know what they want to do,” he says. “It’s important for the future prosperity of the County. It doesn’t bode well for the County if we can’t get those kids into a career with a living wage.”

In addition to serving on boards and committees, New England Forestry gives back to Nassau through our Community Fund, which donates annually to local organizations. In the past five years, New England Forestry has given, on average, $129,000 per year, concentrating the majority of funding in the following areas:

• Natural Resources & Environmental Education
• Education and Youth Development
• Health/Hospital, Civic and Community Growth

Kim Sartor, our Community Affairs Manager, lights up when she talks about her work with local organizations. One project she loves to talk about is the work New England Forestry has done with Family Support Services of Northeast Florida.

Family Support Services is a community based care agency focused on improving circumstances and outcomes for families. FSS provides safe homes for abused and neglected children and teens through foster care and finds forever families for children through adoption.

New England Forestry has teamed up with Family Support Services volunteers to renovate their “Bright Spaces” facility, which provides a safe, therapeutic, welcoming environment for supervised visitation with children in care in Nassau County.

Our employees also help with the annual Angel Tree Toy Drive for Family Support Services of Nassau, buying and wrapping gifts for the children to open during holiday visits with their families.

“If we want to be successful as a company, we have to take care of our community,” Kim says. “We’re funding programs that will grow our children and their children. In 10-15 years, I want to be retired and be assured our community is still thriving and growing.”

Legacy and vision

Since 1937, our company has grown alongside Nassau County and we couldn’t be more proud to call this community our home.

Of our 181 local employees, 95 live here in the County, and 86 commute from surrounding communities.

Our perspective is perfectly summed up in these thoughts from Wes Hinton, Vice President of Wildlight at New England Forestry:

“Everyone on our team cares deeply about what happens here,” he says. “Our work is a point of pride and there is excitement around it. I grew up here and my daughter is now the sixth generation in my family to be raised in Nassau County. I took this job because I want to have a say in how this community develops over time. It’s our forever home.”

The post New England Forestry in Nassau: Our Home for 87 Years and Counting appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

ABERDEEN, Wa.— Plywood is crucial in construction, but have you ever wondered how plywood is made? In this article, we explore how trees are transformed during the plywood-making process at a veneer mill in Aberdeen, Washington and the significance of the forest lifecycle in maintaining a sustainable supply of this essential resource, including:

• What is plywood and what is it used for?
• What type of wood is used to make plywood?
• What are the steps to make plywood?
• What happens to the wood scraps in the plywood-making process?
• What happens to the land after trees are harvested for plywood?
• What is the importance of sustainable forestry in plywood production?

What is plywood and what is it used for?

Plywood is an incredibly important forest product used in the construction of all kinds of homes and buildings.

This versatile material is made by bonding together many layers of thin sheets of wood veneer. Consumers choose plywood over other wood building materials such as solid lumber for several reasons:

1. Value: A sheet of plywood is more affordable than the same amount of solid wood.
2. Strength: Plywood is a very durable wood product thanks to the manufacturing process, which layers wood veneer at varying angles.
3. Uniformity: Because of the way they’re made, plywood panels can be depended on to come in the width, length and thickness expected without major defects.

What type of wood is used to make plywood?

There is softwood plywood, hardwood plywood and plywood made up of a combination of both. Firs, pines, oaks, maples, birches and other woods are all commonly used to make plywood.

At the Pacific Veneer Mill in Aberdeen, Washington, hemlock, Douglas-fir, spruce and sometimes pine are all types of wood used to make veneer sheets.

Troy Kalinoski, who purchases timber for the mill, says he prefers to buy hemlock wood, which is more affordable and helps the mill keep the overall cost of its product low. In this part of the country, hemlock also has less knots than Douglas fir, making a better quality wood.

“We’re probably anywhere from 80 to 85 percent hemlock,” he says. “Because of that, our product is coveted by certain customers in our marketplace.”

The veneer mill purchases wood from landowners like New England Forestry; manufactures it into sheets; and then sells those sheets to a plywood mill. The plywood mill then fastens each thin layer of veneer together into the final product, using a powerful laminate material.

Finding the right wood for the veneer mill

“We try to grow the best logs for the mills that we possibly can,” says our Senior Timber Marketing Manager Kevin Pilemalm, who sells New England Forestry timber to Pacific Veneer. “Our silviculture team has worked really hard to get good, straight, clean logs that grow fast. There’s not really a technique to grow every log on the job to a veneer quality. We have to go out on those jobs and find the veneer quality logs that are there.”

Veneer mill logs are more valuable than, for example, lower quality logs New England Forestry would sell to a pulp mill. It’s the timber marketing manager’s job, along with the logging crew, to determine the best use for each log.

“Our guys in the woods are really crucial in picking those logs out and putting those sorts together,” Kevin says. “Then, when they come in here, we have the right product and the mill gets what they need.”

Kevin says fostering good relationships with customers like Pacific Veneer is key to the role of a timber marketing manager:

“We work really hard to maintain the relationships New England Forestry has with our local mills. It’s a long-term relationship to keep this industry running.”

What are the steps to make plywood? A veneer mill tour.

To make plywood, a tree has to be debarked, steamed in a vault and then peeled into a long, thin sheet at the veneer mill. Those sheets are then graded and cut down to size, dried and stacked. Once the stacks are delivered to the plywood mill, the plywood manufacturing process continues. The veneer sheets are covered in a powerful glue called laminate and then stacked with the wood grain facing in perpendicular directions, which ensures the wood will be extremely strong.

The team at Pacific Veneer provided a tour in the video included with this article, showing the step-by-step process to making plywood sheets. Some manufacturers will make veneer and plywood at the same site. Pacific Veneer specializes only in the veneer manufacturing process.

Below we go into more detail about each of the following steps in how plywood is manufactured, including:

• Step 1: Prepare the logs for peeling in a steam vault
• Step 2: Peel the logs into thin sheets of veneer using a lathe
• Step 3: Clipping and assessing the veneer sheets
• Step 4: Drying, grading and banding
• Step 5: Creating the final product at the plywood mill

Step 1: Prepare the logs for peeling in a steam vault

The first step is to prepare the log for peeling. The mill removes the bark, cuts the logs down to 100.25-inch-long blocks, and places them in steamy vaults.

“Once the vault is full, they go up and turn the water on and shut the door. We’re going to cook those blocks at 165 degrees for 16 hours,” says Plant Superintendent Dave Newberry.

The steam helps to break down the wood fibers, ensuring a smooth peel and a better-quality end product.

Step 2: Peel the logs into thin sheets of veneer using a lathe

Once the logs are properly steamed, they’re ready to peel.

A charger digitally assess each log, locating the perfect place to hold the log to produce the most veneer. A pendulum then swings back, picks up the log and places it in the lathe, rapidly spinning it.

The machine can peel anywhere from a 7-inch to a 27-inch diameter log. The resulting sheets will be anywhere between 1/200th and 1/10th of an inch thick. The machine can peel up to 14 logs per-minute.

The peeler operator listens to the sound of the lathe cutting the log to determine whether it is working properly.

Every two-and-a-half hours, at break time, the lathe blade is replaced with a fresh, sharpened blade. The mill employs a full time grinder operator, whose sole job is to re-sharpen blades for the lathe.

Step 3: Clipping and assessing the veneer sheets

Once the logs have been unraveled into long, thin ribbons of wood, they are moved by a conveyor belt into a rotary clipper.

A digital scanner assesses the wood for defects and directs the clipped to cut the wood into 54- and 27-inch sheets.

Smaller pieces with defects like large holes will drop off the conveyor into a pile that will be used either as plywood filler or it will be processed into wood chips.

A moisture meter scans the 54- and 27-inch sheets to guide how the wood veneer is sorted. There will be heart wood, sap wood, and super sap wood.

Each will be stacked in a separate pile because each will require a different amount of time in the dryer.

Step 4: Drying, grading and banding

The veneer needs to dry in order to prevent decay and improve the properties of the finished wood.

While some plywood mills purchase the veneer at this stage and dry it themselves, others want the veneer sheets in a dried condition.

“It’s basically like an oven,” Dave says of the industrial dryer. “Once the sheet comes through, it needs to be 8 percent moisture or less.”

Once they come out of the dryer, each sheet is graded and sorted depending on the size and quality of the wood.

The mill places a band around each stack of veneer wood and prepares it for the plywood manufacturing customer that will transform it into the final product.

Step 5: Creating the final product at the plywood mill

Once a plywood mill purchases the veneer sheets, they will be transformed into the final product found in lumber and hardware stores.

First, the veneer sheets will be glued. The sheets run through a “glue curtain” that coats them with the laminate, then they’re stacked together. The wood grain is rotated between layers, which gives the plywood strength and prevents splitting and shrinkage.

Next, the assembled layers of veneer will be pressed and heated. Using pressure and heat presses the glue into an even, thin layer.

Finally, the plywood panel will go through the finishing process, where it is cut to size, edges are squared and the plywood may be sanded into the final product.

What happens to the wood scraps in the plywood-making process?

Nothing goes to waste in the process of making plywood. For example, bark and wood scraps from the logs are used to fuel the wood-fired furnace that heats the steam vaults and the dryer. The peeler “cores,” which are small cylinders of leftover wood once the logs are peeled, are also put to good use:

“Our customers do various things with the peeler cores, from making pallet stock to possibly landscape timbers, and there’s various other products they might get used for such as fence posts,” Dave says.

What happens to the land after trees are harvested for plywood?

On New England Forestry land, harvesting trees for products like veneer is just one step in the forest lifecycle.

Typically within the next one to two years, crews will replant the forest, placing several trees in the ground for every one tree that was harvested.

The next generation of trees will grow for about 40 years — capturing carbon, providing a home for wildlife, and countless other benefits — before it reaches maturity for the veneer and other products the next generation of people will need.

Why is sustainable forestry important in plywood production?

The sustainability of our world’s forests is paramount in ensuring we continue to enjoy all the benefits of the forest as well as a continuous supply of fiber for products like plywood.

We use 1000s of forest products in our everyday lives, including lumber but also lesser-known items that rely on tree fiber, such as medicines, phone screens, and bath products including toothpaste, shampoo and moisturizers. You can learn more about products made from trees and why trees are the best raw material for so many items in our ongoing #ItStartsWithTrees story series.

Through responsible forest management practices, we can strike a harmonious balance between meeting the demands of industry and preserving the ecological health of our woodlands.

Want to learn more about the process of making plywood?

Watch this long-form video by Engineering World of how the plywood manufacturing process works in “mega factories.”

The post How is Plywood Made? A Veneer Mill Tour appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Forestry careers offer a unique blend of working outdoors and contributing to environmental sustainability. In this article, we delve into the role of Timber Marketing Managers, their significance in forestry, and the pathways to becoming a part of this dynamic field.

• What is the role of a timber marketing manager?
• The importance of timber marketing managers in forestry
• How valuable is a stand of timber?
• The value of relationship management in timber sales
• Understanding the impact of timber marketing managers
• How do you become a timber marketer?
• How do aspiring timber marketing managers get hands-on experience?
• Future opportunities in timber sales

What is the Role of a Timber Marketing Manager?

Timber marketing managers—or TMMs, as we like to call them—sell timber to sawmills, wood pulp businesses, log exporters and other buyers for companies like New England Forestry. TMMs work to get the best possible value out of the trees we have invested in and nurtured for decades.

At a high level, tasks include:

• Developing and implementing strategies for a timber sale.
• Assessing the quality and quantity of timber resources.
• Understanding market demand and trends.
• Negotiating contracts with buyers.
• Ensuring harvesting practices align with sustainable forestry principles.

Timber marketing managers act as a bridge between forestry operations and the marketplace, aiming to maximize profitability while promoting responsible resource management.

The Importance of Timber Marketing Managers in Forestry

Timber marketing managers’ strategic decisions and adaptability contribute significantly to the overall health of the timber market.

Adapting to changing market dynamics is a cornerstone of the role. TMMs navigate challenging markets, overcome obstacles, and strategically position timber products to thrive in a dynamic environment, showcasing their resilience and strategic foresight.

“When New England Forestry harvests timber, it needs to be sold no matter what the market conditions are,” says Kevin Pilemalm, our Senior Timber Marketing Manager on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

Many factors affect timber sales, such as the overall economic climate, weather conditions that impact logging activities, and local production expenses. These factors are in constant flux and can affect costs and logistics. Our TMMs adapt to these changes to get our forest products to markets.

In addition to this mental calculus, TMMs manage long-standing relationships with loggers and buyers in their local communities, ensuring steady, productive business partnerships.

Kevin and the other TMMs admit this is a demanding role, but they also relish the challenge of it.

“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle,” says Casey LaCasse, one of our Timber Marketing Managers based in Northeast Florida. “You have to put all these pieces together to make the sale work.”

How Valuable is a Stand of Timber?

The value of a stand of timber depends on various factors. When determining value, Timber Marketing Managers assess the species composition, age, size and overall health of the forest stand.

“To sell timber, you need to have a strong understanding of the value of trees and what provides that value,” says Casey.

Many of our TMMs have been in forestry for decades and they understand the factors that impact timber values, such as tree species.

At New England Forestry, we grow several different species. In the U.S. South, we grow pines such as loblolly, slash and longleaf, which require 20 to 25 years to mature. In Washington State and Oregon, hemlocks, firs, and hardwoods require more growing time—sometimes 40 years or more.

“In the Pacific Northwest, we grow cedars and other hardwoods,” says Kevin. “Some of our most valuable trees are export logs that we sell to local facilities to ship overseas.”

TMMs lead teams of foresters that evaluate each stand of trees to determine pricing. In addition to species, these foresters analyze other factors that affect value, including height, diameter, straightness, and quality.

Foresters record specifications for each stand of trees and TMMs use this data to find the right buyer.
TMMs often negotiate directly with prospective buyers, especially if they know a particular buyer’s needs. Other times, they use a bidding system in which they publish the data and buyers bid for the timber.

By understanding these factors, Timber Marketing Managers can ensure that the value of the timber is maximized.

The Value of Relationship Management in Timber Sales

Developing strong relationships is paramount for Timber Marketing Managers. TMMs engage in effective communication and negotiation to build trust and secure long-term partnerships with buyers, forestry teams, logging contractors, and other stakeholders in the wood product supply chain.

It’s critical that TMMs understand the value of timber and keep their finger on the pulse of the log market, but selling timber doesn’t come down to a simple math equation.

“The highest price doesn’t always get the log,” says Ian Thompson, another Senior Timber Marketing Manager on our Pacific Northwest team. “We have long-term relationships with our customers. I’m not going to pull wood away from one mill just because another customer we haven’t worked with in years comes up with a big offer that will only last two months.”

Ian works with about a dozen regular customers, many of them local mills that have a steady demand for our forest products.

“Everybody’s trying to be profitable and we’re all in this together,” he says. “We have to get through the down markets and thrive when the markets are good. It’s about nurturing those relationships, keeping them healthy.”

Hiring the right loggers for Timber Harvesting

Our TMMs also hire and coordinate with local logging businesses and trucking fleets to harvest our trees and deliver them to buyers. Developing healthy relationships with these companies is just as important to the overall success of timber sales.

When deciding which contractors to work with, TMMs look at several factors. Here again, it’s not a simple answer where the best bid gets the contract.

“Productivity is not number one,” says Ian. “First and foremost is safety. Then compliance with regulations and sustainable forestry initiatives. And then productivity comes next. We want them to be as productive as is feasible and reasonable. It comes down to hiring good contractors that understand the rules.”

Understanding the Impact of Timber Marketing Managers

Timber Marketing Managers play a crucial role in balancing economic goals and environmental sustainability.

They contribute to overseeing harvesting practices that minimize ecological impact and ensure compliance with certification standards like a Sustainable Forestry Initiative® certification. Sustainability standard compliance is a vital part of every stage of the forest lifecycle. Learn more about how forestry companies prove they’re sustainable by going behind the scenes on a recent sustainable forestry certification audit.

How Do You Become a Timber Marketer?

Becoming a Timber Marketing Manager (TMM) is a journey that requires a combination of formal education, practical experience and mentorship from industry leaders. The TMM role requires deep knowledge of forestry as well as communication and negotiation skills—a blend of attributes that takes time to develop.

Education needed to become a Timber Marketing Manager

Aspiring Timber Marketing Managers typically pursue degrees in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field. Relevant coursework may cover forest economics, marketing and sustainable forestry practices. 

Many of our TMMs have degrees in forest management, which serve as the foundation they have built upon with their time in the industry. 

This educational background equips them with the necessary tools to navigate the complex landscape of timber marketing.

Developing skills through Work Experience

Many of our TMMs have worked in forestry for decades. Chuck Beck, our TMM in Oklahoma, has been in forestry for 25 years and says his earlier experiences in silviculture (the science of growing trees) gave him a strong knowledge base to build on.

“I’ve gone through a full rotation,” he says. “That’s a unique situation to harvest trees that you planted—to get to see the outcome of those genetics.”

This work experience allows TMMs to intimately understand the entire lifecycle of the timber they market, enhancing their strategic decision-making.

Taking advantage of mentorship from Industry Leaders

A key component of career development is leveraging the invaluable insights and feedback from the leaders around you.

Ian started his career with the U.S. Forest Service. He worked on a timber marking crew, painting trees that were to be cut. He also served on a fire crew. And later he worked as a technician in private forestry, selecting trees for thinning operations.

He got negative feedback at one job when he marked trees that the timber cutter said were too close together. The trees’ crowns were intertwined, making it nearly impossible to harvest one without damaging the others.

“I got a lot of criticism as a young forester,” he says. “It was good because every bit of that helped me in moving forward.”

Ian also recommends negotiation courses for aspiring TMMs to develop the skills to relate with customers.

“Communication is key,” he says. “It’s important to ask questions and hear not just what the other person is telling you but also what they’re not telling you. It helps to understand their business needs.”

How do Aspiring Timber Marketing Managers get hands-on experience?

Gaining practical experience through internships is crucial, and we provide such opportunities through our summer internship programs.

These programs are designed to immerse upcoming foresters in the industry while providing valuable mentorship. Learn more about our internship programs here, and discover how you can be at the center of the action, gaining insights that will shape your future in timber marketing.

Future Opportunities in Timber Sales

The future of timber marketing holds exciting opportunities, including technological advancements and sustainable forest management practices.

Kevin, our Senior TMM in Washington State, says the forestry workforce is aging and will need new talent to fill these roles in coming years.

“Forestry is a good way to earn a living and support a family,” he says.

He and the other TMMs look forward to welcoming young foresters who want to broaden their skills and learn how to make the most out of every tree we grow.

We hope this article helped you understand the Timber Marketing Manager’s role, including a comprehensive understanding of the career path, responsibilities, and impact associated with forestry careers in timber marketing. If you’re interested in a TMM career at New England Forestry, you can learn more about working for us at New England Forestry.com/careers.

The post Exploring Careers in Forestry: What Does a Timber Marketing Manager Do? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

There is an air reminiscent of the first day of school when 40 strangers sit down in the classroom together for the first time at the Hampton Inn in downtown Fernandina Beach. Instead of doing the teaching, today these school teachers, homeschoolers and one school principal are here to be the students. They have come from all over the state of Florida to learn about the forestry industry.

Some came to the Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour with goals, wanting to get answers to questions they had about how the industry works; looking to incorporate forest-focused field trips into their curriculum; or wanting to learn about job opportunities to share with their students. Others came unsure what to expect but ready to learn.

By the end of the week, many of these same teachers will be in tears as the tour comes to a close. They will build friendships over long days outdoors. They will meet forestry workers who will change the way they see the world. And, as they will share with one another in a closing discussion, they will finish the week with a new level of respect for the industry that has such a huge impact on their lives—but that they had known so little about. Until now.

Day 1: A forestry legend sets the stage

There’s no one better than Ed Barnard to introduce newcomers to forestry. The retired forest pathologist has served as the tour’s emcee for more than 20 years. He is the first person the teachers meet.

“Prepare yourselves for an extravaganza of experience and exposure to the breadth and depth of the forestry profession,” Ed tells the group as he kicks off a presentation about the industry. “All the way from growing trees to processing trees into logs to creating pulp and paper, chemicals, cellulose, and lumber products. The complete picture and the whole cycle of regeneration, starting it all over again. The process from A to Z.”

Within minutes, it’s clear this isn’t the typical classroom-based continuing education program teachers are used to. In fact, they will be on a bus before 6:30 tomorrow morning, touring key components of the industry until after the sun sets.

And Ed will be there at every step. He’ll ride along with the teachers on the bus each day, answering questions and sharing his own perspective. He will share laughs and pull more than a few good-natured practical jokes. There’s also a good chance that, by the end of the week, he’ll fight back tears right alongside the teachers as they share how the tour has changed their perspectives.

Day 2: A mill, a burn, and a family farm

Now donning their forest boots and orange vests, the teachers are ready to experience the forestry industry up close and personal. The day begins in the West Fraser Sawmill in Whitehouse, Florida.

The teachers walk through the mill, watching how logs become lumber in a matter of minutes.

“Nothing goes to waste,” explains General Manager Jerome Worthy, pointing out that even the bark is used to create a mulch product and the sawdust is used in wood pellets.

Later this same morning, the teachers watch as a Florida Forest Service team demonstrates how controlled burns are used as a tool in forestry.

One teacher asks how wild animals fare in a controlled burn.

“If you watch during a burn, you’ll see the wildlife evacuate. Even the bugs! When the burn completes, you’ll see them come right back into that same forest,” a ranger answers.

The bus travels to several more sites before days’ end, giving the teachers a chance to see how the military manages forest land at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center; to see what a teaching forest is like at the University of Florida’s Austin Cary Forest; and to meet a family that has owned and managed the same farm for multiple generations.

“When people ask me what it would take for me to sell this land, I tell them, ‘I remember planting that forest with my grandfather. What price would you put on that?’” Kelly Mosley tells the teachers. “To us, it’s priceless.”

Day 3: Harvesting, sustainable forest management and some shocking revelations

As the sun is rising this morning, the tour bus is pulling into a harvest site so the teachers can see firsthand what happens when it’s time for trees to become products.

Watching as a heavy equipment operator systematically fells trees and sorts them for different logging trucks, the teachers have many questions about what happens during a timber harvest.

“How old are these trees?” “What kind of products will they become?” “When will this forest be replanted?”

Fernandina Beach High School Biology Teacher Angie Kindler writes notes as quickly as she can.

“Something that I had always questioned was a statistic about how many trees they plant to replace the ones that they harvest,” she says. “I got that answer today, so that’s something that I’ll be able to bring back to my students.”

In fact, in sustainable forestry, multiple trees are planted for every tree harvested.

Next, the bus goes deep into the forest for lessons about sustainable forest management led by New England Forestry foresters. The group discusses sustainability certification and what it takes to prove a forest is sustainably managed. They talk about the lifecycle of the forest. And they show how foresters protect water quality at every step.

Today also includes a pulp mill tour and a lesson about the incredible ways forest byproducts play a role in scent manufacturing.

Day 4: Reflecting on lessons learned

The tour wraps with a group discussion on the final morning. Everyone gets a chance to share how their perspectives about forestry have changed.

Before long, some are in tears, shocked at how much they didn’t know and ready to incorporate entirely new lessons about forestry into their curricula.

“I think the greatest takeaway for me has been, I didn’t really realize that companies and foresters are way more concerned about the environment than the public,” says Michelle Fisher, a high school biology teacher from Tampa. “The people that we’ve met on this tour, they don’t seem like they’re in it for the money and this kind of stuff. They seem like they’re bigger tree-huggers than I ever thought about being. And I thought I was a pretty big tree-hugger.”

While the tour slightly changes from year to year, it is always action-packed with experiences around many different aspects of forestry. The Florida Forest Service hosts it with support from the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida and Friends of Florida State Forests. Dozens of other companies and individuals also sponsor the tour.

To apply to participate in the Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour, applicants should submit their answers to a questionnaire. A committee then reviews and chooses participants.

To learn more and apply, visit floridastateforests.org/teacherstour.

The post Florida teachers moved to tears by forestry-focused tour appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Not every intern gets to present ideas to the senior leadership team of a publicly traded company—but at New England Forestry, they do.

New England Forestry offers internships across our ownership in the United States for both forestry and non-forestry roles. We treat our interns like part of the team, putting them in the center of whatever we’re working on, teaching them at every step and ensuring they experience a wide variety of careers. All of our summer interns are also invited to come together in our Wildlight, Florida, headquarters to work on a team project and meet our senior leaders. 

Our interns share what their experiences were like at New England Forestry:

Portfolio Management Intern Manisha Parajuli, Auburn University

Manisha Parajuli stands in a forest between two New England Forestry employees, learning to inspect pine trees through the lens of a drone.

“Want to see how to take a selfie from the air?” asks Sara Bellchamber, a Land Information Systems tech analyst who heads up New England Forestry’s drone pilots team.

“Smile!” says Research Biometrician Stephanie Patton, an expert in forest growth and yield modeling.

To Manisha, a PhD candidate at Auburn University with a passion for research that solves problems in the forestry industry, this is exactly why she chose New England Forestry for her summer internship. She’s learning to use new technologies, exploring economic opportunities around forest resources, and supporting sustainable forest management.

Over the course of her internship, she has done research for the company; gained firsthand experience in timberland valuation; predicted forest growth and biomass volume; analyzed data; did mapping work in GIS; and delved into various projects with the company’s portfolio management team.

“They make sure you learn something new every day,” Manisha says. “I am confident that the new skill set I learned here is truly valuable for my career. Everyone is inspiring in so many ways, and I am glad that I have been able to interact with different business teams in the office. It’s a great opportunity to learn and make new connections with people who share the same interests as yours and who will support you beyond your internship.”

Forestry Intern Lane Harvey, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

“It’s amazing how differently you can look at a forest depending on whose truck you’re in,” Lane Harvey reflects during a ride-along with a New England Forestry forester.

He had seen the forest through the eyes of a land management forester, who had shown him how to think about replanting and maintaining a forest through decades of growth. Now riding with a timber marketing forester, he’s learning how to work through the process of getting the most value for the timber when it’s time to harvest.

It’s exactly the kind of real-life training Lane, a Natural Resource Management major at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was hoping for when he applied for a New England Forestry internship:

“I had been told that New England Forestry does a good job of diversifying the kind of work that their interns do,” he says. “It’s not all just cruising, cruising, cruising, doing one thing. They do a really good job of trying to spread you out and get you into different places. They really educate you, too, while they do it.”

During the course of his internship, he’ll work in timber sales, paint streamside management zone boundary lines, build maps and meet all kinds of people. By the end of the summer, he still won’t know exactly what he wants to do in forestry, but he’ll know where he’d like to do it.

“I would definitely like to work at New England Forestry,” he says. “Everyone that I’ve talked to, everyone I’ve worked with, they’re always super helpful, super nice. Anything you need, they’re ready to help you succeed and learn.”

GIS Intern Erin O’Grodnick, University of North Florida

It’s a beautiful, sunny morning when Erin O’Grodnick laces up her running shoes. She sets out for a jog on the trail system that surrounds New England Forestry’s headquarters in Wildlight, crossing former tree farms and wetlands that are now part of the Wildlight Community built by New England Forestry’s real estate team.

About 40 members of the New England Forestry team are there with the University of North Florida biology major, participating in the annual Wildlight 5K. Wearing the New England Forestry team T-shirt, Erin absolutely feels like part of the team.

“The people at New England Forestry are the kindest people you’re going to meet,” she says. “I was expecting to just kind of talk to the same people every day, but everybody is so open to telling you what they do. I’ve talked to the executives, I’ve talked to people who work in the woods every day, people who do real estate, and everybody is just so welcoming and patient to show you what they do, show you how to do it. It’s just an awesome culture.”

For Erin, it’s been an eye-opening experience. Before her internship, she didn’t know a lot about forestry but she wanted to work with a GIS team. By the end of the internship, she had decided to forgo her plan to be a research biologist and pursue a natural resources career instead.

“I came here and I learned about this whole new career field. Now I’m really passionate about forestry and the economics of sustainable resources,” she says.

Asked what she would say to future intern candidates, she advises: “If you’re considering applying to New England Forestry, you should 100% do it. Once you’re here, the people are going to welcome you and foster your growth.”

How to Apply for a New England Forestry Internship

“If you’re looking for a place where you can make a difference in the world, New England Forestry is that place,” says HR Specialist Ebony Presha, who manages New England Forestry’s internship program. “Our interns are directly in the middle of the action. They have an opportunity to really get involved with projects and to really contribute to the company on a day-to-day basis.”

She notes that many interns go on to become New England Forestry employees. In fact, one of New England Forestry’s top forestry team leaders, Georgia Resource Unit Operations Director Morris Bradford, was an intern in the 1990s! New England Forestry offers internships to college students in forestry and research professions as well as support roles such as accounting, IT and communications. To learn more about how the New England Forestry internship program works, you can visit https://www.New England Forestry.com/intern.

The post Putting our New England Forestry interns in the center of the action appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

New England Forestry has been in the sustainable forestry business for almost 100 years—that’s a lot of time that our foresters, scientists and business leaders have been working with the land, monitoring the weather and managing the planting and harvesting of trees.

We’ve witnessed a lot of changes in the past century, not least of which has been the shifts in our global climate.

We know that the Earth’s surface temperature is changing, influenced by greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity, and we know this will have an impact on regional and global weather patterns.

Knowing that climate change will continue to impact our world, we have to be more informed than ever.

Protecting Our Forests for the Future in a Changing Climate

When we see the forecast for heavy rainfall or drought or see yet another headline of record-breaking temperatures, we are looking through the eyes of a land manager.

We think: are we prepared? What can we do to make our forests more resilient if these trends continue?

As forest managers, we believe that we can adapt to these changes to ensure that our company—and our forests—will thrive in the next 100 years.

Our in-house scientists and foresters have looked at data from organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to help us define climate smart forestry practices.

In this article, we will explore the concept of climate smart forestry and the strategies we will use to protect the long-term health of our forests given the climactic conditions that will exist in the future.

• What is Climate Smart Forestry?
• Climate Smart Forestry Principles to Guide New England Forestry’s Decision-making
• What is Carbon Capture and Storage in Sustainable Forest Management?
• The Role of Working Forests in Carbon Capture
• Climate Smart Forestry Beyond Carbon Capture
• The Importance of Climate Smart Forestry
• Benefits of Climate Smart Forestry Practices
• Resilient Forests Will Help Us Adapt to Climate Change

What is Climate Smart Forestry?

Climate smart forestry refers to the sustainable management of forests with a focus on mitigating, reducing and adapting to the impacts of climate change. 

Using a climate smart forestry approach allows us to implement strategies that increase forest resilience and productivity, enhance carbon sequestration, and ensure the health of forest ecosystems.

In many cases, climate smart forestry practices will enhance our forests’ ability to capture (or “sequester”) and store carbon, a critical part of addressing global climate change.

Climate smart forestry practices also employ techniques to prevent the loss of carbon sinks, such as wildfire prevention techniques.

Climate Smart Forestry Principles to Guide New England Forestry’s Decision-making

Our in-house teams have defined four key principles to help us grow healthy, productive forests in the coming decades:

• Flexible planning
• Sustainable forest management
• Strategic portfolio management
• Environmental contribution

Here are a few examples of how we are putting these Climate Smart Forestry principles into action:

Flexible Planning: Using modeling to plan for changes

In a rapidly changing climate, it will be important that we stay flexible in our planning.

Our foresters already use modeling, a forecasting tool to predict our trees’ growth over time. We use these models in many areas of our planning, including our harvest schedules.

By incorporating climate change data into our calculations, we can update these models as new information is available. This will help us respond to the needs of our forests and support healthy tree growth.

Sustainable Forest Management: Considering climate data when making planting decisions

As part of sustainable forest management, in the U.S. we already use our in-house genetic research team’s findings to select the best native tree families and species to plant on a particular forest site.

Going forward, we also will look at climate data to make sure we’re planting what’s best suited to the changes expected in that location.

For example, if an area will see droughts over the long term, we will plant drought-resistant trees there, and our research scientists will guide us in making these decisions.

Strategic portfolio management: Considering climate change impact in new timberland acquisitions

While climate change is a global phenomenon, its effects are likely to be felt more in some regions of the world than others.

Fortunately, New England Forestry forests are located in regions expected to be less impacted by climate change. Temperature variations predicted for the U.S. South, U.S. Pacific Northwest and New Zealand, where we’re located, are less extreme than variations predicted in other parts of the world, such as much of Europe, as reported here by the IPCC.

We will employ strategic portfolio management when considering new timberland acquisitions—looking at the likely impact of climate change in a region before deciding to expand there.

Environmental contribution: Continually improving our own impact to reduce emissions even further

We know that to reduce carbon in the atmosphere, we must enhance our environmental contribution by reducing New England Forestry’s carbon footprint.

Because our forests capture carbon as part of the growing process and store it in trees, we are already carbon negative. That is, we emit less carbon than we store. But we also plan to reduce our emissions as new technology is developed.

What is Carbon Capture and Storage in Sustainable Forest Management?

Forests act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and storing it in trees, soils, and other organic matter. This process is known as carbon capture and storage (CCS) in forestry.

Climate smart forestry emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices that maximize the carbon capture and storage potential of our working forests.

The Role of Working Forests in Carbon Capture

Working forests are critical to this mission because of their ability to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.

As forests grow, they capture carbon via photosynthesis and store that carbon. Forests planted for timber are managed to grow quickly, maximizing their photosynthesis and thus their carbon capture.

Once they have matured and the growing process slows, they’re harvested—and the carbon remains stored in the products they become, such as lumber and furniture.

At the same time, the land where they grew is replanted with the next generation of trees, starting the fast-growing trees’ carbon capture process all over again. 

Today, forests capture about 24 percent of the carbon emitted each year in the U.S. and about three-fourths of that carbon is sequestered by working forests, as shown in this report by NCASI.

Climate Smart Forestry Beyond Carbon Capture

Beyond the capture of carbon, climate smart forestry aims to reduce the loss of carbon.

For example, in the case of drought and wildfire, the best forest management plan is to reduce the number of trees. This allows the remaining trees to be more hydrated and reduces the amount of dry fuel on the ground.

These practices drastically reduce the likelihood of loss from a natural disturbance caused or intensified by climate change.

Working forests also play a role in providing the wood fiber needed for other efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Nature Based Solutions, a collective term for natural features and processes used to tackle socio-environmental issues, will generate increasing demands for timber.

For example, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, made from renewable biomass, has the potential to replace petroleum-based jet fuel with a fraction of the carbon emissions.  

The Importance of Climate Smart Forestry

To curb the worst effects of climate change, the U.S. needs to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. This means that, as a nation, we need to emit less carbon than we capture and store.

Climate smart forestry is an important tool in the global quest to address climate change.

One tangible example: the recent increase in catastrophic wildfires has weakened forests and limited their ability to sequester carbon. As part of our climate smart forestry plan, our foresters will use firebreaks, thinning, and understory vegetation control to limit wildfire threats.

When we implement these and other climate smart forestry practices, we will maximize our forests’ capacity to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, contributing to the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Benefits of Climate Smart Forestry Practices

Implementing climate smart forestry practices brings numerous benefits, including:

• Climate Change Mitigation: By capturing and storing carbon dioxide, our working forests contribute to mitigating climate change, helping to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Sustainable forest management practices promote biodiversity conservation by preserving and enhancing the habitats of various plant and animal species. Learn more about the importance of forest biodiversity.
• Ecosystem Services: Forests provide a range of valuable ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, soil conservation and recreational opportunities. By practicing climate smart forestry, we ensure the preservation of these essential services for present and future generations.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: New England Forestry’s commitment to climate smart forestry creates sustainable livelihoods for local communities. By managing our forests responsibly, we support jobs in the timber industry while protecting the environment.

Resilient Forests Will Help Us Adapt to Climate Change

As forest managers, we believe in the resilience and adaptability of our forests and we know the value of working with—rather than against—nature.

As we learn more about the coming changes in regional and global weather patterns, we will do our part to prepare our forests and keep them healthy and productive over the long term.

To learn more about our climate smart forestry plans and how we are continually adapting as new science emerges, you can view New England Forestry’s in-depth Climate Change report here.

The post Climate Smart Forestry: Is Forest Management a Climate and Carbon Solution? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Phillip Smith thought New England Forestry would be a quick stop in his career before finding a job closer to his home state of Mississippi. Almost three decades later, he couldn’t be more proud to continue to call himself a New England Forestry employee.

He started as a Timber Sales Forester in the Florida Region straight out of college. After 27 dedicated years, he is now the Director of Operations in the Alabama Resource Unit, where he oversees unit-wide operations and a whole team of talented foresters.

“Coming out of college, I couldn’t have drawn anything on paper that would have come close to the opportunity I was offered at New England Forestry. At the time, I had a rigid vision of how a corporate structure should be. I thought it would take years to see my impact, but New England Forestry is different. Immediately I saw how my contribution made a difference, no matter how small.”

Establishing a new region of forests for New England Forestry

In Alabama, Phillip and his team manage approximately 260,000 acres of timberland. It’s the same area where, nearly 23 years ago, he was part of a small team that helped establish the new location for New England Forestry after the company’s large Jefferson Smurfit land purchase.

“I couldn’t believe they would entrust me with such a big responsibility. I was still relatively new to New England Forestry at the time, and I was given a tremendous opportunity to help establish New England Forestry in a new operating area, working alongside two other employees with over 20 years of experience.”

The trust the company placed in him played a role in changing his mind about the future.

“When I started working, I really had no intention of staying at New England Forestry. My heart was back home in Mississippi, and I thought that at some point I would move back.”

“But I stayed,” he chuckles. “I fell in love with the people and the company. I never thought twice about leaving. New England Forestry has been a tremendous blessing to me and my family.”

An Unexpected Career Path

During his higher education at Mississippi State, Phillip studied Forest Management for his undergrad and later earned a master’s in economics. When it came time to job hunt, Phillip interviewed with several companies, including New England Forestry.

“A New England Forestry job posting was placed on a bulletin board in the forestry building, so I applied. Soon thereafter, I received a call from Ken Gay who at the time was the Florida Region Superintendent. New England Forestry flew me out to the Division Headquarters in Fernandina, and I had the chance to interview with most of the senior management and was provided a forest tour. Coming from Mississippi, where I had spent most of my life, hopping on a plane for the first time was a big deal for me.”

Phillip narrowed his search down to two job offers: one was with a company located in Mississippi, and the other in Florida with New England Forestry.

“My mom really wanted me to take the job in Mississippi, and I truly had my heart set on staying. But because of the thoughtful interview process, and how I enjoyed the people I had met, I decided to take the job in Florida with New England Forestry.”

A Day in the Life of this New England Forestry Forestry Leader

As Director of Operations, Phillip provides oversight to the team that is responsible for all of the operational activities within the Alabama Resource Unit. It’s a position he takes pride in because of the important rural jobs the timber industry creates, the positive impact on the environment good forest management has, and the role timber plays in providing sustainable, renewable products.

“If you think about it, it’s the most valuable natural resource we have in this country,” he says. “You add up all of the other things that we’ve got–gold, silver, what have you–our most valuable natural resource is timber.”

Collaborating is a key part of a forestry leader’s work

A significant portion of Phillip’s time is spent preparing for and participating in discussions with people within and outside the company. There are generally three different types: inform discussions, collaborative meetings and advocacy efforts.

Inform discussions are typically spent with his supervisor and those higher up in the organization. During their time together, they discuss state of business, challenges, areas of concern, opportunities, and future plans.

Collaborative meetings often involve counterparts in other areas or co-workers in other business units. During this type of meeting, everyone shares what they are working on, how they are working through issues and any improvements they have made. Here, Phillip provides input into various activities, operations and business opportunities as they relate to the Resource Unit.

Lastly, Phillip acts as a representative and advocate for the Alabama Resource Unit outside of the organization.

“Advocacy is a large component of my position here at New England Forestry,” he explains. “We are heavily involved in the Alabama Forestry Association, where I serve on the board of directors and executive committee. Often, I will also attend meetings where I represent and advocate for New England Forestry’s interests. This mostly includes trade association meetings, as well as meetings with local and state representatives and politicians.”

Phillip is passionate about promoting forestry and helping others understand the role it plays in their lives.

“There’s a lot of respect from the local communities about what we do. They understand that we’re supporting a lot of industries. A lot of local communities are completely dependent upon the timber industry and it’s just wonderful to be part of that.”

Working with people is the best part

There are other important tasks that require his attention while at work.

“I spend quite a bit of time planning, forecasting, and participating in strategy sessions with the team. I’m very analytical, so this is my comfort zone. I truly enjoy analyzing data and then working with our team to use the results to make well-informed business decisions, monitor business progress and analyze project outcomes.”

Other projects Phillip leads within the Resource Unit include tasks like validating inventory data and stand information for pending land sales, working with the legal team on resolving any issues with adjoining landowners, answering questions from outside the organization, and addressing requests from others within the company.

“I enjoy interacting with people. Typically, I will speak with a customer or vendor at least once a day.”

Best of all is time spent reviewing in the woods with employees:

“By far, the most enjoyable aspect of my position is getting out of the office and spending time in the field with my team.”

Due to retirements, departures and promotions, almost three quarters of the employees in the Alabama Resource Unit have joined the team in the past year. As a result, a considerable amount of Phillip’s time has been dedicated to evaluating, interviewing, recruiting and onboarding new employees.

Spending Time in the Woods

Because the unit only has one office, which is in Andalusia, Phillip has many opportunities to interact with the team, especially the Senior Timber Marketing Manager, who oversees the sale of timber, and the Senior Resource Land Manager, who oversees planting and land management.

With a team that is in the woods much more than it’s in the office, Phillip prefers to join his team in the field when possible. Having eyes on the forestry operation gives him the opportunity to better-understand ongoing operations; discover new ways to support the team; interact with New England Forestry customers, contractors and vendors; and help with safety efforts.

Making a compliance visit during a timber harvest

The images in this section of this article were taken when Phillip accompanied Aaron Milstead, a Timber Resource Forester, and two younger foresters, Technical Foresters Aaron Evans and Josh Petty, on a compliance visit to an active timber harvesting operation near the Andalusia Office.

During a timber harvest compliance visit, foresters may look at the following:

1. Checking to ensure that all harvesting occurs in the designated areas and reviewing the harvested areas to verify all merchantable wood has been removed.
2. Making sure that the crew is properly utilizing New England Forestry’s mobile load management system (equipment and software) that is used to track and document loads. This involves making sure that records are created prior to moving a load, that the correct information concerning loads is entered and that records are updated with the scale information in a timely manner.
   “We also answer any questions about the unit and system. Occasionally, we have to resolve issues with units that aren’t functioning properly.”

3. For by-the-product stumpage sales and delivered wood sales, we also monitor to make sure that wood is being merchandised properly. “This helps us ensure the correct products are being sorted and that the wood is within mill-tolerant specifications.”
   In other words, we want to send the best quality wood to the top buyer. You don’t want to send a log that would be great for high-value lumber to a pulp mill that will make it into lower-value chips, for example.

“I truly enjoy being with my team out in the field,” Phillip says. “It’s nice to see how much these folks can accomplish here at New England Forestry. They never cease to amaze me.”

“New England Forestry has a bright future ahead. There are some very talented individuals employed here with a lot of passion for what they are doing in forestry. Because of this, I am confident in New England Forestry’s future success.”

“Some of my best friends are from New England Forestry”

Phillip shares that he chose forestry as his career path because, at the heart of it, he is a ‘dirt forester’.

“That’s why I went into forestry. The hands-on part of the industry. I love seeing the trees grow, the harvesting and the operations. But it’s also very satisfying in knowing that what we do has a positive impact on society.”

Aside from his personal love and passion for forestry, Phillip holds a deep appreciation for the people and culture that make up New England Forestry.

“I’ve been working for New England Forestry for 27 years now, and I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. At the end of the day, the vast majority of those that I have had the pleasure to interact with are genuine people that are team-oriented, ethical individuals who care about one another. Everyone works together to make sure New England Forestry is successful.

“One of the most telling things is that some of my best and closest friends are either previous or current New England Forestry employees. We spend a lot of time together. It’s hard to work with people that hold similar ethics and values and not become close friends.”

Phillip jokes: “It’s true, you really can’t make me leave New England Forestry. They’re stuck with me.”

The post A Day in the Life of a Forestry Leader: Phillip Smith (Alabama, USA) appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

When Tracie Gibbs was five years old, her dad introduced her to the thrill of professional racing and gave her the first glimpse of the direction her life would take. As she watched the action on the track, she was captivated by the National Hot Rod Association’s Safety Safari team, who wore bright yellow hi-vis suits and ran to help anyone in need. This was the job she wanted to do.

Today, as New England Forestry’s Director of Safety, instead of racing hazards, Tracie’s attention and efforts are focused on the hazards that come with working in the woods.

At its core, safety is about people. Fortunately, Tracie is passionate about forging relationships. When she first stepped into safety, she encouraged open and honest communication both internally within New England Forestry and externally with contractors. Safety quickly became a company-wide focus. In fact, it is now one of the company’s core values.

What started as a team of one has expanded to a safety department with five employees reporting to Tracie. In six years, she has taken New England Forestry’s safety program from one that had only a few measurable goals to one that is applying for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) — the highest safety certification available.

Under her leadership, New England Forestry has launched a myriad of new reporting and training tools, including a safety app that can be used in the woods without access to cell service. In 2022, the company hosted safety training events in 8 states, helping the logging companies New England Forestry works with to begin developing safety programs of their own and educating more than 650 contractors on OSHA’s safety standards. You can learn more and watch a video about the logger safety training events here. 

Not like other safety professionals

No one goes into safety because it’s glamorous or an easy way to punch a timeclock, especially when it comes to the timber industry, which consistently ranks in the top three of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. Safety professionals are often thought of like police, but Tracie is not like other safety professionals. She doesn’t want to police her coworkers and contractors, she wants to help them think differently about safety. Her philosophy is that, if they understand why certain policies and procedures are in place, they will be more likely to adopt safer behaviors.

Loggers and foresters report some of the highest job satisfaction rates of any profession, but missteps in safety can quickly become a matter of life and death.

“I have three rocks on my desk from the first fatality I investigated. I wanted something to remind me of how I was feeling in that moment because it was the exact situation I wanted to help prevent.

“Seeing a tragedy like this firsthand and knowing there are things we can do—through education, training and maintenance—to help prevent this type of emotional, physical and financial mess from happening to others helped me see the disconnect and wonder what I could do about it. The experience personally changed me.”

Helping others understand why

Convincing folks in the timber industry to think differently about safety can be a challenge. Tracie’s mission is fueled by her passion for helping others and by a deep personal understanding of loss.

She also understands the types of “what-if” questions that pop up in the aftermath of a tragedy. Tracie’s father had a heart attack at work and his coworker, who wasn’t trained in CPR, was unable to save him. Since then, Tracie, who is a certified CPR and first aid instructor, has personally trained all of New England Forestry’s U.S. employees.

“When I’m talking to people, they understand my passion is genuine. Safety conversations are often about telling others what to do, but if you focus instead on what it means to experience a loss or feel a sense of fear about what might happen if you don’t behave in a safe manner, it helps them understand why they need to adopt safer behaviors.”

Day in the life

In Tracie’s world, no two days are the same, but there are some tasks that remain consistent from one day to the next. She begins each day by skimming her email and new near-miss reports to get an idea of what’s happening at New England Forestry locations across the country. She finds out if there are any major issues or fires to put out — sometimes this even includes actual wildfires.

While many of the tasks on Tracie’s to-do list are obvious, such as refining policies, working on new initiatives, reviewing safety communications prior to publication, preparing reports for New England Forestry’s Board of Directors and keeping up with OSHA changes, she also handles things that most people don’t ever think about. On any given day, she may help a department create a job hazard analysis (JHA) for the top four hazards facing their employees; determine how many straps need to go on a load before a truck leaves a landing and how far they can travel before they finish strapping; or work with New England Forestry’s safety mentors to help prepare for the upcoming VPP audits.

Tracie enjoys interacting with others and says, “When you know the people, you really connect.” Because of this, she goes into the woods at least once a week and is often on the road, visiting New England Forestry locations from coast-to-coast. As the main safety resource for New England Forestry’s U.S. employees and contractors, she likens her role to “keeping a ship going in the right direction all the time.” The rapport she works so hard to build is essential for making course corrections as safety issues arise.

Safety as a way of life

A commitment to safety doesn’t end when her workday is done. When Tracie is tempted to look at her phone while driving or do something else that isn’t safe, she asks herself if it’s truly worth the risk. She reminds herself and family and friends of their own value, so that everyone understands what’s at risk if they don’t practice safe behaviors.

“Safety doesn’t have to be painful. It doesn’t have to be intimidating. There are a lot of resources out there that make it accessible to everyone.”

A steadfast dedication to protecting others and Tracie’s willingness to challenge the way things have always been done have inspired her to extend her focus beyond the walls of New England Forestry’s safety program. She truly wants to show everyone that New England Forestry is passionate about safety and unafraid of sharing what they’ve learned.

“People in the timber industry take a lot of pride in what they do and how well they do it. I’d like to see them adopt that same level of pride in doing their jobs safely. To do the work we do should not cost a life.”

Tracie’s goal is to challenge safety practices industry-wide. She is convinced that the only way forward is for the entire timber industry to come together and raise the bar. Strong safety cultures are fostered when expectations and accountability pertain to everyone from the CEO or owner to the new hire breaking in that first pair of boots. It will take an industry-wide effort to improve safety statistics and get off the list of the most dangerous occupations. Everyone must get on board.

“Safety is unique because we all have the right to it. It doesn’t matter what job we have, how much money we make in a year or how we’re different from anyone else. We all deserve to be safe.”

Article written by Karie Kermath, Safety Manager, Western Operations

The post Tracie Gibbs Brings New Perspective to Forestry Safety appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

LAKE CITY, Florida—When asked whether sustainable forestry certification makes a difference, Richard Boitnott can recall more than 20 years of providing feedback through audits that resulted in companies throughout the U.S. better-demonstrating their sustainability.

As a third-party auditor with Bureau Veritas, Richard Boitnott determines whether forestry companies are meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (or SFI). He has scrutinized hundreds of forests.

On rare occasions, there are perfect audits. More often, they are excellent, but there are opportunities to improve—and that’s what certified companies are looking for. Rather than reaching one level of sustainability and staying there forever, certified companies want to continuously improve and strengthen their efforts to protect and sustain the forest ecosystem.

“Those are really the best audits: the ones where you have a finding that you know you’re helping them improve their system, and they recognize it, and they recognize the fact that you helped them improve their system,” Richard says.

There are also times when a company seeking sustainable forest certification may need a lot of guidance before they are initially certified. Richard takes pride in the impact that kind of guidance can have on the way the land is managed.

“If there was not forest certification, a lot of land would be managed without that push to reach higher sustainability standards,” says Richard, who has been an auditor for 22 years. “Forest certification is what forces a change.”

In this article, we will explore various aspects of sustainable forestry certifications, including the certification process, objectives, audits, and the importance of continually raising the bar for environmental and social sustainability in the forestry industry.

• What is a sustainable forestry certification?
• What are the SFI sustainable forestry certification objectives?
• How do timber companies become certified for sustainable forestry?
• What happens when a sustainable forestry certification entity audits a forest owner?
• What happens when a sustainable forestry certification audit identifies something that went wrong?
• What happens when a company does exceptionally well, reaching far beyond the minimum SFI standard?
• How to know if a company is certified for sustainable forestry?

What is a sustainable forestry certification?

Sustainable forestry certifications such as SFI, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are standards used to ensure the highest environmental standards in the forestry industry.

There are standards that address forest management all the way from preparing the land for planting to the way the trees are harvested. There are also standards for mills that process logs and the companies that make forest products you buy in the store. You can look for sustainable forestry certification labels when you buy forest products such as wooden, paper, and cardboard items to ensure they come from a sustainably-managed source.

In forest management, the standards ensure the entire forest ecosystem will thrive.

The SFI guidelines verify that forest owners are only harvesting a small percentage of their overall land base. With well over 90 percent of the company’s forests in some stage of growth, this practice ensures a continuous wood supply as well as a plentiful array of forest ecosystems in different stages of the forest life cycle. The standards also enforce methods to protect waterways from sedimentation and chemicals.

Protecting vulnerable habitats

Forest certification standards also ensure that the habitats of vulnerable species are carefully protected. For example, foresters set up and protect a large boundary area around bald eagles’ nests as long as the nest exists. To learn more about that, watch our video, How Foresters Protect Bald Eagles.

There are also species you may have never even heard of that foresters are trained to recognize and protect. In the Red Hills region of Alabama, New England Forestry foresters protect the extremely rare Red Hills Salamander, which was only discovered in the 1960s. You can learn more about this unique creature and the work we do to protect it in our video story, Foresters Protect Rare Salamander Found Only in Alabama.

Standards evolve

Newer standards under SFI are aimed at climate smart forestry, which are forest practices that will help prepare forests to better withstand future changes in climate; fire resilience and awareness, which ensures the use of practices to protect forests from wildfire and educating the public about it; social measures, such as having a diversity, equity and inclusion policy; and collaboration with indigenous peoples.

For companies like ours, we were implementing best practices long before we became certified, but the certification proves from an outside perspective that we are sustainably managing our forests. New England Forestry has been certified by the SFI standard in the U.S. since 2001 and the FSC and PEFC standards in New Zealand since 2004.

What are the SFI sustainable forestry certification objectives?

SFI has more than 40 performance measures and 130 sustainable forestry indicators in the forest management certification standard, which are categorized under the 17 objectives below:

1. Forest management planning
2. Forest health and productivity
3. Protection and maintenance of water resources
4. Conservation of biological diversity
5. Management of visual quality and recreational benefits
6. Protection of special sites
7. Efficient use of fiber resources
8. Recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights
9. Climate smart forestry
10. Fire resilience and awareness
11. Legal and regulatory compliance
12. Forestry research, science and technology
13. Training and education
14. Community involvement and landowner outreach
15. Public land management responsibilities
16. Communications and public reporting
17. Management review and continual improvement

To view the entire SFI standard, visit forests.org/standards.

How do timber companies become certified for sustainable forestry?

If a company wants to be certified for sustainable forestry, it must apply to the certification body, pay an annual fee based on acres managed and net sales and show that it meets certain requirements.

Once the application is accepted, the company must incorporate all of the certification body’s standards into the way it does business.

Once the standards are implemented, the company will then undergo third party audits of its documents and forests to ensure it measures up to the standards.

When the company is officially certified, the external audit reviews will continue annually.

The goal of each audit is to verify that the company is doing a good job protecting its forests, but it is also a way to uncover ways to do even better. Every certified company is looking to constantly improve and fine-tune its practices to ensure it is doing the best it can possibly do with its forests.

Companies also conduct internal audits more frequently. Additionally, many state forest divisions periodically audit the companies’ forests for Best Management Practices (BMPs) compliance. BMPs are guidelines established by the state to ensure waterways are protected. Reports from each of these audits are also a part of the annual third party audit.

What happens when a sustainable forestry certification entity audits a forest owner?

During a sustainable forestry certification audit, there are two segments: auditing documents and auditing forests.

What happens during the document portion of an SFI forest audit?

On a recent annual audit at New England Forestry’s Headquarters in Wildlight, Florida, Richard spent the entire day in a conference room reviewing about 500 documents with New England Forestry employees. He screened the documents for compliance with more than 130 different SFI indicators.

The requirements include everything from the technical way forests are planted, managed and harvested to social standards such as indigenous relations and DEI policies. The employees were expected to be able to quickly locate the documents and expound on any details Richard asked about.

What happens during the field portion of an SFI forest audit?

The second portion of the audit included several days in the forest. Each day, Richard would select specific sites he wanted to see in person. An auditor often examines documents to find an example of something that didn’t go as planned, such as a weather event or a miscommunication with a contractor.

The auditor will then go to the location to observe what happened and question the responsible foresters about the decisions made relating to that incident. The auditor will also ask general questions to test the expertise of the forester.

During the 2023 New England Forestry audit, Richard went into a Lake City, Florida, forest with several New England Forestry foresters. He quizzed them about what they would do to protect an eagle’s nest if they were to find one. He asked them about soil types and their methodology for choosing which tree species to plant on each plot. He checked to see if an herbicide aerial application had ceased where the forester had designated.

Protecting properties of special importance

The SFI standard also calls for forestry companies to protect properties with special importance. Forester Joe Geisel, a Resource Land Manager at New England Forestry, explained that one location within that forest had been the site of a tragic accident. Two wildland firefighters had been killed while battling the Blue Ribbon Wildfire of 2011.

Joe showed the auditor two memorials that had been established honoring the men where they had passed. He maintains the site in their honor. The memorial is included in an annual staff ride in which the Florida Forest Service honors the memory of the firefighters and teaches staff what can be learned from the accident. You can learn more about the staff ride in this article by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

Foresters also protect sites believed to have historical significance, sites where there is habitat for threatened or endangered species, special trees, water features, cemeteries and other geologically or culturally important sites.

An example of a protected site on New England Forestry land is Brooks Sink, Florida’s largest sinkhole. New England Forestry partnered with the Suwannee River Water Management District to divert more water into the sinkhole, which replenishes the Floridan aquifer. Read more about the project and watch a video in our article, Working Forests Protect Water Quality Across the U.S.

Research is a component of good forest management

The SFI forest management standard also requires certified organizations to be active in research efforts. At New England Forestry, we have an in-house research team and also participate in cooperative research with other forestry organizations and universities.

One recent cooperative effort between New England Forestry, the University of Florida and the Suwannee River Water Management District is seeking ways to improve water flow in streams by changing how we manage the forest. New England Forestry is also working internally and with partners to delve deeper into ways forest managers can identify climate risks and mitigation efforts, which aligns with SFI’s 2022 additions to the Forest Management Standard.

You can learn more about some of the work our research team does in our video and article, New England Forestry Scientists Bring Deep Knowledge to Forest Management.

What happens when a sustainable forestry certification audit identifies something that went wrong?

While every company hopes to perform well in an audit, there is usually room for improvement because the audits are intentionally rigorous.

“All you want is honest feedback,” says Ben Cazell, New England Forestry’s Senior Manager of Sustainable Forestry. “Folks have a passion and self-ownership of the ground they manage and make decisions on. They want to ensure that they’re doing things correctly. So, perfection, it’s not always going to happen. It’s nice to hear, ‘Good job. Well done.’ But it’s also good to hear, ‘You could do a little better in this aspect of one thing or another.’”

For example, SFI has new standards around climate smart forestry that have helped companies develop new ways to address and anticipate climate change.

When something is seriously out of alignment with the SFI standards, an auditor deems it to be either a minor or major “nonconformance.”

“A minor nonconformance means the system is bent. A major nonconformance means the system is broken,” Richard explains. “Now, most people have been in this business long enough where they don’t get majors. They know what to do to avoid a major. A minor is more common.”

The difference between a minor and major nonconformance in an SFI audit

An example of a minor nonconformance might be one mishap in which sediment went into a stream, Richard explains. A major nonconformance would be 3 or more instances of sediment seeping into waterways.

There is also a milder level of feedback called an ”opportunity for improvement.” Richard explains:

“Not everything we do in this business is black and white. There are lots of shades of gray. And I only call something if it’s clearly a nonconformance. If it’s not, and I think, ‘Well, you ought to pay attention to this,’ that’s an opportunity for improvement.”

Richard says, for him, the best audits are when his findings bring about a positive change in a company.

“When I get to the end and they tell me, ‘You’re right. We could’ve done that a little bit better. We will do better.’ I like to hear that, because that means they accepted it, they agreed with what I found, and they’re going to work to get better. Those are really the best audits.”

What happens when a company does exceptionally well, reaching far beyond the minimum SFI standard?

On rare occasions, a company will receive recognition for a practice that goes well beyond the SFI standard and sets an example for peers to follow.

This recognition, called a “notable practice,” is a special honor to those who receive it.

Ben recalls one example in which New England Forestry was recognized for using winch-assisted logging on steep slopes in the Pacific Northwest. The winch machine anchors into the ground on a stable, flat landing area and using a powerful cable to support heavy equipment on the steep ground below. The machinery improves safety for the logging crew. It also decreases the impact on the environment, often replacing the need to build a road on the slope.

The notable practice we received was for the reduction of road construction by using this newer technology. You can read more about winch-assisted logging and watch our video of a winch assist machine in action here.

How to know if a company is certified for sustainable forestry

Forestry companies share their sustainability certification information on their websites and often in their reports and investor documents.

You can also verify their membership on the website of the certification body, itself. For example, SFI has a database of its member companies at sfidatabase.org, PEFC has a database at pefc.org/find-certified and FSC has a database at search.fsc.org/en/. Each website publicly posts members’ third-party audit reports.

The post How Forestry Companies Prove They’re Sustainable appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Here we share seven of these generational businesses’ inspiring stories, showcasing their deep-rooted values and passion for the logging industry. Join us as we pay tribute to the significant contributions and remarkable legacies logging business from Washington state to Florida bring.

• Levanen Inc., Battle Ground, Washington
• Sevier Logging, LLC, Olympia, Washington
• Triple J Logging, Palatka, Florida
• Allen Brothers Forest Management, Arlington, Washington
• DM Stratton and 3D Trucking, LLC, Jacksonville, Florida
• Dilley & Soloman, Forks, Washington
• R.L. Smith Logging, Inc., Elma, Washington

Levanen Inc., Battle Ground, Washington

From a young age, Scott Levanen aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps as a professional in the logging industry. While working alongside his father, Scott gained valuable skills and logging experience. He later recognized a need for a local full-service logging company that could assist private landowners in maximizing the potential of their tree farms. In 1989, he partnered with his cousin Mark to establish Levanen Inc., which is dedicated to fulfilling this purpose.

Word spread quickly among landowners about the quality of Levanen Inc.’s services. The growing demand the company was experiencing resulted in a need for expansion of its workforce and equipment. This enabled them to take on larger logging projects. To sustain such growth, Levanen Inc. diversified their services, offering logging operations to both public and private timberlands.

Over time, Levanen Inc. has evolved into a well-rounded organization through partnerships with large landowners such as New England Forestry. These partners share a commitment to safer, more efficient, and technologically-advanced harvesting timber methods via cable assist and hydraulic grapple logging systems.

Scott’s father once advised him, saying, “Surround yourself with great people, and things will go well.” Thanks to this advice, Scott attributes his success to the partnerships, employees, vendors, and clients he has worked with over the years.

Currently, Levanen Inc. is owned and operated by Scott with the help of his two sons, Dale and Loren. In the future, Dale and Loren hope to purchase the company, carrying on the family legacy.

Sevier Logging, LLC, Olympia, Washington

Sevier Logging, LLC, is owned and operated by Jeff Sevier and his son, Justin. This well-established, third-generation company holds a rich logging history dating back over 70 years in the Pacific Northwest. Known for its sustainable forestry practices and excellent logging services, the company has built a strong reputation as a contractor for various timber companies. Partnerships have included Weyerhaeuser Company, New England Forestry Forest Resources, Green Diamond Resource Company, Harbor Timber/Quinault Partners for the Quinault Indian Tribe, Olympic Resource Management, and government sales at Fort Lewis.

Jeff inherited the business from his father Paul in 2000, continuing the family legacy. Justin, Jeff’s son, has been actively involved in the company for the past decade, working alongside his father and preparing to take ownership in the near future. “Working alongside my dad has been invaluable as I learn the ropes,” says Justin, prompting a smile from Jeff. “I’m so proud of Justin,” says Jeff, “He has embraced a leadership role and makes good, solid decisions. I couldn’t be any prouder of him!”

Sevier Logging, LLC, is rooted in responsible land stewardship and is dedicated to protecting the environment through sustainable forestry practices. Employee safety is also a priority for the company. Remarkably, Sevier Logging, LLC, has managed to avoid any serious accidents in its 70-year logging history.

Triple J Logging, Palatka, Florida

For JJ Sweat, it was important to create a logging business that would not only provide for his family today, but could become a legacy that would one day also provide for his son’s family.

He founded Triple J Logging Inc. in Palatka, Florida, in 2005.

Now a co-owner who works alongside his dad, JJ’s son Jess is learning firsthand how to operate the company.

Over the years, Triple J Logging has grown significantly, employing a dedicated team of 8 employees. The company has partnered with New England Forestry’s Florida Resource Unit as a logging contractor since about 2019.

Allen Brothers Forest Management, Arlington, Washington

Les and Rob Allen represent the second and third generations of their family’s logging legacy at the Hood Canal Tree Farm in East Jefferson County, Washington. In 1976, Les, with his two brothers Craig and Larry, founded Allen Brothers Logging on the Olympic Peninsula. Initially, the company focused on serving the Quilcene and Chimacum areas.

While Rob was growing up, he and his brother worked for their father periodically throughout their high school and young adult years. Although Rob pursued other career paths, he later returned to Allen Brothers Forest Management as a full-time logger in 2004. In response to their father’s dedication to the logging company, Rob’s sons later worked for him during their high school summer breaks. This allowed them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in operations and logging equipment maintenance. As potential fourth-generation loggers, they have a promising future ahead should they choose to continue with Allen Brothers Forest Management.

Both Les and Rob share many positive outlooks when it comes to working alongside family members. They both emphasize the deep familiarity and trust between family, noting that each member treats the company as their own. As they look to the future, Les and Rob are hopeful that the younger generation will decide to return and continue the family logging legacy.

DM Stratton and 3D Trucking, LLC, Jacksonville, Florida

For the Stratton family in Jacksonville, Florida, the common name between Dillon Stratton I, Dillon Stratton II and Dillon Stratton III is only one of the similarities the three generations share. They’re also all three passionate about logging and have worked together in their family businesses.

The youngest of the three, Dillon Stratton III, is the owner and operator of DM Stratton and 3D Trucking, LLC. Founded by his grandfather, Dillon Stratton I, both businesses have a strong family lineage. Together, the two companies employ a total of 18 employees. In addition to running the business, Dillon III holds the position of Vice President at the Southeastern Wood Producers Association. His father, Dillion II, received the distinguished Florida Logger of the Year award in 1995. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dillion III was also recognized, receiving the same honor in 2022.

Over the years, DM Stratton has developed an extensive partnership with New England Forestry, effectively managing multiple logging crews at the same time in our forests.

Dilley & Soloman, Forks, Washington

Dave Dilley began his logging journey while pursuing his high school education. At the time, he realized this particular career path was his true calling. Growing up in Forks, Washington, an area known for its beautiful outdoor landscape and the Olympic Peninsula, it seemed like a natural fit. Following his graduation, Dave spent 10 years logging alongside his uncle, a contractor working for New England Forestry. In 1987, he partnered with Lyn Soloman to establish Dilley & Soloman Logging. Together, they experienced substantial business growth.

Dave’s son, Mike, joined the company while still in high school, dedicating his summer breaks to working in the family business. After graduating in 2000 and pursuing a college degree for 2 years at Washington State University, he decided to forego his education and work at the business instead. Over the years, Mike has gradually worked his way through every aspect of logging operations, watching the industry shift and change. Notable changes included tower and shovel logging with grapple cars, tilting shovels, and tethering bunchers. The company has encouraged and embraced innovation, attributing to its great success.

Dave is confident that when he retires, Mike will carry on the family legacy and achieve great success.

R.L. Smith Logging, Inc., Elma, Washington

R.L. Smith Logging, Inc. has been in business now for 32 years, but its logging legacy dates back further than that. In 1932, Roger Smith’s paternal grandfather tragically died in a logging accident, leaving his wife and five young sons behind. Due to the accident, the family decided to set the logging industry aside for a while. But in 1980, Roger joined his uncle’s company, Grandorff Bros Logging, a small business of four brothers offering logging services to the high country of Grisdale.

In 1991, an economic downturn left Roger unemployed. Thankfully, an uncle offered to sell his portion of the business, leading to the establishment of Tagman-Smith Logging, Inc. With the help and support of Dick Tagman, R.L. Smith Logging, Inc. is still thriving to this day.

Because of Roger’s success and dedication to the family legacy, he was able to offer his nephew, Nate Murray, an opportunity to start his own venture: Roosevelt Logging Inc. In addition, Roger has worked alongside his brothers and brother-in-law for over 20 years. Roger values the teamwork, comradery, and accomplishments he and his family have achieved over the years. Now, R.L. Smith Logging Inc. is harvesting ground they logged in their early years.

“It is hard to imagine that our family history in the logging industry goes back almost 100 years,” says Roger.

New England Forestry’s Dedication to Supporting Local Family-Owned Logging Businesses

New England Forestry is proud to partner with these family-owned logging businesses. Founded on shared values and a deep appreciation for the forests, their knowledge of the industry and logging operations are critical to New England Forestry’s mission of sustainable forest management. With logging running through their blood, each company contributes its rooted and local expertise, specialized equipment, and talented workforce.

We value and express gratitude to each family-owned logging business represented at New England Forestry. Our work is only made possible with partnerships such as these. New England Forestry’s goal is to continue to support the ongoing success and resilience of these generational logging companies for years to come.

The post Celebrating Family Legacies: New England Forestry Pays Tribute to Generations of Loggers appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Ebony Presha recently spent a week at Alabama A&M University talking about forestry with students at the historically Black school. 

Many of the bright students the New England Forestry Human Resources Specialist met were working on biology or environmental science degrees but didn’t know about corporate forestry as a career path. Most of them hadn’t even heard of New England Forestry. 

But after talking to Ebony, several applied for the company’s forestry internships and scholarships. Those face-to-face conversations made all the difference.

A Focus on Inclusion and Diversity in Forestry

Ebony’s role at New England Forestry is focused on creating greater awareness of forestry career opportunities and expanding diversity within the industry. This is a much-needed change in the industry, she says, because the vast majority of corporate forestry’s employees are white males. 

“I’m passionate about attracting underrepresented candidates to forestry,” says Ebony. “As the company becomes more culturally diverse, it becomes more marketable in all areas. And it opens the doors for different ideas and new relationships.”

Ebony has worked in HR for almost 20 years, the last six of which she spent running her own staffing business. She recruited for companies around the U.S., often targeting candidates from underrepresented groups to create more diverse company cultures. 

She understands the barriers companies face in expanding diversity. 

Raising Awareness About Career Paths Outside the Mainstream

“Students from underrepresented groups–a lot of times their story is more focused on survival,” says Ebony. “You know, ‘Let’s just get the basic education and possibly learn a trade,’ and then that’s it. A lot of it is a lack of information. They don’t have the knowledge of careers outside of the mainstream. Their parents and teachers don’t have the knowledge of these types of careers to present to the students.”

Some students she met on the Alabama A&M trip knew about forestry, but the only career path they’d been exposed to was to work for a government-based forest entity. They didn’t know about the rewarding careers offered in corporate forestry. 

Other students wondered how they would pay for graduate school and were excited to hear about scholarship opportunities. 

Ebony is happy that students from underrepresented groups seem eager to learn about forestry. But she says it’s also important to create an inclusive environment, one that welcomes people from diverse backgrounds. 

An Inclusive Work Environment is Critical for Diversity in Forestry

In her time as a staffing consultant, Ebony saw many companies lose new hires due to less inclusive work cultures. 

She says this is an issue the forestry industry needs to continue working on too. Some of the young candidates she’s reached out to have decided not to pursue corporate forestry careers because of negative experiences in internships and entry-level positions.

“One young African-American woman I spoke with was second-guessed, overlooked and even faced comments about her hair,” Ebony says. “She vowed she would never go back into corporate forestry after that.” 

Ebony also met a young African-American man who worked in an entry-level position. While working by himself in the woods, he was intimidated by people driving by and yelling racial slurs at him. 

While she hasn’t been subject to this kind of work environment, Ebony says she has had to reassure family members that she is safe. 

Ebony’s grandmother was worried about her when Ebony toured a New England Forestry forest. Her grandmother grew up in the South where she was afraid to be alone in the woods due to racially-motivated violence. 

“I told her ‘It’s 2023,'” Ebony says. “But her fear from when she was younger, it still exists today. I didn’t have any fear in the woods–except for snakes. I felt hope in those woods. It’s not the same woods my grandmother knew.”

Hopes for an Industry-Wide Change

Ebony’s hope for the future is that forestry becomes more inclusive for all employees.

“I feel that New England Forestry is a leader in diversity and inclusion in forestry,” Ebony says. “I haven’t seen this effort elsewhere. I’m hopeful that in time–because this does take time–that we will see change industry-wide. I hope to be able to say, ‘Wow, there’s so much opportunity for younger, underrepresented communities to come into forestry, learn and make it even better.'” 

The post HR specialist opens doors to more diversity in forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

YULEE, Fla.—It wasn’t bad for first-timers: a group of about 50 New England Forestry support employees came together to plant thousands of trees in a matter of hours just down the road from New England Forestry’s corporate headquarters in Wildlight, Fla.

But the employees from fields such as human resources, IT, accounting and legal were shocked to find out that a single skilled professional planter can plant just as many trees—about 4,000— in a single day.

The team-building event, dubbed More Than Planting Day, was a great opportunity for field employees to educate coworkers about how our most important resource gets its start. New England Forestry plants more than 30 million trees annually to reforest our land.

“One of the most important activities we do in the forest’

“Of all the many activities we do in the forest, planting’s perhaps one of the most important,” said Coastal Resource Unit Leader Jeremy Flood, who leads a team of foresters in Northeast Florida. 

“When you see a log truck going down the road or you’re purchasing a piece of lumber at the store, that’s the result of a tree that was planted many decades ago. And the trees we’re planting today are going to be trees that we’re going to use, our children are going to use, and we’re just planting that resource for the future.”

It started with a lesson from the foresters

Foresters from New England Forestry’s Coastal Resource Unit team kicked off the event by explaining to their coworkers the basics of planting: how to dig a small hole, carefully place the seedling deep into the ground, and then firmly press the soil back over the roots. Then they demonstrated how to walk the correct distance from the seedling before planting the next one to ensure even spacing.

“Your job today is to plant these 8 acres,” announced Senior Resource Land Manager Ed Carter. He held a seedling up for the group to see and added, “This is out of our nursery in Elberta. This is a typical loblolly seedling.”

Trees we can call our own

In fact, not only were some of the seedlings grown for 6 to 7 months in our nursery in Elberta, Alabama, but also the seeds were harvested from pine cones in our seed orchard. In other words, these were definitely baby trees we could call our own! To learn more about how we control-pollinate our pinecones and collect their seeds, watch our video, “Breeding and Collecting Pinecones By the Truckload for Future Forests.” And you can take a virtual tour of our pine tree nursery here to watch how we grow 30 million seedlings a year.

Once they received instructions, the “trainees” paired up and chose bedded rows to plant their seedlings in. (The bedded rows of soil were prepared in advance to ensure better survival and growth of the young seedlings. You can learn more about that planting method in our article, Site Prep Essential for Southeastern Forestry.)

Quality time with coworkers

There was a lot of laughing as well as a lot of sweating and hard work as the team began planting. 

“There was a lot more to it than I expected,” said Brean Thompson, Senior Marketing Coordinator for the Wildlight community (a part of New England Forestry’s Taxable REIT subsidiary). “I didn’t realize that so much of our planting is done by hand rather than by machine.”

“It was hard work!” agreed Michael Noonan, New England Forestry’s manager of Timberland Investments. “The seedlings were smaller than I expected. I was expecting to see a 2-gallon tree or something, but we were out there with little containerized seedlings.”

Despite the seedlings’ small size, just inches in height, they should be taller than the people who planted them within 2 years.

In the years to come, New England Forestry employees will be able to return to the forest, which is close to A1A, a main thoroughfare in Nassau County, to see the progress of the trees they planted.

The Concept Originated with Our New Zealand Team

The idea for the event originated with New England Forestry’s New Zealand team, which invites guests by the 1000s to plant trees in some of the forests we manage there.

“We wanted to do it over here because they’ve had such success over there with team building and bringing everybody together through these events,” explained Senior Executive Assistant Alyssa Hightower, one of the event organizers. It lets [participants] see the forest from the beginning and become a little bit more invested in watching the company grow to its future success.”

A reminder of the role our industry plays in the world

Alyssa said the first annual U.S. event was a great success.

“I love building experiences for other people and that, in itself, is so integral to a successful culture, to a successful business because you need to know your people,” she said. “You need that face-to-face interaction and that’s what builds the community within New England Forestry. It’s also so important to have that actual connection with the forest, the core of our business.”

She said it was a powerful reminder of the important role our industry plays in the world:

“The forestry industry is vital to the world because when we plant new trees, these baby trees, they provide habitat for wildlife, they provide us clean air, they provide clean water, it just keeps going.”

And when the trees reach maturity—about 20 years from now—they will also support many jobs in our local economy as they become products.

“I grew up here, but until I actually came to New England Forestry, I never really understood how diverse forestry is, number one, but how many wood products in general are just in our everyday life. It’s important to see that we provide that resource sustainably and that we’re planting trees, we’re not just cutting them down.”

To learn more about the many products that come from trees—including lesser-known products that rely on our industry such as medicines, bath products, and even many health foods—check out our #ItStartsWithTrees series here.

Many More Planting Days to Come

With the successful event coming to a close, it was agreed more employee planting days would be arranged in the future. 

“New England Forestry has a great support staff,” Jeremy said. “When you talk to folks that work with us and support us in the field each day, they have a lot of energy around what we do. So, this was a great opportunity to get our team members in the field with us, to get their hands in the dirt and see what we do on a daily basis.”

While our support teams will have to wait a year for the next More than Planting Day, our professional planters will continue planting vigorously throughout the winter months in the U.S. and planting will resume in what the U.S. considers summertime months in New Zealand. (You can learn more about our professional planting operations across our ownership here).

New England Forestry has planted almost 1.5 billion trees since our inception, and we’ll continue adding to that number every year.

The post New England Forestry Support Employees Plant 4000 Trees at Planting Day appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Forestry companies own thousands and even millions of acres of forest land. Across New England Forestry, millions of acres span across the U.S. South, Pacific Northwest and New Zealand.

With so much forest land, how do forestry organizations go about accounting for all of the trees? And why is taking tree inventory important?

The answer is forest biometrics.

Forest biometrics is the measurement and analysis of data collected from specific measurements taken in the forest. Data such as tree diameter and height give forestry companies information that can be built and projected into the future. This is valuable, as it offers informed decision-making opportunities rather than working off of assumptions.

But how does a forestry company go about collecting and analyzing such data? That’s where a Forest Biometrician comes in.

What is a Forest Biometrician?

In simple terms, a Forest Biometrician is someone who collects and analyzes data about the trees to help sustainable forest companies, such as New England Forestry, make well-informed business decisions. This little-known position is crucial to the success of the forestry industry. By utilizing statistics, data analysis and modeling, Forest Biometricians are among the most valuable assets to a forestry organization.

Here, we take a closer look at what a Forest Biometrician does and how you can become one:

What does a Forest Biometrician do?

In the forestry industry, it is vital for companies to accurately estimate the trees, also known as inventory, growing in the forest. Numbers and data all influence the management performed by forestry organizations. High-quality data is useful because it helps the company better understand its value and is essential to growing a sustainable forest resource.

Forest Biometricians are responsible for estimating what is growing in the forest and then using that information to create models predicting how they will continue to grow in the future.

Growth and yield models use the data and measurements taken by Forest Biometricians. These models are then used as a tool within forestry companies like New England Forestry to make decisions. These decisions include determining silviculture application needs, financial decisions, and developing optimal timber harvest schedules.

“We can’t go out there and measure every tree, so what we do is we measure a subset of those trees,” explains Research Biometrician Stephanie Patton.

New England Forestry’s Forest Biometricians, working closely with our Forest Inventory team, allocate a set of plots within a forest that will be used to measure and estimate inventory. For example, if Stephanie’s team is working on a 30-acre stand, they will place about 10 small circle plots to observe and measure. They gather diameter, height and tree quality information. (You can watch video examples of how these measurements are taken in our article, “Why Do Foresters Cruise Timber?”).

The data collected is imported into the company software and grown into the future with the growth and yield models. By utilizing statistics and data to predict trees’ growth over time, the work that a Forest Biometrician does impacts every facet of the forestry industry.

“Our work allows us to plan for the long-term because we want to make sure that we have forests here in the future,” says Stephanie. “As a Forest Biometrician, I can feel the value I offer New England Forestry. Ultimately, the value of the company comes down to inventory and biometrics. You can definitely see the impact you have in this position.”

What types of tools does a Forest Biometrician use? 

Most Forest Biometricians spend the majority of their day at a computer working in statistical software, such as R, Python, and SAS. But on occasion, they will venture out into the woods to take necessary measurements to continue building out the growth and yield models.

In forestry, diameter is measured at breast height, which is 4.5 feet from the ground. “This is convenient,” explains Stephanie, “because you can just walk up to a tree, wrap your arms around it and take your measurement with a diameter tape. Most of our equations are based on the diameter of the trees.”

Aside from measuring for diameter, Forest Biometricians carry simple tools to help them gather additional information they need from the forest.

For height, a hypsometer, clinometer, or relascop may be used. These small, handheld tools use gravity and angles to accurately measure a tree’s height. The hypsometer is the most widely-used amongst Forest Biometricians, as it uses a laser to give the distance to the tree and quickly calculates the height.

To determine which trees to measure in a variable radius plot, a prism will be used. Prisms are a wedge of glass that refracts light. It distorts the image of a tree trunk to determine whether a tree is within the plot or not. Forest Biometricians also use this tool to count the trees, which helps them quickly calculate a plot’s basal area, the cross-sectional area of the trees. 

Additional tools include a tablet to record numbers directly into New England Forestry’s software; pin flags for marking; protective gear such as hard hats, vests, and snake chops; as well as cell phones for data recording.

As technology is rapidly evolving, new tools are always on the horizon. 

“The next thing, I believe, is the integration of new technologies,” says Stephanie. “LiDAR and drones, if used well, can be great resources for us in our career.”

How do you become a Forest Biometrician?

To become a Forest Biometrician, you will need at least a master’s degree and a strong foundation in statistics and forest growth and yield models. A forestry degree isn’t required but can be helpful.

“There are lots of careers for both [master’s and PhD-level degrees],” Stephanie says. “If you’re interested in biometrics there are great master’s programs that can really get you into more of the details of what goes on in the growth and yield models and could really prepare you for that career.”

In addition, an understanding of the forest you are working in is a must. Silviculture and forest management are tightly intertwined into the growth and yield models. Aside from working with numbers, knowledge of the trees, soil types, and harvest schedules are among the topics Forest Biometricians consider on a daily basis.

What skills are needed to be a Forest Biometrician?

Being able to think holistically is a necessary skill for someone considering Forest Biometrics. 

“We aren’t just thinking about and working with numbers,” explains Stephanie. “We also have to consider all of the other factors affecting the forest, such as the history of the stand, what types of trees are growing and what makes them grow well.”

In addition, good teamwork and communication skills are required. Most Forest Biometricians work in teams and must communicate what the numbers mean. Speaking with land managers and timber marketing departments is common. In this position, you may find yourself working with different types of people across the business, as well as outside of the business. Working directly with research co-ops and engaging with students is a common occurrence.

“It’s a good position because we are in very high demand,” explains Stephanie. “As many biometricians are beginning to retire, we need people to join this field. Ultimately, the value of the company comes down to inventory and biometrics. You really can see the impact you make.”

The post What does a Forest Biometrician do? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Working forests are healthy and vibrant not due to luck or chance but rather because of a growing body of scientific knowledge that supports thriving pine trees, clean watersheds and diverse plant and animal species on active forestlands.

For 75 years, New England Forestry has invested in its in-house Forest Research Center, where scientists have studied trees and forests down to the genetic level. The Center is one of only two industry-led research teams in the country.

“There’s been a lot of improvement to forestry as we’ve learned more about biology and that’s really where the team comes in,” says Trevor Host, Research & Development Coordinator at the Research Center. “We take what we’ve learned from experiments and make that operational. We still have research notes from the ’70s that we reference today.”

The Three Roles of New England Forestry’s Forest Researchers

As the team has grown, it has taken on three key roles: 

1) Breed and test tree families for the best growth and quality

2) Research all aspects of forest management and put the results into action throughout the company

3) Enforce sustainability certification standards, including record-keeping and staff training

The team, which works out of our office in Yulee and in various New England Forestry offices across the U.S., collaborates with university scientists on cooperative efforts: New England Forestry provides the land, labor, and other resources for large-scale research projects that scientists from industry and academia work on together. 

But team members also create their own research projects in response to questions that come up within the company, usually from front-line forest managers who need help with specific challenges. 

Three team members share their experiences working at the Forest Research Center: 

Kirk McEachern—Senior Manager, Forest Productivity & Sustainability Group 

Kirk’s knowledge of forest health is literally deeply rooted–he studied soil science in college and graduate school before starting his career as a soil cartographer, in which he mapped soil types and distribution for local, state and federal government projects. 

Kirk says it wasn’t long before he “morphed” and started working on trees in the forestry industry, where he’s been for 27 years. He has worked on everything—hybrid poplars, hardwoods, yellow pines—and brings decades of experience to his role as manager of the Forest Productivity and Sustainability Group.

His main role is to support front-line foresters and other decision-makers throughout the company on all aspects of forest management. For example, if a forester has a problem with disease in a stand of pine trees, Kirk and his team provide current scientific insights to help guide decisions.

Kirk also oversees environmental compliance efforts, including the company’s voluntary commitment to its Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management certification. Kirk trains employees on compliance and record-keeping requirements in an effort to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat and at-risk species. SFI’s stringent requirements are independently audited and require meticulous documentation.

This breadth of responsibilities has been rewarding for Kirk, who says New England Forestry has given him the opportunity to grow in his career. He hopes to pass his knowledge on to the incoming generation of scientists.

“I very much enjoy sharing what we have collectively learned and understand about forest management to those just starting their careers,” Kirk says. “The industry generally is experiencing a lot of change in age distribution and New England Forestry is no different. The challenge is to codify and not lose what we have learned over the previous 75 years.”

April Meeks—Tree Improvement Scientist, Research & Development Coordinator

A relative newcomer to the Forest Research Center, April Meeks describes herself as a “forestry nerd.” She earned this title with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s in forestry. Now, April is finishing her doctorate in forest genetics with dissertation work in progress as part of her role at New England Forestry.

“My favorite thing about studying forestry is being able to learn about how a tree grows,” she says.

As a Tree Improvement Scientist, April tests tree families to determine those with the best potential for healthy growth. She says it’s rewarding to be part of New England Forestry’s reforestation process and she looks forward to watching the seedlings grow to be big, healthy trees.

April also designs research projects to address specific challenges facing New England Forestry foresters.

“My favorite project that I’ve worked on so far is a project with a disease affecting our trees called pitch canker,” she says. “We artificially inoculated some of our families for the disease. The project is part of my Ph.D. work and I got to practice some analytical techniques for processing the data, which I had only done in courses at school. For the first time, I was working with my own data and processing the results on my own.”

Trevor Host—Research & Development Coordinator for Remote Sensing

Filling a brand-new role at the company, Trevor’s specialty is remote sensing, relying on aerial imagery, satellites, drones, and other emerging technologies to map and monitor forests.

He studied environmental science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by a master’s in natural resources at the University of Minnesota, where he focused on forestry.

“I was interested in the technology side of it. There’s just different ways you can use modern technology to aid how folks have traditionally done forestry for many decades,” Trevor says. “And I learned about what you could do in these roles. It’s a good blend of technology as well as being out in the woods, being in a more natural environment, and being a steward of the land, just managing it to make a better world for everybody.”

Trevor is working on a new LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data project in which laser scanners mounted on aircraft are flown over New England Forestry forests to collect 3D imagery, providing highly detailed terrain maps for forest managers. 

“We can see the elevation of the ground underneath the forests which is new and very useful,” Trevor says. “You can tell where the water flows and where the streams are in our land base which is really important. Then we have a 3D map of the forest too. It’s useful for mapping tree heights.”

Trevor is excited to see how this data supports the company’s forest management efforts and looks forward to emerging technologies. 

“As new things develop we have different and unique needs,” says Trevor.  “We need to be able to grow into those new avenues as technology gets better.” 

The future of the Forest Research Center

Though the group’s founders didn’t foresee the high-tech mapping technologies or sustainability standards that have become part of forestry, the Center has adapted beautifully to these changes. That’s because the Forest Research Center is, at its core, a scientific endeavor. As science itself is never a finished product, the need for innovation and rigorous research in forestry will continue into the next era of management. 

And as for the future, Kirk, the manager of the FPS group, says that front-line foresters will continue to need new research into genetics and forest management practices. In-house research is more valuable than ever. 

He and his team are excited to see what the next era of forestry research brings!

The post New England Forestry Scientists Bring Deep Knowledge to Forest Management appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Sustainable forestry companies like New England Forestry only log a small fraction of the trees we own every year. We typically replant baby seedlings within one to two years of a harvest, ensuring we will continuously have a supply of wood to meet the world’s needs.

With millions of acres of forests in our care, even a small fraction of our property requires a lot of logging support. In fact, we measure our annual yield of logs by the millions of tons!

Instead of having our own loggers within the New England Forestry team, we primarily work with small, locally-owned logging businesses across the U.S. and New Zealand to harvest the timber and deliver it to mills. The mills then process the logs into everyday products like lumber, paper goods and cellulose pulp, which is in 1000s of everyday products such as medicines, paints and even touchscreens.

What types of careers are there in the logging industry?

What is a typical day like for a logger? It sounds like a simple enough question, but there are many different types of loggers. Some work all day on heavy equipment while others work on foot. Some work for themselves driving a log truck while others manage a whole team of employees.

Here’s an overview of some of the key careers available in the logging industry:

Heavy equipment operators in logging

Heavy equipment operators spend most of their time operating the machinery they work best with in the forest. These days, most cabs are air conditioned and the majority of tasks can be done with joysticks and levers.

Feller Buncher Operator

On a harvest operation, a feller buncher operator uses his machine to fell the trees. 

“The feller buncher has got a big wheel on it with teeth on it, and it’s spinning at like 3,500 RPMs,” explains Chuck Owens, an operator with Wiliston Timber out of Wiliston, Florida. “When you go up to the tree, it just cuts it off basically like a big chainsaw. And you grab a hold of it and walk wherever you want to put it and throw it down.”

When it comes to smaller trees, the buncher can actually hold several trees at once, moving with them still vertical until several are “bunched” together, then dropping them in a pile.

A feller buncher operator is an especially important decision-maker on a thinning operation, in which only smaller and less desirable trees are cut down. The operator will decide which trees to take, and which to leave — it’s important he or she chooses the right logs. Leaving behind sickly trees will only hurt the growing ability of the best-growing, healthy trees around them. And taking away a healthy tree too soon would be a major loss in income for the landowner that would like to grow it to its full potential.

The feller buncher operator fells the trees in piles and leaves them behind for a skidder operator to attend to next. As with all logging careers, safety is most important. The feller buncher operator must look out for the safety of everyone else on the site when deciding where to fell trees that may be well over 100 feet tall.

On steep slopes, a winch assist machine may also be used to allow a feller buncher to safely operate, as explained in our article, Winch-assisted Logging boosts safety on steep terrain.

Skidder Operator

A skidder operator plays many roles throughout the lifecycle of the forest. In fact, we use a skidder with a different attachment in our site prep operations as we prepare to replant. They can also be used in road building. During a logging operation, a skidder is able to move between rows of trees and move one or more logs at a time, bringing them to an open area where a loader operator will sort and prep them for log trucks.

Skidders come with many different types of attachments used in logging. A log grapple, cable winch, crane boom and other accessories may be used to grasp and hold on to logs as the skidder drags them out of the forest. Different types of skidders are designed to handle different terrain: some have rubber tires, while others operate on tracks that can handle slopes and looser soils.

“We purchased a six-wheel-drive skidder from Tigercat years ago and I brought that to the attention of a couple landowners,” says Roger Smith, who owns R.L. Smith Logging in Elma, Washington. “The skidder, outfitted with tracks, can cover a larger area of land without damaging the soil bed and causing erosion the way a more traditional skidder would.”

Loader Operator

During a harvest operation, the loader operator may process more than 1000 trees in a single day. A skilled loader operator is incredibly important, as this individual will make decisions about how to cut and market a log in a matter of seconds. Large, high quality logs will be prepared to be delivered to mills that make large items like lumber and utility poles. Lower quality logs will be prepared for mills that will process them into mulch or pulp.

Loader operator Leroy Frazier, also of Williston Timber, explains: “They can pick up the log, swing it round. If there are vines, you can twist the vines out, throw them away.”

Leroy also operates a saw from the cab of the loader. Through a series of buttons, he can place the log where he wants to cut it, then use another button to lower the saw onto the log. Loader operators may have other tools at their disposal, such as a “delimber,” which removes the branches from a log, or a “debarker,” which clears off some of the bark.

He sorts the prepared logs by product type because different products will be delivered to different customers. Finally, he loads the logs onto log trucks, ensuring they are securely in place and ready for transport to the mills.

How do you become a heavy equipment operator in logging?

To become a heavy equipment operator, you will typically need to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma and sometimes a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Many logging contractors offer on-the-job training to potential equipment operators. Some vocational schools also offer training to become a heavy equipment operator in the logging industry.

Skills needed to operate logging machinery include an acute level of care when it comes to the safety of yourself and others on the job site, attention to detail and flexibility. For example, you may be asked to work on a different machine or to assist with fixing equipment depending on what happens during the course of the day. It’s also important to be able to make decisions quickly and have the physical stamina and strength to operate large machines on often rough terrain.

Steep Slope Logging Careers

Chainsaw Operator

There are different challenges when it comes to logging on steep slopes. As explained above, a winch assist machine can sometimes be used to allow a logger to work from the safety of the cab of a feller buncher. Other times, loggers have to work on foot, using chainsaws to fell trees. Chainsaw operators must go through thorough training in using, safely operating and maintaining their chainsaws. This training may be provided on the job.

Yarder Operator

If the ground is too steep for a skidder, a cable system is used to move the logs uphill to a landing area, also called a “yarding” area. This technique has improved logger safety and prevents erosion and sedimentation into waterways.

This popular method for moving logs off steep slopes has many names: tower logging, skyline logging, cable logging and cable yarding are among the most-used, as we explain in our article, How tower logging works. 

A yarder operator runs the cable system, also known as a yarder, through hand and foot controls. This operator works within the cab of the yarder at the landing above the logging operation. Safety again is the priority: lifting massive logs off the ground and transporting them in the air above a mountain is no small undertaking!

In addition to having the skills to communicate with the crew on the ground throughout the day, a yarder operator may need to know how to troubleshoot if the machinery breaks down.

Choker Setter

How do the logs get attached to the cable? Loggers called “choker setters” attach the logs to a choker (or babbitt), which is a separate, vertical cable that hangs from the carriage that moves up and down the horizontal cable. It secures the logs with an interlocking mechanism called a bell and knob. (The bell-shaped side is like a keyhole, while the knob is like a key).

Ed Bryant, owner of ENB Logging in Chehalis, Washingtron, refers to choker setters as “the guys out in the brush who make things happen.” In addition to choker setter, they have also traditionally been called rigging slingers and rigging men

Hook Tender

A hook tender is the person in charge on a steep slope logging operation. This position supervises and coordinates the work on the site, including overseeing the setup and management of the cable system and the work done on the ground by the crew. A hook tender must have a thorough understanding of all that goes on in a logging operation and be able to communicate safely guidelines as well as expectations with the crew.

How do you become a steep slope logger?

Steep slope loggers typically need a high school degree or equivalent. Sometimes CDLs are also needed. On-the-job training is typically offered, and at times training courses are also available through local logging and forestry organizations. Some vocational schools also offer training relating to the logging industry.

Skills needed to be a steep slope logger mirror those listed above for heavy equipment operators: a deep sense of dedication to safety for yourself and others, attention to detail, flexibility, physical stamina and the ability to make decisions quickly.

Log Truck Driving Careers

Log truck drivers may either own their own truck and operate their own business out of that truck, they may work for a mill, or they may work for a company that owns multiple log trucks. A business may specialize solely in log trucks, or it may do logging operations across the board.

A log truck driver will drive to a forest site to pick up a load of logs. This may involve driving into the woods to the area where the loader has loaded the log trailer. In other cases, the trailer may be driven to a pickup site closer to the road, where the log truck driver will then pick it up and transport it to the mill.

A log truck driver always inspects the trailer to ensure all logs are secure and that the trailer will be safe on roadways before getting on the road. Some loose branches may need to be trimmed, and flags may need to be added to some of the logs at the back of the trailer to ensure other drivers don’t get too close.

A log truck driver will need to be knowledgeable about driving regulations for log trucks. Certain roads may not be accessible to log trucks, such as busy streets or major highways. 

Once the log truck driver travels to the mill or other customer, he or she will wait in a line of other log trucks to be weighed on the mill’s scale. Many loggers start their day very early to reduce the amount of time they will have to wait at the mill. Once the logs are weighed, the driver will receive a ticket confirming the weight of the logs, which will determine what will be paid for them. Then the logs are removed from the trailer.

How do you become a log truck driver?

A log truck driver needs to have a high school diploma or equivalent as well as a CDL. Typically, drivers will need to have several years of experience driving heavy trucks before they can qualify to drive a log truck. After that, many companies will provide additional on-the-job training if they hire you to drive a log truck for them.  Some vocational schools also offer log truck driving programs.

Skills a log truck driver needs to have include an ability to map and plan routes as well as logistics in picking up and delivering logs. A log truck driver will have to be aware of road closures, weather hazards and other conditions that could impact a day’s work. A log truck driver needs to have a good understanding of driving safety including defensive driving and must have the stamina for what are sometimes long waits in the vehicle at the mill.

Logging Company Owner Careers

Logging company owners may have just a few employees or a large team with a fleet of trucks and equipment. They may operate equipment themselves, or they may strictly manage their company. Many logging company owners inherit their business after first working in lower level positions within the company. These businesses often pass through families for generations.

While not required, it is helpful to take at least some business courses in order to start and manage a logging company. In addition, a vast knowledge of logging laws and regulations, safety guidelines, and general best practices is critical.

It’s also important to know how to find and hire good employees.

“I think a lot of the older guys have a lot of pride in what they do, myself included,” says Roger of R.L. Smith Logging. “When we’re hiring younger guys,what we try to instill in them is have pride in your job. Also, I like to hire guys that have a smile on their face and they enjoy their job. That means all the difference in the world on good production.”

The post What does a logger do? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Forestry is often compared to farming, just on a longer rotation. And for Forester and Resource Land Manager Wes Yeomans, working as a “tree farmer” is the ultimate dream job.

“I started with New England Forestry in March of 2016 when a former employee called me up. He said that the company was bringing back their technical forester program, and asked if I would be interested. The job consisted of timber sale line painting, as well as harvest and inventory cruising. He said I’d meet all of the local loggers, learn site prep and get a well-rounded experience.”

Wes took the job and was later promoted within New England Forestry, ultimately landing him in the role he is in today.

“At the beginning of 2022, I took a new role as Resource Land Manager. I moved from the timber marketing side into the silviculture land management side. I now oversee everything that is not timber harvesting: road work, chemical applications, planting, site prep, and fertilization applications. If it’s not actual harvesting, it’s on my to-do list.”

A natural outdoorsman made forester

Having grown up in the outdoors, Wes found forestry to be the obvious career choice. And in fact, he chose it based on his personal experience with New England Forestry.

“As a kid, I spent a lot of time hunting and fishing with my dad. I always knew I wanted to go into a profession that allowed me to be outdoors. While in high school, I took several agricultural classes and one focused on timber management. I learned a lot about the industry and even visited a New England Forestry Demo Forest.”

It was Wes’s senior year of high school. New England Forestry hosted his class at a demonstration forest in Wayne County, Georgia. By the end of the field trip, Wes knew he wanted to learn more about becoming a forester.

“New England Forestry employees shared about different planting density studies. I remember one of them asking the class a question about tree density and why they would plant in such a way. I raised my hand—a 17-year-old kid that didn’t know anything—but I spoke up anyway. I answered, ‘The same volume but different size trees gives you different types of end products.’ At that time, I didn’t know much about forestry, but getting a first-hand look at what they do, how they do it, and why they make the decisions they make really piqued my interest.”

While in high school, Wes was tasked with completing a dendrology notebook focusing on the scientific study of trees.

“With everything we were learning, my friends and I would quiz each other on the different types of trees. I was always wanting to know what was around me.”

Wes graduated from high school in 2008 and was accepted into the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, known as ABAC, in Tifton, Georgia. In 2013, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a focus in Forestry Management and Natural Resource Conservation.

“ABAC gave me a solid foundation for my forestry career. We did a lot of hands-on learning. I really believe that helped set me up for success for the job I’m in today.”

A day in the life of New England Forestry forester, Wes Yeomans

In this series of photos, we followed Wes for a day to learn more about the work he and his team do while prepping a site for future forests. Each morning he begins his day in the office.

“I start my day at the office checking my calendar and email. I’m looking to see if I have any active site prep contractors out in the field. If I do, I make a plan for what they can be working on. From there, I set out to go check on them.”

Although he starts his day with a plan, Wes must always prepare for the unexpected.

“It’s tough to share a typical day on the job because my day-to-day can be so unpredictable. I’ll start my day with a list of to-dos, but things almost always change.

“For example, I have plans to go check on my site prep contractors. I get a phone call from a logger harvesting out in the forest. He says, ‘Hey, I’m harvesting timber at so-and-so road, and the log truck driver just called me. The culvert has given way in the middle of the road and my guys can’t get in and out safely. We need this fixed!’ And so, my plans will change. I can’t go check on my site prep contractor anymore because we are faced with safety and production issues. My job now is to get down there, check on the culvert, stop the loggers from coming in and out, and call a contractor to come to dig and fix the culvert. It’s my job to make sure we can get back on schedule.

“But that’s what I like the most about my job: you don’t know what the day is going to hold. It makes it exciting.”

Next, Wes heads out to check on active site prep contractors

When he heads out to the field, Wes is monitoring all aspects of the forest. The job is all-encompassing and requires him to multitask.

“If I have active contractors, I’ll head out to a working site to check on them and to see how things are going. I also make sure they have and are using all of their safety equipment.

“From there, I always have in my head what’s coming next. In my area, if they are working on a [tree farm site], conditions have to be just right. Soil moisture can’t be too wet or too dry. I check on those blocks and report back to the contractor’s manager on how things are going.

“After I check on them, I might head out to look at any road work going on. Do they need to be graded? Are we moving wood out of here? Do we have future plans to move wood? How are the roads holding up? If there’s a big hole, do we need to fill it with some rock and dirt? I’m continuously checking on multiple things while I’m out.

“And, if I’m lucky, I might get to eat lunch during the day,” he jokes.

Now onto mechanical site prep management

While out in the field, Wes watches over his contractors as they shear the ground, preparing it for a future planting season. They use a big ‘V’ blade, also known as a shear, on the front of the bulldozer to clear the land of debris and stumps.

“One of my responsibilities is determining which blocks require shearing. Some blocks of land need it, while others do not. If an area needs clearing, I’ll map it out and hand it off to my contractors. That’s the art and science of my job.”

The shear is placed flush with the ground and moves downward. It has teeth to cut straight through large stumps, just like a knife cutting through butter. After a shear pass, a bedding plow is pulled directly behind the bulldozer to create lanes of dirt for the future planting of New England Forestry forests.

“We have specified guidelines for how wide each shear lane needs to be. These guidelines need to be followed because the width of the shear lanes will directly affect our planting densities when we plant seedlings in the winter. I ensure the contractor is establishing rows with widths that are within those guidelines.”

With shearing complete, Wes measures and reviews the plantable ground

Using a yellow diameter tape, Wes works through each shear lane to measure for width accuracy.

“That’s how we calculate trees per acre. Knowing the width of the beds helps us know how to space the trees. It’s all about spacing.”

Planting season spans from November to February each year. Seedlings are planted based on a set number of trees per acre, also known as “tree density”.

“New England Forestry conducts density studies over time. Through this research, they have determined what percentage of tree coverage is best. We plant based on those set standardized tree per acre numbers, and manage them off of our growth and yield models. From there, we decide when to thin stands, which allows the trees more room to grow if needed.

“I love how what I do now ties back to the field trip at the New England Forestry Demo Forest all those years ago. My work revolves around density, the very thing the New England Forestry employee was asking our high school class about. It’s all come full-circle for me.”

Before heading back to the office, Wes flies a drone to check site prep completion

Accurate acreage calculation is important because most site prep contractors are paid on a per-acre rate. It is Wes’ responsibility to ensure acreage is accounted for after an area is prepped.

“If we send a contractor a 100-acre site prep area, and they only prep 95 of those acres, we need that information so we pay them correctly. We also need to know an accurate acreage estimation of that particular stand moving forward.”

That is one way foresters use drones.

Wes received his drone pilot’s license about 4 years ago. Drones are handy, especially when areas are swampy or inaccessible.

“As soon as a contractor has completed mechanical site prep, I need to ensure that all of the acreages were treated correctly and that no spots were missed.

“The drone software that we use automatically flies the area based on the parameters we set. During the flight, the drone takes pictures in a grid-like pattern of the entire area. When I get back to the office, the imagery is uploaded and processed. The software company then stitches the images together to give us a real-time aerial view of the land. I load them into our internal network where I can view the images in closer detail.”

The imagery from the drone gives Wes a clear picture of the contractor’s work on the assigned land.

“Sometimes the contractors aren’t able to work in every area because of wet ground conditions. They miss areas or sometimes work more acreage than predicted. While examining, I can overlay the imagery within our internal software system to reshape the area based on what was actually treated. This is how I get an accurate acreage estimation.

“Also, I’m a pilot!” he jokingly adds.

The post A Day in the Life of a Forester, Spotlight: Wes Yeomans (Georgia, USA) appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

In 1972, a handful of hunters in Nassau County, Florida asked New England Forestry for exclusive access to hunt a parcel of its land, where there were growing numbers of deer, turkeys, and quail.

Wildlife populations that had declined because of habitat loss at the turn of the century were starting to make a comeback in New England Forestry’s pine forests, planted in the 1930s. New England Forestry was already leasing some of its lands to the state for public recreation, but these hunters wanted a place where they could get away from the crowds and competition for wild game.

New England Forestry accepted the group’s offer, launching a hunting business that today has more than 23,000 customers hunting on about 2 million acres of active timberlands throughout the U.S.

Mike Edwards, a lifelong Florida resident and 34-year veteran of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, says he saw positive changes for the land and wildlife as New England Forestry began working directly with hunters. He was a game warden assigned to New England Forestry land for 27 years of his career. When it was open for public recreation, it was tough to enforce regulations.

Because the property was not gated and few officers were assigned to the area, people dumped household garbage, stole expensive forestry equipment, and even poached wildlife. But as New England Forestry started granting exclusive access to hunters, Mike saw less criminal activity on the land and improvements in wildlife numbers.

In contrast to the public areas, the hunters who paid for access took a management approach to the land, setting limits on the animals they harvested. Mike says the result was “a tremendous increase in whitetail deer and turkeys, which gave a sense of ownership to the hunters because their actions actually improved numbers.”

The initial group of hunters in Nassau formed a hunting club that has maintained its relationship with the company to this day. Their children and grandchildren are now members and the group’s stewardship ethics have grown even stronger over the past 50 years.

For New England Forestry’s part, hunters all over the U.S. have become crucial partners serving as the company’s eyes and ears on the land, helping to protect its assets. As one member of the land resources team, which manages the hunting program, says, New England Forestry and its hunting customers have a “symbiotic relationship” not unlike those between many wild species in the forest.

Hunters are the company’s first line of defense

With more than 2 million acres of forest land in the U.S., the company has an extensive land base to monitor. New England Forestry Resource Unit Leader Jeremy Flood says hunting customers quickly report issues like road and bridge washouts, bug damage to pine trees, and trespassers.

Because hunters are paying for access, they expect to be able to navigate the land efficiently and safely. They want the habitat to remain healthy enough to support wildlife populations. And they want to report potential poachers and deter them from returning. Jeremy says this is great for his team, as it helps them act swiftly to protect New England Forestry’s valuable assets.

While forestry operations teams and contractors are on the land during working hours, hunters spend early mornings, evenings, and weekends hunting the properties, creating a 24/7 presence.

“It’s really neat to see that our hunting customers create a first line of defense for the land base on a whole host of issues,” says New England Forestry’s Senior Manager of Business Development Matt Gelston. “We have been able to successfully fight wildfires early. When we have an incident like a major theft or commercial dumping, we can interview hunting customers, retrieve game camera photos and piece together a fact pattern to prosecute criminal cases.”

Recently, a hunting club member in Washington State was camping out on New England Forestry land when he spotted a trespasser trying to steal cedar early one morning. The hunter quickly contacted a New England Forestry team member and the suspect is now facing felony charges.

Hunting New England Forestry land is a generational legacy for outdoor families

While isolated trespass events do happen, Mike Edwards (the Florida game warden who was around during the early days of the hunting business) says it is much less common than on open-access public land. Now retired, he serves as president of his New England Forestry hunt club.

Mike says it has been the perfect place to teach his kids to hunt in a safe and controlled environment. It’s also given them a spot to spend time outdoors, away from the crowds on public land. Outside of hunting season, kids in his club scout the property for wildlife, go fishing in its creeks, and help maintain food plots. He says there is always something to be done in terms of management, which gives families a chance to enjoy the outdoors together, making memories that will last a lifetime.

“I don’t even know how much it’s meant to me that I could bring my kids and teach them to walk and hunt the ground where my dad killed his first turkey,” Mike says.

Clyde Davis, another hunting customer and member of Mike Edwards’ hunt club, has cherished the time spent hunting New England Forestry land, where his father and grandfather hunted and he later taught his own children to hunt. Last year, he and his son-in-law took one of the biggest bucks harvested by the hunt club.

“It’s good connectivity with my daughter and son-in-law to have this experience,” Clyde said. Together, they processed the deer and tried methods of cooking that were new to Clyde. Though his parents and grandparents cooked wild game, he says his son-in-law is a “foodie” and more sophisticated in his culinary style. “They’re teaching me about brining and preparation that I didn’t grow up learning. It’s a generational experience in reverse because I’m learning from my kids too,” he said.

Clyde, whose father worked for New England Forestry, has an appreciation for the benefits New England Forestry’s forestry operations give to hunters.

“In biology and game management, there is something called the ‘edge effect,’ he explains. “When New England Forestry comes in and harvests a tract with timber, it creates an edge between the harvested tract and adjoining tracts. That edge between the two and the exposure of the ground to sunlight creates a smorgasbord of food for wild game.”

“Hunting clubs get the benefit of the environment that New England Forestry has created.”

New England Forestry’s core values promote healthy hunting culture

Clyde, Mike, and others are proud of the ties they’ve strengthened with the land. This legacy began with previous generations, but these hunters know that if they want future generations to benefit, they must focus on core values that promote a healthy relationship between their clubs and New England Forestry, as well as with the land itself.

When Mike’s hunt club has an opening for new members, he interviews applicants to ensure their values are aligned. He only extends invitations to hunters with responsible outdoor ethics and a sense of stewardship.

Clyde says he appreciates New England Forestry’s emphasis on safety, outlined in its Hunting Code of Conduct:

“New England Forestry has been very active in establishing the safe practices that they require of hunting clubs.

For example, New England Forestry encourages the use of sign-in boards in which members pick specific areas within a parcel of land that they will hunt on a particular day. This communication tool, he says, prevents hunters from putting one another at risk in the woods and allows the club to make sure everyone makes it out of the woods at the end of the day. The company also has guidelines for deer stand and feeder placement to ensure a safer hunting environment.

When he was club president, Clyde suspended members for violating safety rules and says New England Forestry’s Code of Conduct helped hold members accountable.

Building for future generations

In the 50 years since the hunting business began, New England Forestry and hunters have built a strong relationship, based on a mutual appreciation for the abundant natural resources in New England Forestry’s forests.

“It’s a partnership with our customers, to manage the land,” says Rob Fancher, Director of Land Resources and Development. “It’s a huge business, over 2 million acres. Our team can’t do it by ourselves. It takes forestry operations, the Land Resources team and our hunting and rec customers to do it all.”

While many properties are booked year after year by the same hunt clubs, there are some properties available for new groups. If the past is any indication of the future, we expect to see more hunters and their families enjoying the outdoors together, enjoying all that New England Forestry land has to offer and helping to protect its forests.

To learn more about the hunting and recreation program, visit New England Forestryhunting.com.

The post New England Forestry and Hunters Work Together for Healthy Forests appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Did you know pollinators like bees and butterflies thrive in industrial working forests? In fact, beekeepers utilize New England Forestry lands to nourish and grow their hives in this excellent habitat for pollinators.

How do we protect the native plants and pollinators that call our forests home? Here we share how New England Forestry supports and coexists with even its tiniest residents: the pollinators.

Believe it or not, it starts with harvesting.

How New England Forestry Provides An Excellent Habitat for Pollinators

New England Forestry believes that healthy forests are critical to all living things. The way we manage our land gives a variety of forest ages the opportunity to grow and flourish the way Mother Nature intended.

Lands owned by New England Forestry are stratified by timber type. The result is an inventory system that provides New England Forestry with a method to sustainably harvest its landholdings. This means that we harvest rotationally, only cutting small areas of timber that are within a certain age class.

“We are very strategic with how we harvest our timber,” explains Sustainability Manager Ben Cazell. “We don’t want to start at one end of the forest and cut until we get to the other end and start over. Our goal is sustainability. We limit how much harvesting we do in one place due to the age of the trees. Since New England Forestry has been doing this for close to 100 years, what we have developed is a mosaic or patchwork-style harvesting schedule. It’s a big conglomeration, a mixed up puzzle, of different ages.”

Thanks to the patchwork-style harvesting schedule, when a section of timber is harvested, sunlight can reach the forest’s understory. Here, seeds of native flowering plants have been lying dormant in the soil, ready to germinate. The result ultimately creates an abundance of flowering plants, shrubs, and vines, all of which produce pollen that pollinators are attracted to.

“I’ve seen a multitude of flowering herbaceous plants, ferns, shrubs, and vines such as climbing jasmine. All of this starts to take over after a timber harvest,” Ben says. 

New England Forestry replants harvested areas within one to two years and most floral understory growth is present for about 5 to 6 years. About halfway through the trees’ lifetime, as the forest becomes more dense, thinning some of the trees helps to keep the forest healthy. The thinning again allows sunlight to reach the forest floor, which results in a re-emergence of the floral understory plants and shrubs. Foliage is naturally distributed, allowing pollinators acres upon acres of flowering resources. In these efforts, we maintain a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem that serves all residents, including pollinators. 

“I’m certain that, from an ecological balance scenario, all of these flora and fauna are required,” Ben explains. “As soon as you displace something, that balance runs into jeopardy. Are pollinators important to New England Forestry? Most certainly, yes!”  

There are also portions of the land—about a third of New England Forestry’s overall ownership in the U.S.—that the company does not actively manage for timber operations, but rather protects them because of wetlands or waterways. New England Forestry also strictly follows each state’s Best Management Practices, or BMPs, which are guidelines to ensure forestry and harvest activities do not impact nearby waters.

The Beekeeper’s Perspective

Our land is so pollinator-friendly that we have a beekeeping business that has allowed beekeepers to keep their hives on our property for more than 60 years.

We work with hobbyists, small honey business owners and industrial honey producers, explains Barlow Smith, New England Forestry’s Hunting & Recreation Sales and Marketing Manager, who manages the business.

“Some of the larger beekeepers we work with will chase the honey flow from one region to the next in the spring and summer,” he explains. “In the winter, they would have to store and feed their bees indoors if they stayed up north. So it helps them financially to instead put them on our land in the south.”

The Non-Timber Income Resource Division at New England Forestry is responsible for overseeing the licensing of land to beekeepers. They work to better understand the individual beekeeper’s business model and any goals they might have. New England Forestry then assists them in placing their hives in a location that will allow the bees to thrive.

According to Ken Rester, Manager of Business Development, New England Forestry has a team-oriented mindset when it comes to the beekeepers. 

“When a new beekeeper shows up on our grounds, we start by asking, ‘How can we help you succeed?’” explains Ken. “As a beekeeper myself, I understand their issues. Because of that, I can take that knowledge and help them out.”

As soon as a hive is placed, it only takes the bees minutes to find pollen.  One popular plant amongst the bee community is a flowering shrub known as gallberry. Gallberry produces tiny white flowers that provide valuable nectar flow. In our healthy, productive forests, our beekeepers know and appreciate the floral resources available to their bees.

Danielle Brooks, Owner of The Honey Truck Company and a land licensing beekeeper, shares her experience raising bees on New England Forestry land. 

“Having a lot of things that they can pollinate is a good thing,” says Danielle. “You want them to be able to have a bunch of resources that are around. And so, where we have our bees now, there’s a bunch of Gallberries that bloom, there’s a bunch of Palmettos. I saw some Spanish Needle. Just different things that are growing and giving them a diverse diet.” 

If interested, you can read more about licensing New England Forestry Beekeeping Land here.

Other Pollinators That Live in New England Forestry Forests

Aside from honeybees brought to New England Forestry by the beekeepers, our forests are home to many other native pollinators. Bumblebees, bats, moths, and butterflies are just a few examples of the creatures roaming and buzzing about. Depending on which forest you’re in, native pollinators will differ.

In Florida, the Zebra Longwing butterfly can be found fluttering about, dining on Confederate Jasmine and the Cyprus Vines. While in Washington, beetles and moths play an important role in pollinating native plants in the area.

New England Forestry’s understanding of the importance of the whole forest ecosystem allows for different activities to take place during timber harvest rotations. By allowing native flowering plants to grow undisturbed, soil nutrition increases, adding to the organic matter. This organic matter supports vegetation growth, feeding the pollinators within our forests.

“It takes the whole big picture to keep a healthy, productive ecosystem,” Ben says. “Pollinators keep the vegetative community thriving, which helps our forests regenerate. Even the birds, squirrels, and mice are important. It’s a huge web of life.”

What about chemical applications like herbicides?

While herbicide treatments may be applied to a stand of trees one to two times in its 20-40 year lifecycle, it is done under strict guidelines, with only licensed applicators applying the spray and local, on-the-ground inspectors. This is done in compliance with federal guidelines. Under these conditions, herbicides used by New England Forestry and the forestry industry have very low toxicity levels, lower than most household cleaning solutions.

Our focus when using herbicides is to reduce competition and allow a newly-planted forest an opportunity to get established. Likewise after thinning, they’re used to reduce the competing woody brush competition. This in turn encourages flowering vegetation to occupy the forest understory: a win for the pollinators

New England Forestry Exists in Harmony with the Pollinators

One of Ken’s favorite parts about beekeeping is looking into the hive and seeing the harmony that exists with the bees. “If you could take that mentality and put it into humans, it would be life-changing,” he says. “We would be much more efficient.”

New England Forestry strives to provide a similar harmonious environment within our forests. Through our holistic forest management practices, we’ve found both the pollinators—and the plants they seek pollen from—thrive on our land. We believe that protecting clean water sources, limiting herbicide sprays, and managing our forests well support this effort.

The post Why Pollinators Thrive in Working Forests appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Making his way through the forest, he spots an eagle’s nest and immediately snaps into action. He maps the location, sets up barriers to close down a nearby road, and starts marking a protective boundary around it.

It sounds like the work of a wildlife biologist or a park ranger. But this was actually a recent day at work for New England Forestry forester Charlie Dunn.

In addition to developing sustainable forestry practices that protect natural ecosystems whilst providing the world with essential timber products, foresters are trained in identifying and protecting vulnerable species.

Even in working forest settings.

One such species is the bald eagle. These once rare and majestic birds are protected under Federal Law and live in forests throughout North America. They also love nesting in tall trees, which makes them a frequent feature in many of New England Forestry’s forests.

To learn more about what goes into protecting these species, we talked to two New England Forestry foresters with experience in eagle identification and preservation.

Understanding Laws That Protect Bald Eagles

Once an endangered species, bald eagles have made a comeback and were removed from the Federal Endangered Species list on June 28, 2007. However, they are still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and other federal laws.

This means commercial foresters are charged with protecting bald eagle nests throughout North America.

Charlie, whose official title is resource land manager, explains: “We follow the National Guidelines for Bald Eagles and there are two different buffer zones, one for nesting season and one for non-nesting season.”

And since bald eagles typically return to their same nesting sites for life, their nests remain permanent, undisturbed features in our forests.

Per Ben Cazell, New England Forestry’s Manager of Sustainable Forestry: “Even if you’ve found a nest and you haven’t witnessed activity in it, that’s a no-go zone. So that area will always be protected unless the tree naturally falls.”

Part of Ben’s job is to visit various forests throughout the country to ensure foresters are well-versed and equipped to identify and protect vulnerable species like the bald eagle.

Ben and Charlie shared some more interesting facts about bald eagle nesting habits and what’s required to protect them.

The Nesting Habits of Bald Eagles And How Foresters Protect Them

Where do eagles typically nest?

“Eagles typically place their nests where they can feed, so often near water sources,” Charlie explains. “The nests are usually in live tall trees and on the edge of a swamp, so they have a good view of the land. But usually, they stand out like a sore thumb. Once you’ve seen one they’re pretty easy to spot.” 

Ben adds that eagles’ nests are about four to six feet wide, about the size of a large desk.

According to the National Eagle Center, the largest bald eagle nest on record was found in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was 9.5 feet in diameter, 20 feet deep and weighed almost 3 tons!

Eagles’ nests are made up of intertwined twigs and branches and lined with grass, corn stalks and other materials. They fill the bowl with soft materials like moss, which can also repel insects, and their own downy feathers.

Their nest building season, which is part of the breeding season, varies a bit based on the region, beginning in November and December in southern areas and extending roughly through May.

“During the active nesting time, there are circles or buffer zones required around the eagle’s nest. So, during nesting season there is to be no activity within 660 feet, then it reduces to 330 feet during inactive nesting times,” Ben says. “For any aerial work, you can’t be within 1000 feet.”

What exactly does “no activity mean?” There can be no clear cutting, spraying, or mechanized active forest management within the designated buffer zone. This ensures the eagles aren’t stressed during their breeding or non-breeding seasons.

Ben says even if a harvest was taking place well outside the range, the vehicle delivering the load of logs could not drive in the range. The harvest plan would have to incorporate a forest road outside the eagle’s buffer area.

Once an eagle establishes a nest, they are likely to return to that same location year after year, especially if they hatch young successfully. They may also build additional nests or decoy nests, so if one nest is spotted, one or several more nests may be nearby.

What Happens Once A Bald Eagle Nest Is Identified In A New England Forestry Forest

“The first thing that happens when we see a nest is we incorporate the location within our GIS map layers,” Ben says. “Then, we look at our activities around the area to make sure we’re not interfering with the national guidelines for bald eagles.”

Technology has made this job much easier for foresters by allowing everyone to communicate on their nest location.

Charlie explains the exact process he used to alert everyone to the nest he found in one of our North Florida forests: “On our phones we have the Collector App and it has our whole GIS layers of information for New England Forestry. When we’re out in the woods and find something unique, we can drop a pin on the phone and submit it and everyone in New England Forestry can see that point. Then our GIS specialists can help get those things more permanent in the system.”

Once the nest is identified, it will be protected for the duration of the tree’s life.

More On Our Holistic Approach To Protecting Endangered And Vulnerable Species

New England Forestry has systems set up to ensure foresters are aware of and able to protect a variety of threatened and vulnerable species, including bald eagles, that have the potential to be in our forests.

If someone sees something, for example a red-cockaded woodpecker, they will place a pin on New England Forestry’s mapping system to alert anyone else who is in that forest about the sighting.

But even if a vulnerable species isn’t seen on a property, foresters are trained to keep a lookout for the species and its habitat. They use state data as well as a service called NatureServe, which details information about the species, food sources, habitat, mating activity, etc.

Whenever activity is going to take place on a site, such as a harvest, the forester will look for signs of the species and its habitat.

“Then the next step would be to tell our contractors, we have a handout for them — so if they see them, they know to back off and call us. So, we do due diligence on paper, field review and educate our contractors.”

Ben added that some protected species are specific to the state in terms of how threatened they are and what’s required to protect them.

“It’s really an integrated approach to make sure we protect habitat, and certainly if we encounter a species we do what’s appropriate based on the management plans, which are species specific. With the Red Hills salamander in Alabama, we can’t do any harvesting in their habitat, but with bald eagles we can work around them based on the season.”

Sometimes you can be active, sometimes you can’t, and sometimes you can’t do anything.

“Our foresters who are making decisions in the woods are empowered with that information. And if there’s any confusion, that’s where I fall in,” Ben says. “I was just working with a forester planning an active timber harvest where the usual haul road would have passed within a 660 foot buffer zone of an active eagle’s nest. So, we looked at the map and found some old trails that weren’t in the buffer zone and decided to re-route our haul road activities using the identified trails to avoid disturbing the nest site.

“We do our due diligence and then implement what is acceptable based on the rules, regulations and our internal procedures.”

Being Good Stewards Of The Land

Yes, foresters and sustainable forestry companies protect endangered and vulnerable species because it’s the law. But we also do it because we love and care about wildlife.

Charlie put it best: “A lot of people don’t realize that we do other things besides just cut timber and plant trees. We do manage our species if they’re vulnerable and make sure they’re viable in the future. We have to, first of all, but we do it because we want to as well. To make sure those species are there for our future generations of kids and grandkids to see.”

More proof that foresters truly are the original environmentalists.

To learn more about laws in place to protect bald eagles, visit The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or for more detailed information including local habitats, protection levels, buffer zone requirements, etc. check out NatureServe.org.

The post How New England Forestry’s Foresters Protect Bald Eagles appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Few people can say they’ve been with the same company since graduating college 30+ years ago. Forester and Resource Land Manager Terri Hall is one of those people.

“New England Forestry was my first permanent job after graduating from college. I started working for New England Forestry in 1989 in the old Chandlery Building in downtown Fernandina. At that time, it was known as ITT New England Forestry, Corporate was in Connecticut and the timberlands were primarily in Florida and Georgia.”

Today, New England Forestry’s timberlands span across the Southeast from South Carolina to Texas, and in Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest as well as forests in New Zealand.

Terri soon found her home in New England Forestry’s Florida Resource Unit, our team based in New England Forestry’s southernmost forests in Florida.

“I started in Technical Services, then worked for the Florida region as a timber sales forester. Since 1992, I have had 5 different job titles but my office for all of them has been right here at the Bradford Forest Office.” 

If that isn’t extraordinary enough, her boss has been with her for the span of her career. Rick Piagno, a colleague who eventually became her boss in 1996, is still her boss and Resource Unit Leader today.

“So I’ve had the same boss for 26 years and have worked for the same company for 32 years!” she chuckled.

Forging a career path all her own

Many foresters have a family background in the profession or some previous experience, but not Terri. She chose this career based on her own goals and objectives.

“I had no experience and no family background, I just wanted a job that was not going to be boring. I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day long, and I wanted variety in my line of work. I definitely have variety.  We always say: don’t make too hard of plans because every morning things are likely to change.”

Terri studied hard to earn her forestry education. She holds a Bachelors and Masters degree from Auburn University. Yet, she still encounters many misconceptions about her field of expertise.

“When I say I’m a forester, people think I sit in a fire tower. So I get to explain all that’s involved, from site management to seed selection, planting, disease control, working with loggers, fire fighting, sampling and statistics. People don’t realize all that goes into the education and daily work of it all.”

Terri began when few women worked directly in the field

Terri says it never concerned her that she was one of only a few women foresters. Nor did it motivate her to approach her job or make career decisions any differently.

“When I went to school there were 3 other women in my forestry classes. When I began working I think there was — I don’t really pay attention to this — no, there were not any other field women when I came. Then a couple more did come on but most of them did not stay in the field, they went into specialized things like technical services, GIS or research. I don’t know of many who were actually in forest management.

“I’ve never had a problem though. The nice thing about forestry is everyone is so great. Whether it’s New England Forestry employees, contractors, loggers or employees with the Florida Forest Service, everyone’s just good, down-to-earth people. I’ve loved every minute of it. Honestly, unless somebody pointed out that I was one of the only women around, I never paid attention to it.”

A day in life of this New England Forestry forester

In December 2021, when New England Forestry employee Robert Hall shadowed Terri for a day and took the photos included in this story, she and her team were dealing with seasonal planting. She began her day in the field supervising planting and taking plots.

“In this picture, I’m laying out my pole to measure it for the correct length for a 35th-acre plot. I then swing the pole and count the seedlings on the plot.”

Terri has to count the number of trees to ensure the contractor is planting the correct density. “Planting compliance is complicated. Planting density can be affected by so many factors including bedding width, quality of the site prep and weather conditions. Really, the only thing a planter can control is how far apart the trees are in the bed.” 

Back at the office, there are forest fire maps to review and analyze

“We do a lot of work looking at fire protection and things we can do to reduce fire danger, especially in Florida. Sometimes that’s through release work, in which we chemically spray under the trees to reduce competition. You create a map of all the stands to show what areas need a reduction in fire danger. After evaluating the map, we make plans for the coming year to do activities in these high risk areas such as mowing or spraying to mitigate the danger.”

Next, it’s on to timber sales — of which Terri has 21 pending for Bradford County

This involves checking in on and meeting with the loggers every 10 days to make sure harvesting is going according to plan.

“When I go out there, my biggest concerns are: stumps being low and trees being cut to the right top diameter so they’re getting proper utilization of the trees. Also, I check that the roads are not being torn up, no oil spills, that the right area’s being cut — you’d be surprised what can happen! — and that they only use our designated crossings. Since it rains a lot in Florida and we’re so close to the water table, we’re also very concerned about soil disturbance and wood not being left on the ground.”

“So I go to the field every week to check on the loggers and walk the timber sale area, making  sure they haven’t messed up any sites, channels or roads and ensure they have what they need. I try to maintain a good working relationship with the loggers where they feel free to call and tell me what they need whether it is road work, additional tickets or clarification of the sale area.”

Now, she moves on to overseeing planting and nursery inventory

“Whenever the planting crew works on my forests, I give them maps showing the planting area, number of acres, species to be planted, the seed lot number and the trees per acre to be planted. One of the most challenging things about planting season is getting the seedlings from the nursery to the field when the planters need them. It is a huge coordinated effort when the forests in different states are all planting at once and getting their trees from our one nursery in Elberta, Alabama.”

The seedlings are delivered in refrigerated vans which are left on-site. When that inventory runs low, it’s up to Terri to ensure they have a new van of seedlings on the way so planting isn’t interrupted or delayed.

With the seedlings taken care of, Terri checks on the health of the larger tree stands

No matter how well you plan, cultivate and care for them, some trees are bound to experience pest pressure and/or disease. A regular part of Terri’s work includes evaluating trees for early signs of trouble.

“When you find a spot in a stand where the pine needles are turning red, you look for evidence like pitch tubes, popcorn or sawdust to try and identify the forest pest. Once you figure out the pest, you have to decide on a course of action. For example, if it’s southern pine beetle, we know that pest travels fast! So you might have to cut them down plus create a buffer around them to capture the red, dead and dying. This creates a buffer to protect the healthy trees. So when we see dead spots we have to look at them and see what’s going on.”

This level of consistent observation is critical to preserving and maintaining healthy forests and wildlife habitats.

What Terri loves most about being a forester

Terri’s love and passion for her work comes through in everything she does. Here’s what she loves most about her job. 

“Some of it has to do with the actual work and some of it has to do with the management. I enjoy the freedom and the responsibility, I’m free to make decisions and I’ve been given a lot of responsibility. I appreciate the trust that’s involved. I like the challenge because we’re always looking for better ways to do this and solutions for the problems that come up. I especially like having an area that’s mine to manage.

“I love that I have the whole spectrum. From the time I put the seedling in the ground to the time the loggers cut it. I choose the seedlings for each stand, I determine whether the stand gets some intermediate treatment, and I’m the one who’s out there helping to protect it either through fire fighting or pest management.

“Another thing I like about my job is how we’re structured. There’s a lot of accountability.  If I don’t make sure the logger got it right then I’m going to hear it from the site prep guy. If I don’t ensure that the site prep is right, I am going to hear it from the planting contractor. I’m in charge of the whole rotation. Also, I oversee planning of road work in preparation for new timber sales so just about anything that happens, it’s my responsibility…and I like that.”

Terri adds: “I’ll tell you a secret, the Florida Resource Unit is the best. We have a great time together, we really do!”

The post A Day in the Life of a Forester, Spotlight: Terri Hall (Florida, USA) appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

It’s not because the climate’s become more hospitable or because there’s less potential for disease. It’s also not due to genetic engineering experiments. The superior commercial forests we have today are a product of rigorous and on-going forest research.

An introduction to forest research

For over 60 years, New England Forestry has dedicated hundreds of acres of forests to researching and producing seed.

We use natural tree breeding methods that produce the tallest, strongest and healthiest forests. Today, we have over 200 acres of seed orchards in production. They produce more than 90 percent of our seedlings.

For an inside look at what goes into this research, we talked to New England Forestry’s Manager of Genetic Resources David Barker, PhD.

“One of the main areas we focus on are what’s known as ‘field tests’ or ‘progeny tests,’” David explains. “These are research studies in which we try to determine which pine families grow the best in terms of how fast they grow, how straight they grow and how disease-resistant they are.”

In the Southeast, New England Forestry researches loblolly and slash pine and focuses on reducing their susceptibility to common diseases like pitch canker and fusiform rust. The researchers observe how trees from different families grow over time, then select the best performers.

“Once we have the information from the study, we know which families we want to choose to make seeds from. Those are the ones we graft into seed orchards.”

New England Forestry’s seed orchards look different from your typical commercial forest. David explains that’s because we space the trees further apart to encourage lots of big branches which yield better pinecone production.

An overview of the tree research process

The research team is constantly working to improve our tree families.

But unlike other crops that grow and produce quickly, such as grain or produce, tree breeding and genetic improvement has a longer cycle.

Even when a tree seems to grow well, the researchers have to ensure it is the genetics (rather than solely the growing conditions) that made them high performers.

“So, if we have some trees we’ve identified that seem good, we still need to wait several years to grow seedlings from those trees to make sure they’re good parents,” David explains.

Once a high-performer has been identified, the whole process goes like this:

• First, we have to get seeds for research studies, which takes 3 to 4 years to produce. This step would take even longer since pinecones aren’t produced until a tree is about 7 years old, but through the process of grafting, cuttings from high-performers fuse onto an older tree, which will compel them to produce cones faster. After a successful graft, it still takes a pinecone 18 months to reach maturity. You can learn more about a pinecone’s lifecycle in our pinecone collection story.

• Secondly, once seeds are produced, we plant the seeds into the ground to grow the trees. It will take another 4-6 years for the trees to be mature enough to be measured for growth, disease resistance and other traits of interest.

• Third: “With that data you can pick the best families and put them out into a seed production area,” David explains. “Then you have another 5-6 years to produce seedlings to go to the nursery. But we’re always doing parts of that process every single year. And there’s a seed harvest once a year.”

With each of these steps constantly in motion, “the improvement is constant,” says David, who oversees the entire process—from seed to super-seed.

It takes a village to create the strongest, healthiest trees

Improving trees is a long-term, multi-faceted and precise process that takes a diverse and dedicated team.

“We have five people on New England Forestry’s staff spread across Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, and everyone gets to be involved to some extent in all aspects of the program, both research and operational seed production,” David says. “Three members of the team have a post-graduate specialty in forest genetics.”

But it doesn’t stop with that small team:

“There are a lot of people who support this work. For example, I’m standing here with a contractor who’s learning the ropes on grafting and the process of replicating seed orchard parents to put into production.”

There’s more labor, too, in producing “operational” seeds that will go to the seedling nursery and then be replanted in forests across the U.S. David says 30-40 contractors help harvest cones, pollinate trees, and do other tasks for the team.

“We also collaborate with a number of universities which have programs coordinating research work across multiple private companies as well as state forestry organizations. Through this we get to work with faculty and students who are educated in the field. It takes a lot of folks!”

The impacts of forest research go far beyond enhancing yields

New England Forestry invests in tree improvement research to create more viable, faster-growing and more profitable forests. However, the benefits of this work extend far beyond our bottom line.

Tree improvement research also helps protect and enhance the environment by increasing the amount of healthy trees in our forests.

“If trees are healthier, we’ll retain more per-acre and they’ll be bigger, which means they’ll sequester more carbon and offer more benefits to local ecosystems,” David says.

For those concerned about genetically-modified commercial trees carrying pollen to non-commercial forests, it’s a non-issue. Despite the genetic research that goes into creating these forests, New England Forestry does not genetically engineer trees. The “crossing” the research team does involves controlling pollination to direct the natural reproductive process, similar to breeding the best race horses. To do it, they simply cover young pinecone flowers (the female cones) with bags just before the flowers open to receive pollen. Then the team injects the bags with pollen (which comes from male pinecones) from high-performing tree families to ensure the future seeds have the best male and female parents.

You can watch how controlled pollination works in our video story, How Foresters Use Controlled Pollination to Improve Tree Performance.

The real bottom line: forest research leads to better seeds that create healthier forests for all.

Want a first-hand look at a New England Forestry research forest?

If you haven’t watched it already, scroll back to the top of this article to watch our video interview with David as he takes us through some of New England Forestry’s research forests in Yulee, Florida.

And a big thank you to David and his team for taking the time to help us understand a little bit more about the fascinating work they’re doing for New England Forestry, our forests and our planet.

The post How Research Forests Help Grow Healthier Trees appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

What is pollen?

If you live in the south, every January or February you’ll find yourself washing tiny, yellow pine pollen particles off your car. Within these tiny pollen grains is the potential for millions of acres of forests. And because we need trees, we need pollen.

Similar to human reproduction, the flower of the pine tree is the female reproductive organ, also known as the ovule. The pollen catkin is the male reproductive organ that holds all of the pollen grains. One single pollen grain is the equivalent to one human sperm, holding the power to fertilize an ovule. Manually put the two together via controlled pollination, and the outcome equates to the desired genetically-controlled seed.

Why do we collect pollen?

At New England Forestry, we collect and process our pollen by hand to ensure the genetic makeup of future seedlings is pure. The harvesting of pollen is tedious, but well worth the effort to ensure our trees have strong, disease-resistant parents.

How do we know when pollen is ready to be harvested?

When it comes to pollen, timing is everything.

In one cluster of pollen catkins, we derive millions of pollen grains essential to keeping our forests growing. Each cluster is closely monitored by our genetic research team for ripeness to ensure the perfect time for picking.

“There are multiple stages to the pollen catkins,” explains Tree Improvement Forester Serenia O’Berry. “Each individual catkin, the little worm-like pieces you see within the clusters, change colors as they ripen. They start out green, and as they become more yellow and elongate, that is how you know they are getting ready for picking.”

Checking for readiness means monitoring for size and performing a three stage “squeeze test” of the pollen catkins.

STAGE 1: We know a pollen catkin is in Stage 1 if when squeezed, it is still hard and snaps in half like a pea pod.

STAGE 2: In Stage 2, a gooey yellow substance will come out of the catkin, indicating that it is not quite ready yet.

STAGE 3: Stage 3 is the optimum time for picking. This is when the catkin is bendable without snapping in half, and when squeezed the liquid is clear.

We have to be careful to not miss the Stage 3 picking window. If we wait too long, the catkin opens and the pollen will fly away with the wind. This indicates that timing is everything when it comes to what we do here at New England Forestry.

How do we extract the pollen?

Extracting the pollen is a step-by-step process.

When we determine the clusters are ready for harvest, a team arrives to pick the clusters off of the trees. With a pair of pruning shears, the clusters are clipped off and gathered into 5 gallon buckets. These clusters are then sent to the drying room where the pollen is poured onto flat cardboard trays. Several humidifiers are turned on to extract the moisture down to less than 8% from the pollen.

Monitoring the moisture content of the pollen is of extreme importance. If the pollen is too wet when it goes into the freezer, the water molecules will expand and burst the pollen grains, making them no longer usable to fertilize an ovule.

As the pollen dries, the catkins release the pollen out of the clusters. Once this happens, the entire tray is dumped into a large sifter, we shake it, and the pollen shifts out. The catkins are thrown away, and the pollen is bottled up. After it’s bottled, we store the pollen in a large industrial freezer for use the following year.

Why is collecting pollen so important to sustainable forestry?

It starts with microscopic dust.

Thousands of forests depend on pine cones and seeds, and those pine cones and seeds depend on pollen.

“You can’t have one without the other,” explains Serenia. “You can put on all the bags you want, but if you don’t have any pollen to shoot into the bags, then you get no seed. No seed means no trees, and no trees means that we have nothing to replant after we harvest a stand. Pollen is a very crucial part to the sustainability of our land base.”

The post How Pollen Contributes to the Sustainability of our Forests appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Throughout the summer of 2021, North Carolina State graduate student Austin Cary experienced the forestry industry firsthand as a New England Forestry mentee. Austin, who hails from Memphis, Tenn., came to New England Forestry via the National Needs Fellowship (NNF), a program developed by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to train the “next generation of policy makers, researchers, and educators in the food and agricultural sciences.”

About the National Needs Fellowship Program at NC State

The NNF launched on the campus of North Carolina State in fall 2020. The fellowship is geared toward students of color pursuing graduate degrees in Forestry within the College of Natural Resources at NC State University.

Assistant professor and NNF Program Principal Investigator Dr. Zakiya Leggett was instrumental in bringing the program to NC State. It’s important, she says, to continue to focus on diversity in the field of forestry.

“We know forestry is extremely underrepresented with people of color,” she says.

Having a diverse cohort of colleagues and mentors goes a long way toward making forestry a more welcoming place for underrepresented groups.

New England Forestry is one of about 40 companies that submitted one-page project descriptions seeking to serve as one of the program’s career partners. Students were able to choose the project that seemed like the best fit for their internship and research needs. Zakiya kept the company names off each of the proposals before presenting them to the students.

“I talk [with students] about the topic areas in each proposal instead of mentioning the company name,” she says. “I want them to choose topics based on their interests and career goals.”

Austin selected New England Forestry because he was attracted to the projects.

“I have been learning a lot about pine silviculture throughout my years of education in forestry, and I felt this project wouldn’t be too overwhelming and it also intrigued me to work with a species I never really have gotten a chance to study up close due to its geographic range,” he says.

We asked Austin to tell us more about the Fellowship and his experience with New England Forestry.

New England Forestry: How did you learn about the National Needs Fellowship at NC State?

Austin: I learned about the National Needs Fellowship at NC State through two faculty members here at NC State: Dr. Zakiya Leggett and Sam Cook. I originally came to NC State through a dual degree program partnership with Tuskegee University and NC State University. After being in Raleigh for my senior year of undergrad, it felt natural to stay here and pursue my master’s degree here as well.

R: What were some of your responsibilities at New England Forestry?

AC: I was an intern in the research department in the Yulee, Florida, office. My main emphasis was to gather data for my thesis project. My project centered around the effects of silviculture operations in slash pine. I was continuing a study that was already started by the research department. When I wasn’t collecting and analyzing data, I was shadowing and assisting the land management team. When I was with the land management team, I was exposed to the ways that New England Forestry plans future timber harvests and why that was important.

R: What have you learned by working closely with a company that would have been hard to learn in class alone?

AC: I learned about why certain decisions are made in the forest. In my classes, they tend to speak on how operations are theoretically done based on previous research and other data, but when I am working for a company, I can see hands-on how operations are done. Another thing that I have learned is that different climates affect how things are handled and not everything is done the same way in each forest.

R: How has New England Forestry contributed to your goal of a career in forestry?

AC: I feel like New England Forestry taught me tools that will help me with my career development. New England Forestry has contributed a lot towards my goal of a career because they gave me an insight on how a successful forestry company operates, how to pay attention to details and how to properly conduct research that is concise and understandable. I was able to work in the field and in the office for periods of time this summer and I thought that was unique. I got an opportunity to see how different departments operate and gather information and how certain departments collab together to solve a bigger question.

R: What advice do you have for students considering a career in forestry?

AC: My advice would be to research and reach out to different avenues of forestry that you might want to pursue. Because forestry is so broad, anything that you would like to do from land management, to analytics, to real estate, etc. is all included under the forestry realm. I would also say to try to get out of your comfort zone a little and try to ask many questions of your teachers as well. They can connect you to different professionals that have knowledge on many subjects.

Are you interested in joining us in the forestry industry?

You can learn more at these links:

• To learn more about the National Needs Fellowship, visit the USDA’s educational programs and scholarships web page about it.
• To learn more about NC State’s forestry program, visit the website for their Department of Forestry and Enviornmental Resources.

• To learn more about working with New England Forestry, visit our careers page.
• And to learn more about becoming an intern with New England Forestry, visit our Internships page.

The post Training Future Leaders: NC State Mentor Program brings Forestry Student to New England Forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

RED HILLS, Alabama — The extremely rare Red Hills Salamander is so elusive, no one knew it existed until 1960.

Even then, it was discovered by accident: Biologist Leslie Hubricht found the salamander while searching for snails in Butler County. It was not only a new salamander, but it belonged to a new genus and species all its own. Leslie named it Phaeognathus hubrichti.

As researchers tried to learn more about the long, dark amphibians, it soon became clear why they were so elusive: they prefer to live their entire lives in the safety of burrows in steep cliff sides. The heavily-shaded slopes in Alabama’s Red Hills region provide the perfect setting. The cool, wet environment keeps the salamanders moist, which is essential to their survival. They have no lungs and must breathe through their skin.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are about 60,000 acres of land on earth that would make a suitable Red Hills Salamander habitat. Within the range of potential habitat, about 20,000 acres where the habitat could exist is on New England Forestry land. The area lies between the Alabama and Conecuh Rivers, as shown in this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service map.

Identifying Red Hills Salamander Habitat

For many years, our foresters have played a role in protecting the federally-threatened species. Using advanced technology like LiDAR mapping, we examine the topography of our forest tracts in the region to ensure all potential Red Hills Salamander habitats are protected.

We also walk the properties, looking for what are called “indicator species.” These species also thrive in the area where the salamander lives and help us to identify the habitat. The Big Leaf Magnolia, which has massive, tropical-looking leaves, is an especially noticeable indicator. There are also certain ferns and mosses that indicate a strong likelihood of Red Hills Salamander habitat.

“We take a lot of pride in protecting this species to ensure it does not become endangered. We are very focused on identifying these areas and providing a protected, shaded buffer,” says Senior Timber Marketing Manager Billy Geier, who was once fortunate enough to see a salamander poke its head out of a burrow in one of our forests

Protecting the Habitat

Once a habitat is located, our foresters ensure the area is protected. 

In the forest, they’ll mark trees so everyone working near the area knows where the boundaries are. They will also digitally block off the habitat in our mapping system. This ensures no one plans forestry activities in that location.

Within the boundary, there will be no chemical applications, no heavy equipment, and no tree harvests within at least a 50-foot perimeter from the habitat in all directions. This ensures the salamander will continue to be shaded, cool and moist.

Our foresters are empowered to decide if measures beyond the recommended guidelines are required to protect this federally-listed species. For example, Timber Marketing Forester Tyler Baxter says his team has chosen to not even thin the trees within the habitat boundary to ensure sunlight doesn’t dry it out. When marking the areas, if the recommended 50-foot boundary doesn’t provide adequate shade for the habitat, they will expand the area to a 75- or 100-foot buffer.

“When we put these buffers in, we don’t allow any cutting behind it. None at all. We want to leave as much shade in the habitat as possible,” he says.

Just look at the photo below. The island of tall trees in the center is a protected Red Hills Salamander habitat.

What Researchers Have Learned So Far

While there is still much to be learned about the Red Hills Salamander, researchers have discovered everything it needs to survive is provided without leaving its burrow. The salamanders rarely venture out because they can eat small bugs at their burrows’ openings. Their diets include snails, insects, spiders and earthworms, according to this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service article. They even breed underground: their burrows stretch several feet back in a maze of interconnected tunnels.

In addition to the habitats protected on our land, special properties have been set aside to protect the salamanders by entities including the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Forever Wild Land Trust and the Alabama Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. You can learn more about their efforts and what they’ve learned about the salamanders in the online Encyclopedia of Alabama.

The post Foresters Protect Rare Salamander Found Only in Alabama appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Patrick Dravitzki has always been drawn to the forest: mountain biking, running and even building bike tracks with his friends. It was a great place for recreation. Then he found out it was also a great place to work.

Now a harvest forester based in New England Forestry Matariki Forests’ Whangarei location in New Zealand, Patrick says he found forestry after studying commerce. After one semester, he realized commerce wasn’t the right fit.

“I realised that it must be someone’s job to manage forests, so that’s what sparked my interest and I dug further,” he says. 

He soon found out it was not just a job, but a field where there was excellent potential to find good work directly out of university.

“I liked that there were really good employment opportunities for forestry graduates and it seemed like it was a good blend of subjects that I enjoyed at school.”

Going to Forestry School

Patrick was already a student at the University of Canterbury.

“I was hoping to continue my study there. Good fortune it is the only forestry school in Australasia!”

He got to work pursuing his Bachelor of Forestry Science and he quickly knew he was in the right place.

“Forestry is a great path to take if you love working in the outdoors, meeting interesting people and serving a wide range of roles,” Patrick says. “Studying forestry science at university is great. You are in a relatively small class with 20 to 30 like-minded people. We had a forestry society who were regularly hosting BBQs, bus trips and balls, these were all very social and a great way to get to know your classmates.”

A Summer Student Program Leads to a Permanent Position

Patrick was still attending university when he first worked with New England Forestry.

“I initially worked for New England Forestry during the summer of 2016/2017 as part of their summer student program,” he recalls. “I worked in the Northland regional office based just outside Whangarei. This role was advertised through the university and it was open to all 2nd and 3rd year students. As part of our degree we had to complete a certain amount of infield work experience.”

Patrick didn’t know where it would lead: “At the time I had no preconceived ideas of what New England Forestry would be like, but I am very happy with my decision and where that has taken me.”

By the time the summer was over, Patrick knew New England Forestry would be a great employer.

“While working as a summer student I gained an insight into what New England Forestry was like as an employer and what the role would involve. When in 2018 I was offered a permanent position as a graduate forester, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Enjoying Each Step in the Forest Lifecycle as a Harvest Forester

Patrick says no two days are ever alike at work.

“The best thing about my current role is, as a harvest forester, I am involved at each step of the rotation,” he says. “From the planting and establishment activities through to the silvicultural treatments and finally to the harvesting. This gives me a great insight into all aspects without having blinkers on for one stage of the rotation. It has also meant that I’m always doing something different and it is certainly never boring!”

As he continues to grow in his career, he says he’s also continuing to learn from those he works with.

“Being involved in different types of operations has meant I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside contractors who have been good enough to impart some of their knowledge and wisdom onto me.”

Advice for future New Zealand Foresters

If you’re a student looking for a career that will allow you to spend a lot of time outdoors, actively take a role in protecting the environment, and be able to find solid work after graduating, consider forestry!

“The work itself is also very interesting,” Patrick says. “You are working in a wide variety of environments with some serious characters. I would strongly recommend forestry as a career path to anybody considering it.”

The post No Two Days Alike for NZ Harvest Forester appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Some people are destined to spend their lives outdoors.

Seamus Bardoul knew he was one of those people when he left his small hometown of Matamata to study at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He loved the location, with the beautiful Southern Alps mountains and places to ski, hunt and surf. As a bonus, UC’s rugby program would allow him to continue playing a sport he had enjoyed since he was a toddler. But most importantly, he knew it was the only place in New Zealand to pursue the career of his dreams: working as a forestry engineer.

“I had always been interested in engineering since a young age and had a strong passion for the outdoors,” says Seamus, now a New England Forestry Harvest Planner based in Tauranga. He was a young teenager when he first learned about forestry engineering during a careers event. He set his sights on forestry from that day forward.

Studying forestry full of adventure

For Seamus, there was rarely a dull moment at university. He split his time between his studies, rugby, and a job as a shearer. Forestry classes often were not the typical classroom-only experience. Instead, the students were on the go.

“There were often field trips around the South Island. We took one to the North Island in our fourth year of study,” he recalls. 

His forestry group was very tight-knit, sometimes pulling all-nighters together to get their work done. The forestry students spent their downtime together, too, regularly gathering for barbecues and social events.

Discovering New England Forestry

In his third year of study, Seamus received a scholarship and an internship with New England Forestry Matariki Forests. He quickly built friendships and became interested in working with the company after graduation. At the end of his final year at UC, New England Forestry offered Seamus a graduate role. He gladly accepted.

“The relationship that I built with the Tauranga office in my internship and the team here is what cemented my decision to work here,” he says.

Seamus has continued to learn and grow as a New England Forestry forester.

“I have a large independence in my role and work with an epic team,” he says. “The mix of experience in the office makes learning easy.”

Using what he learned

Seamus says techniques he learned at UC play a role in his work on most days as he plans the most effective way to move logs from the forest to public roadways.

He credits UC with equipping him with the skills he now uses to navigate mapping tools and GIS; design roads with civil engineering tools; and source forest rock using geotech knowledge. In addition, he says the people skills he learned at university have been invaluable on the job.

For students considering a forestry major, he recommends they “give it heaps” of consideration.

Forestry at UC

The University of Canterbury is New Zealand’s only university offering professional forestry degree programs. Undergraduate programmes include a Bachelor of Forestry Science and—as Seamus chose—a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Forest Engineering. 

New England Forestry Matariki Forests has a longstanding relationship with the UC across our student programs.

• New England Forestry offers scholarships/student vacation opportunities to 2nd and 3rd students annually, including student vacation work of 10-14 weeks over the summer period and a scholarship of up to $5K. 
• We recruit for graduates each year. Our aim is to give our graduates broad exposure to the various aspects of operational forestry over their first 2 years of employment. We look for focused, driven all-rounders with a good attitude and who are passionate about forestry. 
• Other examples of our involvement include: our efforts to support dissertation projects work during a student’s vacation work, hosting field trips for UC students, attending Meet the Employer Evenings at the UC Career evenings and participating in industry meetings at the UC.

The post New Zealand Outdoorsman Finds His Calling in Forest Engineering appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

YULEE, Florida—Jordan Huntley knows a thing or two about raising little ones.

The father of five has seen repeatedly how a lot of love and investment in the early years can set individuals up for success.

In the same way, he takes special care to ensure the success of the baby trees he’s responsible for in New England Forestry’s forests. As a forester called a Resource Land Manager, it’s his job to replant our forests here in the Southeast within about a year or two after a harvest.

How “site prep” sets trees up for success

Before planting, foresters use site preparation techniques to ensure the best possible growing conditions for baby trees. Just as a farmer tills the soil when planting season nears, our foresters may establish bedding, clear debris, use herbicides and apply other techniques to ensure those vital early years provide excellent growing conditions for the seedlings.

Jordan explains it this way: “If you think of a circle with a one-foot radius, and that seedling’s sitting right in the middle, that micro environment around that seedling in those first couple years is the most important thing for the good health of that tree later on in its life. So, in order to do that, you want to provide for it the most basic things that plants need: the soil, water, and sunlight.”

Varies based on location, conditions

Site prep techniques can be drastically different depending on the location, terrain, and type of trees being planted. For example, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, we plant 18-month-old seedlings. Their strong start in a nursery enables them to withstand cold weather conditions. They have enough height to compete with heavy amounts of woody debris, which we leave on the ground to prevent erosion on steep slopes. In the Southeast U.S., seedlings are just 6 months old and much smaller. Our site prep efforts are much more extensive here to ensure the fragile baby trees survive.

Many of our Southeast forests are in low-lying areas, where water tends to pool on the ground. Those conditions are excellent for a mature pine tree, but they could drown a baby seedling. In addition, faster-growing weeds and brush could outgrow the tiny seedlings, stunting their growth or even killing them. A site also may have many branches and tree limbs on the ground, which can make planting difficult. That’s why site prep is especially essential when preparing to plant here.

Clearing debris to give seedlings more light and soil

After a logging operation, a lot of limbs and debris can be left behind. Some woody debris can be good: as it breaks down, it enriches the soil, acting like a natural release fertilizer for the new forest. But too much can rob young seedlings of the soil and sunlight they need to thrive.

We use a tractor with a plow attached to clear the debris and move it into piles. These piles provide refuge for a variety of species like snakes, squirrels, rabbits and frogs. In extreme cases, when the debris is especially thick, we use a V-plow. The plow’s angled blades are ideal for breaking through large pieces and pushing them out of the way.

We also use what’s called a root rake. Just like the rake you might use in your backyard, it’s designed to pick up large impediments while allowing the soil to sift through and remain on a site.

Using bedding to lift seedlings above the water table

After years of studying which techniques enable our forests to thrive, our foresters in the Southeast have determined that planting seedlings in bedded rows can make all the difference in low-lying areas.

Using a tractor or skidder attached to a Savannah plow, we create rows that will place the seedlings 18 inches above ground level. That will enable them to establish strong, healthy root systems without drowning in the more watery ground below. 

When it’s time to plant, our planting crews use a tractor to pull a “hopper” through the planting rows, and a person sitting in the hopper drops the seedling in the ground at just the right moment. The hopper uses a knife-like disk in the front to cut a narrow slot in the ground, then after the seedling is in place, two angled wheels in the back pack the soil back together around the seedling.

We only plow these kinds of rows in wetter soil conditions. Dryer, sandier soils won’t drench our trees, so we don’t need the rows. Forests with dryer soils here in the Southeast often serve as a habitat for gopher tortoises. We typically plant those sites by hand to ensure we don’t disturb active burrows, as discussed in this video about protecting gopher tortoise habitats.

Applying Herbicide to Protect Baby Trees

Weeds can ruin any type of crop. In forestry, a ruined stand of trees can literally stall the growth of a forest for years. By using herbicides, we can remove the competing plants from the forest before we plant, giving the seedlings the best chance at survival.

However, herbicide use is extremely limited, explains Senior Resource Land Manager Ed Carter.

Applications are done after setting up buffer zones to prevent the herbicides from reaching wildlife corridors and waterways.

“We stay at the lowest amount needed, well below the maximum amount that state guidelines allow,” he says. “Our goal is just to control the vegetation to give that tree a chance.”

He says the herbicides are the same types used in residential weed treatment. The difference? On a per-foot basis, he says foresters use in 25 years what a residential user might use in one year.

A great forest starts with great site prep

Just as a child rapidly grows in the early years, a well-prepared, healthy site will serve a young forest well. With an ideal micro environment, seedlings will soon tower over competing plants. Within just a couple years, they will be taller than the people who planted them. And over the years they will provide a home for countless species, sequestering carbon, contributing to cleaner air, and ultimately providing the timber for homes and other products the next generation will need.

The post Site Prep Essential for Southeastern Forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

What comes to mind when you imagine the role of a forester? An orange-vested woodsman cruising trees? An ecologist taking soil and water samples? A team of loggers clearing an area and ferrying logs on a mountainside? 

Forestry can be all of these things, but none of that would work if we didn’t also have the business side of forestry. Think about the strategizing involved in harvesting timber in the most cost-effective way and delivering it to the mills that will give the  greatest return. Imagine the logistics of shipping logs to the other side of the world. And, for publicly-traded forestry companies, making timber an attractive investment takes astute business sense.

For New England Forestry, the business side of forestry plays a critical role in every step of the forest lifecycle. As a Real Estate Investment Trust, also known as a REIT, we are responsible to deliver an attractive return to our shareholders. Strong forestry business leaders play a critical role in our company and in our industry.

“Many timberland owners have land as an investment,” says Joe Parsons, Associate Director of the Harley Langdale, Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia. “From that standpoint, they are running a business where their production facility is the timberland, and their product is wood.” 

University of Georgia offers a unique forestry business program 

According to the Forestry Inventory and Analysis Database, Georgia has nearly 24.5 million acres of forested land. Of that, almost 89 percent is privately owned. With all that land to be managed, there are myriad careers in forestry for the business-minded. And students looking to pursue those careers are often naturally drawn to the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. 

Warnell began offering a Master of Forestry Resources (MFR) degree with a concentration in business in 1984. The program has since grown to include a specialized MFR in Forest Business Management. 

“The MFR in Forest Business Management degree was developed when many of our students were graduating with a BS in Forest Resources and then getting an MBA,” says Joe. 

Forest Planning and Wood Identification Meets Finance and Accounting

Warnell’s MFR students take classes like accounting and finance at UGA’s renowned Terry College of Business as well as targeted electives like forest planning, forest products marketing, and practical wood identification.   

“The courses in forestry prepare the students to focus on the many aspects unique to forestry,” says Joe. “It also assures they meet the requirements to sit for the licensing exam to be a registered forester in Georgia.”

Students who graduate with an MFR in Forest Business can seamlessly enter the industry as analysts for timberland investment management organizations (TIMO) or REITs like New England Forestry. Graduates have also gone on to find careers in consulting, lending, conservation, economic development and wood procurement. 

“Our students develop a very good understanding of land and timber markets,” says Joe. “They develop skills in financial analysis, communications, negotiations, and business ethics. They all get opportunities to meet leaders in TIMOs, REITs, and industry.”

For those students interested in pursuing research or teaching careers, Warnell offers MS and Ph.D degrees with a forestry focus. 

Who’s Right for a Master of Forestry Resources?

MFR in Forestry students come from a wide variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Joe has seen students enter with degrees in forestry, wildlife and fisheries, parks and recreation, and fire science and ecology as well as more general concentrations like business, engineering, real estate, psychology, and computer systems. Though, he notes, “students without forestry degrees are required to take additional courses in dendrology, silviculture, forest ecology, mensuration, and timber management.”  

Students with an aptitude for international business may also find a home in the forestry industry. 

Forestry is an increasingly global business. Wood and products made from wood are used domestically and internationally—and a large volume of products are exported from the Southeast United States. 

“All of this affects local landowners and markets,” says Joe. “We feel our students are in a better position to understand the cause-and-effect relationships to make better decisions.”

If you’re interested in getting started in a program or career in the forestry business, Joe recommends contacting businesses in the areas where you want to work. You can also check out Warnell online or reach out to faculty and staff.

The post In the Woods and in the Boardroom, Forestry is Big Business appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

If you want to know about Nolan Ward’s work ethic, just ask how he spent his school vacations as a kid.

“Instead of spring break, I went to the woods and made money,” recalls the New England Forestry technical forester.

Nolan is the fourth generation in his family to work in the forest. It all started when his great-grandfather started a logging company in their hometown of Lake Butler, Florida. The business eventually passed down to Nolan’s grandfather, and then to his father.

“Most of the time, I’d run a tractor. As I got older, I would run the cut down machines and load logs,” Nolan recalls. “I always enjoyed the ‘grind’ of working in the woods.”

Choosing Forestry College

There was no doubt a career in the forest was the right fit for Nolan, but some advice from his mother stuck with him.

“She told me, ‘When you’re a logger, you’re married to logging. You just date your wife,’” Nolan recalls. “You work long, 15-hour days. Even on the weekends, you’re tending to your equipment. I knew that wasn’t ideal if I wanted to have a family one day.”

He started out studying civil engineering, but soon realized working in the woods was still his passion. That’s when he enrolled at the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to major in forest resources and conservation.

Nolan’s undergraduate program, offered through what is now known as the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, utilizes an experimental forest, the Austin Cary Forest, for hands-on learning. “We would go out and do labs, try to understand wetlands, watching how rainfall affects the woods. We went out in the field for class at least once a week, for three hours at a time.”

For Nolan, it was a perfect fit.

“We weren’t just stuck in a classroom being lectured; I didn’t spend college in a library studying,” he says. But it was still challenging.

“My specialization was forest business management, which gives you some of the business world of forestry. The toughest part was financial accounting. It was tough!”

A Small Community with Big Networking Opportunities

Both at UF and in the industry overall, forestry is a relatively “small world” according to Nolan. That was his ideal situation because he made some of the best friends of his life.

“We did group projects that made us really learn how to work with different people. I now have friends from all over the state and all over the country,” he says.

With a high demand for workers in the forestry industry, Nolan found there were a lot of scholarship opportunities for forestry students. There were also internships with well-known companies. And that’s how he got his start with New England Forestry.

He had already heard about New England Forestry through his father’s logging company. Then a group of New England Forestry employees came to UF to speak about New England Forestry internship opportunities and Nolan applied.

He was accepted twice, interning with New England Forestry in both 2018 and 2019.

“I just enjoyed it. I really liked the people and felt like there was a good support system. We were outside doing something different every day: site prep, fertilization, cruising, land management. It really opened my eyes,” Nolan says.

Joining the New England Forestry Team

After graduation, Nolan went back to working in the woods with his dad’s logging company at first. Then one day, a friend from New England Forestry called to tell him about a job opening.

For Nolan, relationships are an important factor in decision making: He chose forestry rather than logging with his future family in mind, and he loved UF’s forest resources and conservation program largely because of the relationships he built with classmates and faculty. And, ultimately, it was his relationship with the New England Forestry team that made the job the right fit for him.

“The type of people you’ll meet at New England Forestry are good, honest, and they treat you fairly. They’re like family,” he says.

To students considering a similar academic path, he offers this advice: “If you want a field with job opportunities anywhere in the country, and you want to work outside, you can’t beat it.”

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Did you ever look at a smooth, straight board and wonder how it could come from a tree? What happens to the bark and branches? How can it be so straight, when trees sometimes aren’t?

Today we’re going to see what happens from the moment a tree is harvested to the point its lumber is store-ready. This is the process that makes it possible to build homes, frame concrete, create DIY projects and do countless other tasks with wood.

Step 1: Growing the right trees the right way

For a forest products company, the first step is the most time-consuming part of our business. Growing the right trees takes decades!

Our scientists ensure we plant only the best tree families. They choose the families that grow the straightest and resist disease and insects the most. Both “parents” are accounted for in controlled pollination, a process that allows us to determine which pollen fertilizes the pinecones in our seed orchards. You can see a video of how controlled pollination works here.

Foresters known as Resource Land Managers plant the trees quite close together, which encourages them to grow tall rather than producing a lot of excess branches. That’s important because branches make knots in the wood, weakening it.

We nurture the forest, monitoring its growth and addressing any needs the trees may have for decades. Halfway through their lifecycle, we may “thin” the forest, removing unhealthy trees and trees that are too crooked to make good lumber. This gives the best trees more room to grow. Watch our video of a thinning operation to see how the spacing improves.

In the U.S. South, where we grow Southern yellow pines, trees destined to become lumber grow for about 20 to 25 years. In the Pacific Northwest, where our forests are primarily made up of  Douglas-firs and western hemlocks, our trees may grow 40 years or longer.

Step 2: Harvesting and sorting the logs

When it’s time to harvest the trees, foresters we call Timber Marketers work to find the best buyer. They want to get the best possible value out of the investment we put into the forest. Timber Marketers often work directly with nearby facilities, hiring loggers to prepare and deliver the logs to mills and exporters. They also can sell the standing timber to a dealer, who will then manage the logging and sale of the logs.

Today, we’re showing you what happens when we work directly with a customer. In this case, Timber Marketing Manager Rusty Cobb is selling a stand of loblolly pines in Kingsland, Georgia. He sells logs directly to the West Fraser sawmill in Whitehouse, Florida. The logs have to meet West Fraser’s standards for length, diameter, straightness and quality. Rusty hires Conner & Conner, a small logging company out of Hilliard, Florida, to harvest and prepare the logs.

As the heavy equipment operators begin to harvest the forest, they keep in mind where the logs will be going. In the same forest, there will be some smaller or crooked logs that will be broken down into pulp for the paper mill. Others will become export logs. In this case, West Fraser’s logs will become lumber. It is up to the equipment operators to visually judge about 1000 logs per-day and decide where they will go.

The feller buncher operator, who cuts the trees, tries to group similar products (logs of a relatively uniform size and quality) together during the cutting process. Then the skidder operator drags the logs to a landing area, where the loader operator makes the final decision where each log will go.

The loader operator processes the logs to the correct size and condition the buyer wants. First, they’re cut to the right length. Then, lifting the logs in the loader’s knuckle boom, the operator can pull the logs through a set of fixed knives, which remove large limbs and some of the bark. The logs are then loaded onto a log truck and strapped into place. You can learn more about this stage in the process by watching our video, What Happens During a Timber Harvest.

Step 3: Processing at the Sawmill

When the log truck arrives at the West Fraser mill, it drives onto a scale, where it’s weighed. The load of logs is also inspected by mill employees called scalers, who ensure the logs meet the mill’s standards.

After the logs meet the scalers’ approval, the truck moves to an unloading area, where a special machine that looks like a huge forklift unloads the logs. Once it’s time to process the logs, they’re placed in a debarker machine that removes the rough bark from their exterior. Then they enter the “cut-ups” or “bucking” process, which involves cutting the logs to the right length.

The next step is shaping the round logs into squares, a necessary step before cutting them into lumber. The canter line removes the least possible amount of wood from the logs to reshape them. But nothing goes to waste. The removed bark becomes a mulch product, while sawdust is used in making wood pellets.

The process gets really high tech with the VDA saw. Using highly-sensitive scanning equipment, the saw can cut the logs into board widths that are accurately sized within thousandths of an inch. The saw automatically optimizes each log to cut the most possible high-demand sizes of boards without wasting any wood. It also analyzes the logs for defects to ensure issues like severe knots don’t ruin the resulting cuts of lumber.

The green trim saw follows: this saw trims the boards to the right lengths, again cutting around knots and other defects whenever possible. The majority will be formed into 2×4 or 2×6 boards.

In the sort up bays, the boards are grouped by size. Then they are placed in the stacker, which packages them together so they can dry in the 230-degree kiln. This drying process in West Fraser’s three massive 52-foot-long “ovens” removes moisture, preventing warping in the wood.

The dry boards then get a final polish in the planer, which smooths their tops and bottoms as they whip through at a speed of 1500 feet per minute.

Finally, the boards are packaged and moved to the warehouse, where they’ll await shipment to nearby stores and businesses.

A sustainable process

With as many as a thousand trees being harvested in one day on one logging site, and so many homes and buildings continuously being built around us, it’s only natural to wonder: will we run out of trees? Sustainable forestry is designed to make sure we have a reliable wood supply that won’t run out.

As soon as a mature forest is harvested, our foresters begin making plans for the next forest that will take its place. Typically, within a year of the harvest, the next generation of trees will be planted on that same property. It will be ready just in time for the lumber needs that arise 20 years from now.

We also safeguard the wood supply by ensuring we only harvest a certain amount of trees in each area each year. The result is a mosaic of different ages of trees in our forests. That not only ensures that there will be a reliable wood supply every year, but it also creates a variety of habitats for the wildlife that lives within our forest ecosystem. Younger stands have more vegetation, like berry bushes and flowers. Older stands offer shade and shelter.

With sustainable forestry, trees do it all: they provide clean air and a home for wildlife during their lifetime. When they’re harvested, they meet countless needs as they become products like lumber and cardboard and paper goods. They’re also used to make cellulose, an ingredient in 1000s of products, including medicines, paints, foods, even touchscreens. And all the while, when trees become products, they continue to store carbon for the lifetime of the product they become. It doesn’t get any more sustainable than that!

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There’s no arguing that the West Coast has had catastrophic fire seasons in recent years. Wildfires have burned millions of acres across California, Oregon and Washington, leaving families grieving for lost loved ones, homes, businesses and even entire towns. 

It’s excruciating to witness on television and social media and absolutely terrifying for those who live through it firsthand. 

Many are left asking: how on earth did these fires get so large and out of control?

For answers, most of us turned to our trusted news outlets, where various experts, politicians and even celebrities weighed in with their opinions on the cause and who’s to blame. The focus was primarily climate change, high winds and weather, with some concerns about lackluster forest management thrown into the mix.

Could better forest management make a difference, reducing or even preventing mega fires in the future?

Two of New England Forestry’s West Coast foresters who are experienced with wildfires and fire prevention share how forest management can and does prevent forest fires while maintaining the health of our precious forests and ecosystems.

What is Forest Management?

Forest management is a rigorous, methodical and time-tested combination of practices and technologies designed in part to reduce the severity and frequency of forest fires and mega fires.

According to our experts, before you can understand forest management in the context of forest fire prevention, you have to understand the different types of wildfires.

There are three key types of wildfires:

• Crown fires engulf the tops of trees and, with the help of high winds, can leap as much as a half mile. These are the most dangerous and difficult to control (this is what happened in Oregon in 2020).
• Surface fires only burn the surface of the landscape and are the least threatening because they are easiest to put out.
• Ground fires can burn beneath leaf litter, peat moss, and other debris, damaging the trees and even the soil. These are dangerous because they can go undetected for months and even smolder unseen until the weather warms up. Then they can become a potential source of a crown fire.

In a managed setting, like a New England Forestry forest, a variety of forest management tools are used. Different fire conditions exist in different regions, and thus different management tactics are deployed.

See our video of our Southeast forest rangers team, which often deals with fires in marshlands, here. 

Forest management tools we use in the Pacific Northwest include:

• Creating fire breaks, which are wide, open areas that can stop fire spread by the removal of the vegetation that fuels it. This is done with tractors or other heavy equipment.
• Properly spacing planted trees.
• Reducing vegetation which, if left unchecked, acts as fuel for a fire. 
• Choosing root rot resistant trees, which are less susceptible to fire than diseased trees. 
• Thinning forests, which is removing weak and diseased trees to give healthy trees more space.
• Controlled burns to reduce fuels.
• Monitoring the forest for pests and diseases. 
• Fertilizing occasionally to strengthen healthy trees. 
• Diversifying tree species.

Why Healthy Tree Plantations are Less Likely to Burn

“Much of what we do to manage forests and prevent fires involves managing a healthy, fast-growing forest,” explains New England Forestry Senior Resource Land Manager Jessica Josephs. “It’s like anything else: when you’re healthy and strong, you have the ability to avoid sickness like the flu. It’s the same for trees.”

Well-managed forests retain more moisture and resist damage from insects and disease

On a tree farm like New England Forestry’s, trees are naturally bred and managed to resist insects and disease, making them less likely to die and dry out—which would make them prime fuel for wildfires. They’re also spaced apart in a way that optimizes their access to water, allowing them to hold a healthy amount of moisture.

“You’d be amazed,” Jessica says. “When we’ve had small wildfires, the fire will actually stop, especially in a young plantation. The trees hold so much moisture, they’ll either stop or slow the fire dramatically. And that’s even true of larger trees. When trees are healthy and functioning and translocating water, they can withstand a small fire.”

Thinning forests eliminates many of the weak trees that could fuel a fire

Neris Biciunas, a New England Forestry Resource Land Manager, elaborates on New England Forestry’s Pacific Northwest forest management practices: “We spend a considerable amount of money every year hiring contract crews to do a pre-commercial thin of forests. That reduces the number of trees in a younger stand (ages 10-20 years). We’ll go in and selectively cut down the weak or defective trees.

“Reducing the number of trees allows the whole forest to be healthier and grow vigorously so that the forest is less susceptible to fire.”

To learn more about thinning, watch our video, What is Thinning Trees, and Why Do Foresters Do It?

Controlled burning helps prevent mega fires

Controlled burns are a tool that has been used for many centuries to prevent fires. Today, working in concert with local fire officials, foresters and other landowners use small fires in specifically selected locations to rid the forest of flammable debris and underbrush.  

“Every year, I burn slash piles,” Neris says. “In order to further reduce the fire risk, the loggers will make piles of leftover branches and treetops. Then in the fall and winter, when the burning weather’s appropriate, we will light those piles on fire. The ash and charcoal that’s left behind will nourish the soil, it reduces the fire risk, and I have enough space to plant the next healthy forest.”

The long history of prescribed burning

“Prescribed” or “controlled” burning is a forest management tool that was first used by Native peoples as a way to prevent large fires and create healthier forests. The practice is still widely used today, with an estimated 6.42 million acres of forests burned via controlled burning in 2017 per data reported in the global business data platform, Statista.

“Managed fire can be part of a healthy ecosystem,” says Neris. “Back in the 1930s and 1940s when fire was largely uncontrolled in the United States, that was the impetus for deciding to fight all wildfires aggressively.

“That’s when Smokey the Bear came along. Well-intentioned foresters were concerned that there was too much fire on the landscape. Smokey helped those foresters educate the public about how to prevent fire in the forest.

“Since then, we have learned many things about how a forest functions, and particularly how important fire is to a healthy ecosystem,” Neris says.

“Smokey’s message used to be ‘All forest fires are bad,’ but really, it would be more helpful to say something like: ‘We need to manage forest fires. Use fire where appropriate, put it out where appropriate.’”

Controlled burning is frequently practiced in the United States, but experts warn it’s not being used enough to prevent mega fires like the ones we’ve experienced in recent years. This was confirmed by a recent study published in the journal Fire entitled: We’re Not Doing Enough Prescribed Fire in the Western United States to Mitigate Wildfire Risk, which showed the number of prescribed burns in the U.S. has not increased in over 20 years. Quoted in news articles across the country, the study said the findings “suggest that the best available science is not being adopted into management practices, thereby further compounding the fire deficit in the Western U.S. and the potential for more wildfire disasters.”

An honest look at the risks and benefits of prescribed burns

For all the benefits of controlled or prescribed burns, you’re still dealing with fire in a forest, so there are risks. In some forests, some of the other methods listed above may be a more favorable choice to remove fuels. But prescribed burns have clearly made an impact in preventing mega fires. 

“You don’t hear about the thousands of operations that went well, just the one that didn’t, Neris says. “With any opportunity there is risk. I am responsible for using fire as a management tool on many hundreds of acres every year. Other foresters on our team—and other landowners as well—are actively using it as a tool in the forest.  Most people don’t even notice that it is going on.”

Healthy trees critical to fire prevention on private and public lands

Regardless of the method used, prioritizing the health of America’s forests is critical. In 2020’s devastating wildfire season, nearly half of the acreage burned was on federally-protected land. Since then, there have been renewed calls among experts and politicians to provide the support needed to improve forest health across the board by reducing fuels, addressing overstocked conditions, removing dead trees and treating disease and insect infestations.

Also in our Forest Management series:

Story #2: How Forest Management Helps Protect Firefighters. A fire manager from Coos Forest Protective Association in Oregon shares how managed forests reduce risks for those fighting a wildfire.

Story #3: Preventing Wildfires and Protecting the Environment Together. Firefighters, foresters and loggers each play a role in preventing and responding to wildfires. Interviewees discuss how technology has impacted wildfire response, the role of forest management in climate change, and how the forest itself adapts to fire.

The post How Forest Management Prevents Forest Fires appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Michael Robison has spent nearly a half century fighting wildfires in western Oregon.

His life has been dedicated to protecting people from devastating fire—and that includes protecting fellow firefighters.

Michael, the District Manager of Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA), talked to us about the very different experience firefighters encounter depending on the conditions of the forest the fire is in. CFPA is a private, non-profit association based in Coos Bay, Oregon. It provides fire protection services to private corporations and private, state, county and federal lands.

His story starts with an aspect of forest conditions that has to be addressed long before wildfire season: access.

The surprising ways roads prevent and stop wildfires

Michael emphasized the under-appreciated role that well-maintained road systems play in preventing and stopping wildfires—both as fire breaks and as critical access points. 

In forestry companies like New England Forestry, forest roads are maintained in order to support forest operations, such as planting, monitoring tree growth, thinning, and harvests. These roads can be utilized for fire suppression if necessary.

Other types of forests may not have the same level of accessibility.

“Access is key. With unmanaged forested land, you’ve got road systems that may or may not be viable,” Michael says.

“Over the last 3 decades, the government has invested millions of dollars (to repair) roads that are falling apart due to the lack of active management. Those roads allow us a foothold to where there’s a fire on the landscape, so we can start anchoring and putting the fire out.”

Properly maintained roads also serve as fire breaks, which can literally stop a ground- or surface-based forest fire in its tracks. Who knew how important logging roads were after all?

Why managed forests reduce risk for the firefighters and communities around them

In addition to the advantage of well-maintained roads, Michael, who has served the public and private sectors as a firefighter since 1975, says there are many other aspects of forest management that enable firefighters to access and control a fire sooner. This reduces the likelihood a fire will get out of control, reaching the communities around the forests.

Working with foresters who know their land base well can help firefighters access the fire and a water source quickly, Michael says. For example, New England Forestry foresters regularly visit the properties and have detailed GPS maps of our ownership, including roads, water sources and important information like the properties’ topography.

Our foresters and many of the loggers we work with are also trained firefighters, and during firefighting season they bring their gear with them to work. That means there are extra hands already in the woods with firefighting knowledge.

“That’s a workforce we can pull from to help suppress a fire,” Michael says.

In fact, our foresters assist local firefighters not only with fire incidents on our own land, but also on neighboring properties. Since they’re often already in the forest, sometimes a forester or logger is first to arrive at the scene with their heavy equipment. They can begin plowing fire lines immediately and communicate with firefighters about the location and extent of the fire even before they arrive.

“Night and day difference” for firefighter safety

Managed forests have less older and dead trees, which are highly flammable and burn at a high intensity. Dead trees and limbs can also create barriers to reach a fire.

“If we have a fire in an [unmanaged] stand, before we can take care of it, we have to first go in and remove hazardous snags with tree fallers. Then crews need adequate water as they build a line without necessarily good road access,” Michael explains. 

For all of these reasons, he says, “From a firefighter safety standpoint, there is a night and day difference between putting out a fire in managed stands vs. unmanaged stands.”

Not all forests can be managed the same way. For example, a federal park would never be managed like a timber plantation. However, there are methods to improve the accessibility of  every forest—and it can have a major impact in an emergency.

Bottom line: managed land typically means easier, safer conditions for wildfire response, making firefighters more likely to safely and quickly extinguish a fire before it gets out of control.

Also in our Forest Management series:

Story #1: How Forest Management Prevents Forest Fires. New England Forestry foresters, who are also trained firefighters, share how forest management reduces wildfire risk. They explain the ways foresters prevent wildfire and why healthy tree plantations are less likely to burn out of control when fire does break out.

Story #3: Preventing Wildfires and Protecting the Environment Together. Firefighters, foresters and loggers each play a role in preventing and responding to wildfires. Interviewees discuss how technology has impacted wildfire response, the role of forest management in climate change, and how the forest itself adapts to fire.

The post How Forest Management Helps Protect Firefighters appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

During the dry season of the year, they wake up thinking about fire.

They start the workday by checking the weather, loading their firefighting gear in their trucks, and never straying far from the heavy equipment they use to fight fires when they do break out.

If you think this was a description of firefighters, you’re only half right: we’re talking about foresters and loggers who are ready to fight fires at a moment’s notice. The woods are full of them.

How New England Forestry’s foresters help protect forests, the ecosystems within them and the environment

In the first story in our Forest Management series, we talked about the many ways foresters work to eliminate fire hazards and defend forests against fire in the off season, such as controlled burning, thinning forests, and optimizing tree health to ensure they’re hydrated well enough to fend off small fires.

In addition to all the active forest management tools employed, many of New England Forestry’s field employees are also trained firefighters.

In the Pacific Northwest, New England Forestry Senior Resource Land Manager Jessica Josephs says, “Most have qualified as a Firefighter II (a national designation) and several are ‘red carded’” — having passed the national endurance test to work on federal fires. In the Southeast, New England Forestry has trained forest rangers, whose primary job function is fire prevention and response. You can read more about our forest ranger team here.

“We are really a first response team trying to control fires on our property before they get very big,” Jessica says. “On several of our tree farms we have a fleet of water tenders and other equipment such as pumps and hoses. We work in conjunction with the different states to protect our property. We’re also active participants in regional firefighting associations.”

Firefighters feel safer, more equipped to fight fire

One of those associations is Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) in western Oregon, a nonprofit that responds to forest fires on private and public lands in its 1.5 million-acre, 140 mile-long district.

As we explained in our second story in this series, CFPA foresters feel safer and more equipped to fight fire in well-managed forests. The lower fuel density and well-maintained road systems enable them to access the fire more quickly; foresters who know the land base can easily help them navigate to the fire; and, since many foresters and loggers are trained in firefighting, they can lend a helping hand.

How technology is giving firefighters an edge

CFPA District Manager Michael Robison has seen a lot of change since he began fighting wildfires in the 1970s. One of the most positive strides has been in the technology that alerts his team when fire breaks out. Though technology can never replace the value of humans in the woods, it has given them a growing advantage over the last 30 years. CFPA uses special cameras to help differentiate mist from smoke and detect fires.

“In the old days everyone had lookouts that were staffed. They would look over the landscape every day and report fires,” Michael says. “Starting in 2007-2008, we started phasing away from that legacy program and placing detection cameras. 

Year-round fire monitoring

“Essentially, it’s a camera that’s linked to a network and they’re all linked together and monitored daily. They’re geo-referenced, which means you can pinpoint the location of a fire when you see it. This usually is better than a person can do with the naked eye, and the cameras have a nighttime mode on them, where you can switch them from day to night to assist firefighters with locating a fresh fire start. The cameras also have sensors and can sound alarms when a new fire start is detected.”

Michael added that another big benefit of the detection cameras is that they can be used year-round, whereas lookouts were only budgeted to be staffed during forest fire season. “Like this year we had a fire started by a hunter after fire season. We wouldn’t have spotted it without the camera.”

CFPA also uses a computerized system to keep track of the weather from a variety of weather stations, which helps the association set fire danger levels for the public and industrial clients.

Can forest management really make a difference in adapting to and mitigating climate change?

“For many, this year has been a wake-up call for better forest management,” says Neris Biciunas, a New England Forestry Resource Land Manager.

“The primary narrative of, ‘fires are getting bigger, hotter and worse’ is a real short-term analysis,” he says.

While he acknowledged there has been an increase in acreage burned since the 1960s, fire is not new to America’s forests. In fact, between about 1910 (when records of burned areas started to be collected) and 1960, the amount of area burned every year was regularly 20-50 Million acres per year! In the last few decades, a bad fire year covered 10 million acres. See the data in this analysis of National Interagency Fire Center records.

Not necessarily “gone forever”

The impact of the fires isn’t always represented accurately either, Neris says.

“When a fire burns through an area you hear was ‘destroyed’ and ‘gone forever,’ that often just isn’t the case,” Neris says. “The fires that burned through the redwoods last summer, most of the trees survived that fire!” (This NBC News report has the details.)

“Redwood is a fire-tolerant species, as are many of the species in the Pacific Northwest, which are fire-adapted. It’s not a deal-killer for them. There are negative side effects of a very hot, intensive fire, but that’s a strong argument for using controlled, targeted, low-intensity fire to prevent mega fires.”

No matter what your opinion on the role of climate in today’s wildfires, it cannot be denied that removing forest fire fuel (debris, dead trees, sick trees, etc.), maintaining healthy forests and employing other aspects of forest management we’ve explored in this series can continue to reduce the impact from fires in the years to come. 

That’s better for our communities’ safety, the ecosystems of the creatures that live in the forest, and the forests, themselves, which are essential to providing the clean air and water we all rely on. For more on how our forests sequester carbon and store it even after the trees become products, you can view the New England Forestry Carbon Report here. And you can learn more about working forests’ impact on water quality here.

“Foresters were the first environmentalists”

The forestry community has been studying ways to reduce fire and fire risk for generations—to protect both our communities and our livelihood.

Jessica says practices like that are the reason forestry exists:

“Foresters are often painted as anti-environmentalists but I’d argue that foresters were the first environmentalists. That’s how forestry came to be—an early understanding that forests needed to be managed, to use the resource judiciously and stop wasteful practices.

“My foresters are the first to stop and watch an elk herd as they move through an area. Sure, they nip our trees, but everyone still stops to enjoy their majesty. Everyone has stories about seeing bears, cougars, bobcats, etc., always told with a thrill and wonder. My folks watch stands they planted grow and develop like a proud parent. And when something devastates a stand, old or young, folks are really impacted—and not just for loss of value. Driving through some of the burned areas and seeing the loss of wonderful, stately, healthy stands takes everyone’s breath away.

“Foresters as a group love the woods. That’s why we got into forestry. Think about it: who loves the forest more than folks who spend 30+ hours a week in the forest — rain, shine…or fire?”

Also in our Forest Management series:

Story #1: How Forest Management Prevents Forest Fires. New England Forestry foresters, who are also trained firefighters, share how forest management reduces wildfire risk. They explain the ways foresters prevent wildfire and why healthy tree plantations are less likely to burn out of control when fire does break out.

Story #2: How Forest Management Helps Protect Firefighters. A fire manager from Coos Forest Protective Association in Oregon shares how managed forests reduce risks for those fighting a wildfire.

Further Reading

If you’d like to know more about New England Forestry’s firefighting efforts, read our interview and watch the video of our Southeast Coast forest rangers team here.

The post Preventing Wildfires and Protecting the Environment Together appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

KINGSLAND, Georgia—Did you know a single tree might be used to produce multiple products, such as lumber, plywood and paper pulp?

A harvest operation does not simply involve taking trees and loading them onto trucks. Rather, they are carefully inspected one-by-one, sorted by size and quality, cut to specific lengths, and sent to different facilities depending on what they are destined to become.

The most important role in a harvest is that of the loader operator. With a trained eye, he or she can determine how to sort the logs without ever stepping out of the cab of the loader. The operator must judge the logs’ diameter, straightness and overall form to determine how to cut them and what products they will ultimately become.

One Tree Makes Many Products

During a recent harvest, Timber Marketing Manager Rusty Cobb walked the length of one tree that had been set aside for demonstration purposes. He explained that single tree would be cut into three pieces:

• Thanks to its large (above 8-inches) diameter and its straightness, the first two 19-foot, 5-inch sections of the tree would make excellent export logs. This is the most valuable use for logs on this property.
• The skinnier top of the tree didn’t have enough diameter to become an export log. Instead, it would become a 25-foot chip-n-saw log, used to make boards and paper pulp.

A loader operator makes the same type of determination for thousands of trees during the course of the harvest. Different log sorts will be loaded onto different trailers, which will then be driven to various mills or export yards.

Types of Products Southern Yellow Pines Become

Here are the products New England Forestry’s Southern Yellow Pine forests are typically sorted into, in order from most valuable to least:

• Export logs. These high-value logs are cut to shipping container length, then they’re shipped to countries in other parts of the world, which use them to make lumber and veneer.
• Poles. Also meeting very specific standards for straightness, size and quality, these logs are destined to become utility poles or pilings for structures like docks. Watch how our foresters identify poles in this video.
• Domestic Saw Timber. The next-best use for a large, straight log without defect is domestic saw timber. These logs are made into larger lumber, such as 2X10s and 2X8s. 
• Chip-N-Saw. These logs are used to make smaller cuts of lumber, like 2x4s and 2X6s, with leftovers chipped and used for pulp.
• Canterwood. While smaller and thus less valuable than Chip-N-Saw, canterwood makes small boards. Again, the rest of the wood is chipped and used for pulp.
• Pulpwood. The logs used for pulpwood are smaller in diameter and / or crooked, knotty or flawed, thus not ideal for making into lumber. Pulpwood is broken down into pulp, then made into paper and thousands of everyday products. You can read about many of the little-known products made from pulpwood here.

The Result of More Than 20 Years of Work

So how did the trees get to this point? Here’s a quick overview of the work our foresters put into it:

• A specific group of trees called a stand was planted in this location by a forester 20 years or more ago.
• Over the decades that followed, our team kept an eye on how the forest was progressing. Early in its lifecycle, we may have used herbicide to eliminate competing weeds that would have killed the trees or stunted their growth.
• We may have given the trees fertilizer as needed over the years to encourage their growth.
• If we saw any sign of disease or insect infestation, we worked to eliminate it as quickly as possible.
• And about 10-15 years after planting, we thinned the forest, taking weaker and diseased trees to the pulp mill. That left more space for the strongest trees to grow to their full potential.

As a Timber Marketing Manager, it’s Rusty’s job to make that 20+ year investment pay off. To do that, he estimates what types of products are in the stand of trees even before the harvest begins. He does this by measuring plots in the timber stand (see his demonstration of a timber cruise here). Once he has an idea of the value, he can either directly sell the timber to various facilities, hiring a logging crew to harvest and deliver the timber, or he can sell the standing timber to a dealer who will then manage the logging and sales to the mills.

What Happens After a Timber Harvest

Once the harvest is complete, planning for the next generation of trees begins. If needed, the land will be prepared through raking or chopping debris to break it down; plowing the soil into long mounds if the water table is high; and then planting the next stand of trees, ideally within a year of the harvest. Then the cycle begins all over again, with foresters nurturing that forest for another 20+ years until it’s time to harvest again. Laid out like a patchwork quilt in the forest, each stand of trees is at a different stage in the lifecycle, allowing a richly diverse habitat for the wildlife of the forest and ensuring a steady supply of wood for generations to come.

The post What Happens During a Timber Harvest? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

April Meeks is a forestry nerd—and she embraces the title proudly. The New England Forestry Tree Improvement Scientist and Research and Development Coordinator loves math, computer models and the outdoors. 

“I grew up in the woods,” says the North Carolina native. “My parents really fostered an environment for me to appreciate the environment—the trees and the plants and the animals.” 

Discovering Forestry

April began her education at Appalachian State University where she studied environmental science. She knew she wanted to work in some aspect of the outdoors or the environment, but it was pretty broad. Then, she discovered forestry and had what she describes as an “aha moment.” 

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I need to be doing—working with trees!’” says April. “I learned how much you get to use math and take what you see in the environment and come back to the computer and run different analyses to make projections for what the future might hold.” 

Math, data science, outdoor adventure: forestry checked all her boxes, but April knew she’d need more education. That’s when she enrolled in the Master of Science in Forestry program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. While there she focused on silviculture. April graduated with her MSc in Forestry in 2015 and decided to continue on at NCSU. She’s currently working toward a Ph.D. with a concentration in forest genetics. 

“My favorite thing about studying forestry is being able to learn about how a tree grows and everything that it takes to make a tree grow,” she says. “The more I learned, the more I wanted. I just couldn’t get enough. That’s why I kept pursuing degrees.”

The Forest as a Living Laboratory

NCSU is one of the country’s top forestry schools, and a big part of its success is students’ access to forest land used for hands-on research and training. NCSU students have access to 85,000 acres of land contained in the Hosley, Goodwin, Gates, Taylor, Timaca, Lee and Hofmann forests. The College of Natural Resources controls another 9,000 acres in the Hill, Schenck, and Bull Neck Swamp tracts. These living laboratories allow students to get out of the classroom and into the forests throughout the course of their education. 

Although she was not able to attend one, herself, April says NCSU’s summer intensive field camps have an excellent reputation. These summer studies, which involve traveling to several different forests, allow students to gain valuable practical knowledge and start to see what a career in forestry could look like.

“You cover everything in forestry in a hands-on manner,” April explains. “It’s that communication through hands-on learning that is really amazing.”

April was able to work for two forestry research cooperatives during her time as a graduate assistant at NCSU. 

“We would do intensive field work in small teams in different parts of the South,” she says. “One time, we were in Alabama in July outside and we were dying from the heat. So, I went and bought Popsicles for everybody. Basically, I said, ‘Go measure this rep, and then you can have a Popsicle’ to keep the team high-spirited and keep them going.”

April has a lot of fond memories of her time at NCSU, but it’s mostly because she truly loves the work.  

“It’s really fascinating to me to be able to take a living organism and correlate that to math, and then take that math and play with it and make projections with it,” she says. “It was the coupling of analytical skills with being outside in the fresh air—it was challenging. I am one of those personalities that need to be challenged and forestry fit the bill.” 

Women Welcome in Forestry

April was the first woman to graduate from Appalachian State with an environmental science degree, so she’s used to being the only woman in her classes. When she got to forestry school at NCSU, it wasn’t much different. 

“My classes in forestry school were all guys, my professors were all men, but I was really surprised at how welcomed I was into the community,” she says. “Everyone there was so excited that I was excited about forestry. The mentorship that I received was just superb. The community as a whole is very open and they just want to foster learning. It’s really a good community.”

Advice for Future Forestry Students

Now working for New England Forestry out of our Andalusia, Alabama, office, April has a very simple piece of advice for students considering whether to study forestry: “Do it. You won’t regret it.” 

“It’s really that simple for those interested in forestry, looking for something fast-paced and fun. There’s math behind it, policy behind it, and it’s a good way to challenge yourself to be a better steward of the environment too.” 

The post A “Forestry Nerd” and Loving It appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Ask a dozen forestry students how they discovered their field, and at least half will tell you they never heard of forestry until college.

Looking for a career that makes a positive impact on the world, college students are increasingly drawn to environmental and nature-related studies across the U.S. However, forestry, one of the higher-demand, better-paying fields in the natural resources realm, is lesser-known.

“If you want to protect the environment, work with wildlife, improve water and air quality, and reduce carbon in the world around you, forestry offers all of those things,” says Shelby Pyatt, New England Forestry’s Vice President of Human Resources and IT. 

A Mission to Attract More Students to Forestry 

It’s New England Forestry’s hope that the next generation of students discover forestry sooner. The field offers a variety of opportunities for students, regardless of whether they’re the “outdoorsy” type.

“There are so many sides to it,” Shelby says. “There truly is something for everyone in this field.”

Forestry graduates have the option to work outdoors in the woods, or to dig deep into forecasting models and crunch numbers on what the future may hold as the trees grow. A forester may work in a public-private partnerships to protect important water sources or work to conserve a special forest where a rare plant thrives. Identifying and protecting wildlife habitat is an integral part of forestry. And tech lovers can actively use tools like LiDAR, drones and GIS mapping software.

In an effort to help students understand the rich breadth and depth of what forestry has to offer sooner, Shelby says New England Forestry is working to reach students at the high school and middle school level by partnering with schools, communities and other forestry organizations.

So What Exactly is Forestry? 

Forestry is a unique mix of art and science.

The science part uses biology, chemistry, math and ecology to inform a forester’s decisions about how best to care for the forest ecosystem. But, as explained by the University of Kentucky’s Forestry and Natural Resources site, science is only part of the decision-making process: 

Foresters must apply their knowledge in a decision-making arena where good solutions are not always obvious, conflicting human interests must be considered, and conflicting opinions must be compromised. This need for experienced judgment, diplomacy and tact constitutes the art of forestry.

“At New England Forestry, we provide our foresters with a lot of tools to get the data they need, but we also trust them to balance that with the experiences they have in the field,” Shelby explains. “They make thoughtful decisions that balance all of the factors involved.”

For example, a forester may consider data on the soil type, topography and wildlife habitat when deciding which type of trees to plant and what planting method to use in a particular area. But after walking in neighboring forests, the forester may observe something about the microclimate or the growth and health of neighboring trees that impacts that plan.

What Types of Careers Can Foresters Choose? 

The best thing about a career in forestry, according to Craig Blair, President and CEO of Resource Management Service, is that there really is a place for everyone—no matter their interests, skill sets, or career goals. 

“You don’t have to have a history of love for the outdoors or exposure to the outdoors to find a great career in forestry,” he says. “No matter what your talents are, there’s a career path in this business because it is just so diverse.” 

This chart outlines some of the options, depending on a student’s area of interest:

The way Blair sees it, the possibilities are many and the future is bright.

“Right now, it is a seller’s market if you’re a smart forestry graduate, and it’s been that way for a while. … I think there are a lot of growth areas in this field that will create opportunities for bright, passionate people to have challenging careers to look back on when they’re done and feel like they’ve made a difference.”

Lack of Awareness One of the Biggest Challenges in Forestry

It’s an interesting field, but one where most of the work takes place deep in the woods, where few get to see how it works. Many forestry representatives have an uphill climb when introducing future college students to the field.

“I went to speak at a high school in Knightdale, North Carolina,” recalls Sam Cook, executive director of forest assets at NC State University. “I bet you it was close to 75 kids, and 90 percent were minorities. They were only talking about environmental science and social justice. They had no knowledge of the word forestry.” 

Sam is working to build a program with that same school focused on forest literacy and introducing high schoolers to the concept of a career in forestry. Having “stumbled upon” forestry, himself, more than 30 years ago, he relishes spreading the word about forestry degrees and careers. 

“Forestry was not even on my radar when I was their age, but it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole career,” he says. 

When he was in high school, Sam’s sister encouraged him to look into a forestry degree at Tuskegee University, where he could leverage his love of the outdoors into a meaningful career. It wasn’t until his second year in the program during an internship with International Paper that he realized he’d been living in a forestry household all along. 

“My dad and brother both worked for a paper mill. I had no idea that the forest industry was impacting what they do every day, because nobody came home and talked about what they did,” he says. “That internship opened my eyes to the connecting points between trees being grown and harvested, delivered to a mill, processed and coming out with a finished product. And I could see myself in the food chain.”

Sam finished his forestry degree at NC State and built a career working across the forestry industry for private companies, nonprofit organizations and the government before taking his role in forestry education. 

Is Forestry A Viable Path? 

Once students are introduced to forestry as a possible degree, Sam likes to walk students and their parents or caregivers through the ins and outs of a degree in forestry. He often finds himself in conversation around a table with a parent who wants their child to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. It’s his job to introduce them to an equally viable career path in forestry. 

“I shape what we do in forestry around those three aspects: We offer forest engineers, forest ecologists, forest biologists. You can be a forester and get into social science if you want to just do research and deal with people,” he says. “I’ll walk through the many types of jobs and opportunities as it relates to forestry, and I showcase to them the many different people out there that are doing these jobs with a forestry degree.”

As for earning potential, Sam lays it out clearly for potential students and their caregivers. 

“If you come out your first year and you start working for the government, you may end up with a salary offer of about $35,000 to $40,000 with benefits,” he says. “In private industry, a typical starting salary is somewhere between $55,000 and—if they have a master’s—it can get as high as $65,000. How many people leave their first year and possibly get a brand-new vehicle, a paid cell phone, and a good salary? And to get to be out in the woods and set your own day?”

It’s not just “cutting trees”

Sam says misconceptions about what foresters do and even what the industry stands for has been one of the toughest challenges in attracting students. 

“Most people, when they think about forestry, it is no different than what I was thinking about when I was growing up,” he says. “The forester to me was the person out there cutting the trees.”

And isn’t cutting trees a bad thing?

In truth, foresters by trade are committed to understanding forest ecosystems and working out sustainable ways to use and replace forest materials. Foresters plant multiple trees for every tree they harvest, then nurture that crop for decades before the logs go to market. And only so many trees are cleared from one area at a time, ensuring the ecosystem remains for wildlife.

Meanwhile, the products from the forest end up everywhere: from the wood used to build furniture and houses, to paper products like toilet paper and cardboard, to 1000s of lesser-known products that depend on the forest, such as diapers, touch screen phones, medicines, paints, bath products and countless others. Is it any wonder the field is in such high demand?

Changing misconceptions can be slow work, and Sam believes it should start even before students are picking a college major. One organization making headway in student education is the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. In 2017, SFI partnered with Project Learning Tree to create a forest literacy and environmental education curriculum designed for early childhood, elementary, middle and high school students. 

“That really helps change the narrative as it relates to what we do every day,” says Sam.

As students become more aware of the importance of forestry in their everyday lives, perhaps more will see the potential in studying forestry.

“It’s a rewarding industry to be a part of,” says New England Forestry’s Shelby. “You’re doing so much good for the environment, providing so many products consumers need, and you’re doing it all in a sustainable way.”

The post The Little-Known Field that Protects the Environment and Pays Well appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

One seemingly small decision can change where your life is headed.

Sarah de Gouw was one year into pursuing a science degree at New Zealand’s University of Canterbury when she decided to take a forestry course as an elective. By the end of the course, she knew forestry was the career for her.

“Forestry combined my passion for the outdoors with environmental management, sustainability and what I had learned in the beginning of my science degree,” says Sarah, now a New England Forestry harvest forester in Southland, New Zealand. “I knew absolutely nothing about the industry until I took that course.”

It was an exciting discovery for two reasons: first, because it was such an interesting field, with a wide range of subjects, the kind of hands-on work Sarah loves and even field trips across the South and North islands. Secondly, forestry expertise was (and is) in high-demand in the workforce, with many jobs available throughout New Zealand for forestry graduates.

A Wide Variety of Subjects

The more Sarah learned about forestry, the more she confirmed this was where she belonged. 

“The wide variety of subjects that we studied was surprising, everything from economics and engineering to biosecurity, silviculture and wood science,” she says. “The advancement of technology in the industry was also surprising.”

Sarah was able to see how drones, winch-assist machines and other tech was changing the landscape of forestry work, making it safer, more efficient and environmentally-friendly.

“Most classes also had a lab component, which created variety and a chance to complete some practical work or assignments that imitated scenarios in our potential future jobs,” Sarah says. 

Studying forestry was exciting and interesting, but also took a lot of hard work. Determined to get her Bachelor of Forestry Science with honors, she spent many early mornings and late nights in the computer lab and library.

“For me the most challenging part was the statistics courses, as math had never been my strongest point. But the lectures are amazing as well as your classmates, so it was easy to get extra help when needed,” she says.

A Closeknit Group

The school’s forestry classes were small, and the bonds between forestry students were strong. Sarah became involved in the Forestry Society, known as FORSOC, which united forestry students throughout the university. There were also special Women in Forestry events.

“Even several years after graduating, whenever we are in the same city as other classmates, we still catch up for a BBQ or drink,” Sarah says.

Discovering New England Forestry through an Internship

When summer break came around, Sarah made some new friends in her summer internships, joining the New England Forestry team each summer.

“Summer student jobs were advertised through the School of Forestry at uni,” she recalls. “New England Forestry employees and the contractors are all great people, and it creates a work environment that is enjoyable to be a part of.”

The internships gave her real-life experience in the type of work she wanted to do:

“During the summer, I worked as a part of the New England Forestry Canterbury office. I helped create harvests plans, QC logs, QC blocks that had been thinned and complete assessments of significant ecological areas.”

After graduation, Sarah knew where she wanted to go: she immediately began working for New England Forestry.

“The people and high standards were inspiring and something I wanted to contribute to. The ability for growth and development opportunities was also appealing,” she says.

Sarah uses principles she learned at university regularly in her career with New England Forestry.

“Basic harvest planning principles and creating maps using ArcMap are skills that I use every week in my current role,” she says. “Time management is also an important skill to ensure jobs and projects are completed on time.”

Some of her favorite aspects of her work are catching up with contractors in the forest, working on harvest plans and problem solving.

“It is rewarding to be working for a company in a sustainable industry that cares about our environmental impact,” she says. 

Advice for Future Forestry Students

For students considering a forestry degree, Sarah says it is a great first step into a promising career.

“The degree is specialised for the industry and the types of jobs you are mostly likely to apply for when you graduate, so you will be well-prepared when you complete your degree,” she says.

It’s also just plain enjoyable.

“University as a forestry major was so much fun. The class sizes were small so you got to know your classmates and lecturers well. And the wide variety of subjects meant that every semester was different.”

There’s also variety in job options within the field.

“The forest industry provides so many opportunities,” Sarah says. “You can be involved in any part of the ‘cycle’ all the way from the very beginning—when land prepping of a block for planting occurs—to the sale of the logs to customers around the world, and all the many jobs in between.”

The post One Forestry Class Changed Everything for this NZ Forester appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

Johnathan Brown came to Alabama A&M University knowing he wanted to be a forestry major. He also knew he wanted to be a FireDawg. 

“My counselor in high school, who also attended AAMU, told me to look into becoming a FireDawg,” he says. “There are not many black Americans in the field of fire, and not many people know you can make a career out of fire and that took it over the top for me.” 

Johnathan is currently president of the student-led organization. 

The FireDawgs, launched in 2009, are trained by the Alabama Forestry Commission to fight wildfires, manage controlled burns and educate the public on fire prevention. The organization has been funded by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Southern Research Station and Southern Region since 2010. Other partners include the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Birmingham Water Works Board, and the Alabama Prescribed Fire Council. In 2015, the FireDawgs signed a formal 5-year agreement with the Alabama State Park system to implement prescribed burning on state lands.

What Does a FireDawg Do? 

There are 21 FireDawgs on this year’s AAMU squad. Most are forestry majors. 

“The thing about FireDawgs that makes us unique is we are family oriented,” says Johnathan. “All the way up to graduation, and into careers or graduate school, being a FireDawg connects you to other alumni or incoming freshmen that are trying to find their way through our forestry program.”

Fighting fires together certainly can create family-like bonds, but a future FireDawg’s first challenge comes early on. In order to help fight wildfires, each member has to pass an intense agility test that includes carrying a 45 lb. pack across 3 miles in 45 minutes. 

From there, FireDawgs are really put to the test. Students are trained in prescribed burns and wildfire suppression, not in the classroom but with hands-on, live fire experiences. When a wildfire is raging in the state, the Alabama Forestry Commission will reach out to the Dawgs for support. 

Former FireDawg DeShaun Mincey recalls a time when the group beat the forestry service to a wildfire and led the charge in fighting it on the side of a mountain. 

“Our job was to put in fire lines to stop the fire from jumping the field,” he says. “We used chainsaws, rakes and garden hoes.”

When not literally walking through fire, the FireDawgs spread the word about careers in forestry.  

“We are available for career days. We will gladly visit elementary, middle, and high schools, conferences and summits to bring more awareness and educate other colleges and universities about what we do and who we are,” says Johnathan.

Spreading Like Wildfire

It turns out the Dawgs are pretty good ambassadors for a career in forestry. 

DeShaun started at AAMU in 2016 as an environmental science major. He liked being outdoors, so it seemed like a natural fit. 

When DeShaun arrived at AAMU, his cousin, a forestry major, introduced him to the FireDawgs’ then faculty advisor, Daryl Lawson. The group dynamic of the Dawgs and the challenges inherent in a forestry career appealed to him. He changed his major to forestry and stayed with the FireDawgs until he graduated in 2020. 

Read DeShaun’s full story of his journey from Navy helicopter mechanic to forester in our article, Forestry Puts Alabama A&M Grad in the Middle of the Action.

DeShaun is now working as a technical forester at New England Forestry’s Jesup, Georgia location. 

Even though his job doesn’t involve much burning these days, it is in large part because of the FireDawgs that he found his current career. His time with the FireDawgs also gave him valuable insight into the importance of fire in a sustainable forest ecosystem. 

“To be a well-rounded forester you need to know fire,” he says. “You need to know how fires move if you’re out in the woods. If your company needs extra hands on the ground, if they wanted to do a prescribed burn or if they put you in that role as a burn manager, it’s very important as a forester to know fires.”

The FireDawgs crew is unique to Alabama, but the idea is spreading like—well—wildfire. The Dawgs have lent advice to the FireCats housed within the forestry department at the University of Kentucky, which had its first fire season in 2014. 

The Dawgs have also found opportunities to provide inspiration and support for other Historically Black Colleges and Universities in creating their own student-led fire programs. Collaborations among HBCUs “stoke the pipeline for training forest fire fighters from diverse backgrounds,” according to AAMU sources, and support from an established group could help other HBCUs build deeper capacity for training students in high-demand forestry careers. 

Jobs for Dawgs

Johnathan will graduate in May 2022. He is currently working as an intern for the U.S. Forest Service in Washington state. Post-graduation, he plans to return to Washington and work toward a master’s degree. “Afterwards, I would like to make my way through the different regions of the Forest Service so that I can appreciate the different cultures of the United States and then settle here in Alabama,” he says.

Johnathan draws a direct connection from the lessons he’s learned as a FireDawg to his future career ambitions. 

“Being able to come into college and have hands-on experience as a freshman in fire has allowed me to gain knowledge quicker than my peers at other schools,” he says. “Gaining knowledge as a FireDawg has equipped me to be prepared and to know what to look for and ask the right questions in the field. Not only that, being a FireDawg has helped me develop myself as a team player and a leader.”

The post AAMU FireDawgs Fight and Prevent Alabama Wildfires appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Whether guiding a helicopter landing on a ship, or fighting a raging forest fire on a mountainside, DeShaun Mincey thrives when he’s in the middle of the action.

That’s what attracted the New England Forestry Technical Forester to pursue a forest science degree. 

“Other students just sit in class all day, but in forestry we’re in the forest, walking around, driving ATVs, traveling. We have a good time,” says the Alabama A&M graduate.

A Uvaldia, Georgia, native, DeShaun hadn’t heard of forestry when he started college as an environmental science major.

A Unique Team of Wildland Firefighters

Then he met the school’s wildland firefighting team, the FireDawgs. Most of the members were forestry students. DeShaun applied for the team—and switched majors—that day.

The FireDawgs are one of the only college forest firefighter teams in the state of Alabama. Trained by the Alabama Forestry Commission, they fight wildfires, manage controlled burns and educate the public on fire prevention.

Learn more about the team in our interview with FireDawgs President Jonathan Brown, AAMU FireDawgs Fight and Prevent Alabama Wildfires.

DeShaun quickly confirmed that the team, and forestry, were the perfect fit. From a very early age, he hunted with his grandfather and developed a passion for the outdoors. Add to that the excitement of the wide variety of responsibilities foresters take on, including fire prevention and management, and he knew he was in the right place.

“We do a lot,” he said. “We build maps, study soil science, take site indexes to see how well a tree can grow on different sites. We cruise forests to determine the value of the timber. We do prescribed burns, wetland studies. I enjoy it all.”

A Military Discipline

DeShaun is known for his disciplined approach to continuing to make himself better in school and in life.

“I got that drive from the military,” he says.

DeShaun served in the U.S. Navy for four years. Joining right after high school, he rose in the ranks to become a helicopter mechanic. Working aboard the carrier ship U.S.S. Roosevelt, he not only repaired and inspected helicopters, but also directed their landings when the carrier was out to sea.

Volunteering with the Fire Dawgs

After his four years in the Navy wrapped up, DeShaun started college. It was not long after the school year started that he tried out for the Fire Dawgs. It wasn’t easy to make the team: each member has to pass an intense agility test, carrying a 45 lb. pack across 3 miles in 45 minutes.

“Last fall we fought a fire on the side of a mountain,” DeShaun recalls. “We hopped on it before the U.S. forest service came.

“Our job was to put in fire lines to stop the fire from jumping the field. We used chainsaws, rakes and garden hoes.”

Advice for future students

DeShaun highly recommends studying forestry.

“Look into it!” he says. “You get to travel all the time, you’re outside a lot, it’s never boring. It’s a great career field.”

He says the Alabama A&M Forestry faculty actively presents opportunities to students.

“They were always coming to us with places we could go, scholarships we could apply for,” he says. “I traveled to so many places while I was in college: Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina.”

Why all the travel? Forestry students need to experience forests in different climates, so they often travel for classes. They also attend national forestry conferences and a special annual event called Conclave, in which they compete in both academic and “lumberjack” style events. You can learn more about the action-packed competition in our article about the 2019 Conclave in Louisiana, which DeShaun attended.

DeShaun says the forestry industry will continue to become more diverse as more youths learn about the field.

“Sometimes I wonder how people never heard of it. Everything is made of wood!” he says. 

Working for New England Forestry

DeShaun graduated in December 2020 and immediately began his job as a technical forester at New England Forestry’s Jesup, Georgia, location.

“My favorite quote is, if you’re distracted, you’re not focused,” DeShaun says. “So I focus and work hard on becoming the best forester and overall individual I can be. I enjoy working for New England Forestry and the Coastal Resource Unit. I’ve learned a lot from my supervisor and colleagues in the short amount of time I’ve been here. This job is by far the best job I ever had.”

The post Forestry Puts Alabama A&M Grad In the Middle of the Action appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

LUFKIN, Texas—New England Forestry Technical Forester Brody Capps grew up loving the outdoors, but he didn’t know how to make it into a career—until his career found him through an after-school job.

His mom had heard from a coworker that a land management company was looking to hire. Brody, a high school sophomore at the time, applied for the job and was soon spending his nights, weekends and summers working on properties across Texas and even out-of-state.

“We did a lot of forestry work, habitat management, timber sales, bush-hogging, setting up food plots, supervising logging crews,” Brody recalls. “It was very satisfying work. I knew then I wanted to do this for a living.”

He loved the time outdoors, but he also loved the business side of the work, the problem solving, and seeing the impact good land management can have on a property.

By the time he graduated, Brody had his sights on a career in forestry. Lucky for him, one of the best forestry schools in the country was in his hometown: Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry & Agriculture.

Always Somewhere to Go in Forestry School

In order to truly learn the forestry profession, you have to spend a lot of time in the forest, and that’s just what Brody’s classes did.

Almost every class he took had a lab component, which required students to spend 3-4 hours at a time in the forest each week.

“SFA has its own arboretum and forests, and it’s close to 1000s and 1000s of acres of national forests,” Brody says. “We always had somewhere to go.”

Students also traveled to view different types of forests throughout Texas. One of his wildlife classes alone, habitat management, covered a large portion of the state, including Chocolate Bay on the Gulf Coast, Del Rio near the Mexican border, and a South Texas Wildlife Ranch.

A Technical Report Every Week

But Forestry School is by no means easy. The work can be intense.

“It was the classroom portion of the work that blew my mind,” Brody says. “We easily had a technical report due once a week for most classes, writing out reports on the topics of the week. That really helped me develop my skills with writing, grammar and Excel.”

Classes included topics like silviculture, which is managing a forest for timber production; forest ecology, which is the study of forest ecosystems; biometrics, which is the math applied to forests to quantify, for example, the volume of a group of trees; and dendrology, a scientific study of tree species.

“I really liked dendrology,” Brody says. “It seemed horrible at the time, learning all the plant species in Texas by their scientific and common names. But now I use what I learned in that class every day.”

Forestry “Boot Camp”

At SFA, forestry students take a 6-week summer course called “Field Station.”

“Each week covers a different subject. We’d often work in the field from dark to dark each day, and then a report would be due the next day. We’d work in the lab until midnight. It’s kind of like Boot Camp,” Brody recalls.

“I spent the night in the lab several times, especially when we had to create Intensive Management Plans for properties. Those were really challenging.”

But there was still time for fun.

SFA doesn’t take its winning record in Forestry Conclave competitions for granted. In free time, students like Brody enjoyed training for the competition that brings numerous forestry colleges together for traditional lumberjack-style games. Some of the challenges are technical, like photogrammetry (examining and interpreting aerial photos) and compass and pacing (using a compass and chain to locate a specific point). Others are physical, like the axe throwing competition, crosscut sawing and log rolling.

An Internship with New England Forestry

In the summer between his junior and senior years, Brody applied for an internship with New England Forestry.

“By the summer’s end, I was cruising timber by myself, and I was helping the team with other important forestry activities. They gave me a lot of responsibility. I really liked the people and the work.”

In fact, Brody says, New England Forestry was the only company he applied to as college was coming to a close. He got the job and didn’t waste a single day between college graduation and beginning his career with New England Forestry.

Advice for Future Forestry Students

Brody says students considering a forestry major should first make sure of one thing: that they love the outdoors. His advice after that is to keep your options open by choosing a degree with many career options.

“I graduated with a forestry and wildlife degree. That way you can go into either field and you have a lot of options,” he says. “The people I graduated with aren’t just working in forestry. They also work in recreation, as park rangers, on wildlife ranches.

“I met some of my best friends in forestry school. The classes were small, and we’re all still in touch, including with the professors. It was a ton of work, but it was worth it.”

The post How a Forestry Grad Found His Calling appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

GLENNVILLE, Georgia—You may pile them in buckets, kick them across the yard or decorate them for a craft, but did you ever think about the potential forest contained within every pinecone?

At New England Forestry, we gather enough cones every fall to fill an 18-wheeler. But we don’t take just any pinecone: only the best of the best will do.

Our work on this year’s pine cone “crop” started two years ago in February 2019, when our genetic research team did some matchmaking:

Controlled Pollination Ensures Ideal Parents for Future Trees

First, a lesson in pinecones: there are actually two kinds of cones on every tree, not one.

Most of us are familiar with the full-grown female pinecone, known as the “flower” or megastrobilus. Growing near the top of the tree, it starts as a small bud and takes 18 months to reach the mature size we find on the ground in our yards. 

There are also male cones called catkins, which grow lower on the tree. These slim, cylindrical cones are loaded with pollen. Once their pollen is released into the atmosphere, the short-lived catkins have served their purpose and fall to the ground. Catkins grow lower than flowers so the wind will blow their pollen away from their tree, pollinating neighboring trees rather than self-pollinating the tree on which they grow. (The variety in genetics is better for the tree’s offspring).

Breeding our trees to be as disease resistant, straight and fast-growing as possible, our genetic research team goes to great lengths to control both parents of our seed cones. They cover the female cones in our genetically-bred seed orchards with bags just before they’re ripe for pollination. Then they shoot pollen from our best tree families into the bags. You can watch our video of the process for the same cones shown in this story and learn more about controlled pollination here.

“Our pine cones in no way have artificial genetic modifications,” explains Tree Improvement Forester Serenia O’Berry. “They’re bred the same way Mother Nature would do it, except we expedite the process.”

Once the flowers are pollinated, the bags are removed and the flowers are left to grow for 18 months. Once full grown, each cone contains enough seeds to grow a forest: an average pinecone contains about 150 seeds, and cones from specially-bred trees can produce even more.

Picking Pinecones for Seed Production

In the fall of 2020, our pinecones were full grown and ready to be picked. Our timing had to be perfect: we pick the cones while their scales are still closed tightly shut to ensure all seeds are still safely inside the cones. But they have to be mature enough that their “muscles” will be strong enough to open the scales after they’re picked. Years of forestry industry research has determined that cones are at exactly the right point when they have a specific gravity of .87.

How do we know when they’re ready? We float them in motor oil with a specific gravity of .88. If our cones float, we know they’re ready to pick. If they’re close to the surface, they’ll be ready in a few days. And if they sink to the bottom, they’ve got a while to go.

We use a hydraulic lift to reach the treetops and carefully remove the cones, one branch at a time. The cones are loaded into 18-bushel crates, which are taken by tractor trailer to a seed extractory that will oven-dry the cones and process them to remove the seeds and dewing them (dewinging makes them easier to plant).

These seeds, used to plant the next generation of trees in our forests across the U.S., will first travel to Elberta, Alabama, where they will be nurtured in the rich soils of our seedling nursery for the first 18 months of growth. Then the seedlings will be transplanted to our forests.

We also process some of the cones in a small tumbler at our Glennville Research Office in order to quality-test the number of seeds our cones are producing.

“These cones are usually post-ripened for about 6 weeks and then they’re put in a room with a dryer for 48 hours,” Serenia explains. “When the cones open up, that’s when we know they’re ready for seed extraction.”

We place bushels of cones in a tumbler, which spins them, allowing the seeds to fall out into a bin below. We then run the seeds through our own handmade vibrating, vacuum-powered seed blower that cleans and de-wings them.

We use a simple float test to determine which seeds are viable. Seeds that float in a bucket of water will not be able to germinate, but those that sink will.

Then we count the seeds using a machine called a seed counter.

Our Genetic Research Cones Get Special Treatment

Even as we mass-produce seeds from our best tried-and-true tree families, we’re constantly looking for ways to make our trees even healthier, straighter and faster-growing. 

“We focus on the most advanced genetics because it contributes to the sustainability of our company, our industry, and the environment,” Serenia explains. The difference is striking when her team compares photographs of New England Forestry forests from the mid-1900s to today’s forests. Our pine trees are much healthier, more robust and faster-growing than their ancestors.

To continue improving, we use special research forests in which we graft genetic research trees with high potential, then gather their cones and test the performance of their progeny. There are only a handful of cones for each family, so every seed plays an extremely important role. That’s why we process those cones completely by hand.

The research cones are collected and placed in bags labeled by family. Then we take each cone apart by hand with pliers, ensuring we find every single seed. Once cleaned and counted, the seeds will be packaged by family and placed in our freezer until we’re ready to plant and test further.

“Processing cones is exciting because it’s a whole year-and-a-half worth of labor coming to fruition,” Serenia says. “It’s the next step in making sure we have the best possible seedlings for our forests.”

Planting Trees by the Millions

Just how many seeds do we produce every season? Enough to keep our seedling nursery busy: we grow and plant more than 30 million trees every year.

It all starts with the pollination of those baby pinecone flowers. Decades later, the trees that grow from the seeds in those pinecones will be the raw material needed to produce whatever wood, pulp and paper products the next generation requires.

The post How Pinecones from New England Forestry’s Best Trees Become Forests appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

NORTH BEND, Oregon—Vanessa McKinney follows her dog through thick forestland.

They use the same natural paths wild animals have made, knowing the elk and bears have a sense for the safest route. Vanessa draws in a deep breath of fresh air and smiles: she gets paid to be here, tromping through the woods just like she did as a child.

There are treasures all around her: a robin’s nest with beautiful blue eggs waiting to hatch; a snail slithering down a branch; a rare wildflower beginning to bloom.

She just can’t help pulling out her iPhone to snap a picture before carrying on with her work in one of New England Forestry’s Oregon tree farms, and no one faults her for that: her photography offers a whole new view of forests that grow for decades with almost no human contact.

“I get to venture out to places that only I will see and touch for years to come,” says Vanessa, a technical forester. “I love being the boots on the ground and the eyes in the forest for New England Forestry.”

She is here today to measure a plot of trees. It’s how a timber company keeps an “inventory” of its forests, tracking how fast the trees are growing to ensure a steady, perpetually sustainable supply of both habitat and timber.

Choosing a Career in Forestry

Vanessa has always been drawn to nature. While friends might prefer the mall, she was more likely to navigate her way through the woods than crowded stores. In fact, she admits, she can easily get lost in a crowd. But with her GPS and her intuition as a guide, she can find any plot point in a dense forest.

She grew up in Eureka, California, known for its majestic redwoods. At an early age, she had an appreciation for renewable resources, and she wanted a career that would give her a role in protecting them.

It wasn’t long after she started college that she found herself drawn to forestry.

“In forestry, the core is that you care for the land and you care for people. I wanted to be a part of that,” she says.

Studying Forestry at Oregon State University

Vanessa was delighted to find herself studying outdoors more than in the classroom while she pursued a degree in forestry, natural resources and conservation at Oregon State University.

The work was challenging, but rewarding.

“You’re put in situations that aren’t a casual walk down the street, so you learn a lot about yourself,” she says.

“There were times I wondered, ‘Am I going to make it? Am I ever going to understand this math?’ There’s a lot of satisfaction when you overcome those challenges.”

During her studies, she helped OSU open a greenhouse, researched forest fires and droughts, and confirmed that forestry was her destiny.

Forestry on the Other Side of the World

After college, Vanessa’s love of forestry took her even further: to the other side of the world. A nonprofit called Kopel had chosen her for an internship replanting trees on an island that had been devastated by fire in Malaysia.

“Trees are different from state to state and even county to county here in the U.S.,” Vanessa says. “In another country, it was really different. We had to come up with a way to reforest a marshy island in tropical conditions.”

Vanessa cherished the experience, which required her to live in a treehouse, eat with her hands, and “shower” using a pan of rainwater collected during a tropical storm. She returned to the U.S. with a new appreciation for modern forestry and for her own abilities. Vanessa joined the New England Forestry team soon after in the fall of 2019.

“My Dog is My Partner in the Woods”

Tasked with managing tree farms on what are often rough, mountainous properties near Oregon’s coast, Vanessa took her new coworkers’ advice and adopted a dog. She chose a Dutch Shepherd and named him Cruiser. It was a fitting name, as they would cruise timber together most days of the week. 

Cruising timber is an essential practice in forest management. By measuring specific plots of trees, our foresters are able to estimate the wood volume of entire forests. Our company uses that data to form an overall inventory that guides our decisions. Watch a video of a forester cruising in our article, Why do Foresters “Cruise” Timber?

She trained Cruiser to assist her in the woods, helping her navigate through thick areas, alerting her to danger and even keeping deer off the road.

“He turns into a different dog when he’s in the forest. He can point, tell me to stop if something’s not right. He can smell things and find things that I can’t,” Vanessa says. “He’s a huge relief. He’s my partner.”

Once, while working in the forest, Cruiser alerted Vanessa to a swarm of hornets that was headed straight for them. Thanks to that warning, Vanessa was able to run and escape the swarm without a single sting.

Forest Photography

Vanessa had been with New England Forestry for about six months when she decided to show coworkers some photos she had taken in the woods. Soon, she had fans from Florida to New Zealand who couldn’t wait to see her artistic, closeup shots of wild plants and critters and breathtaking panoramic views.

“I had no idea I was good at photography!” Vanessa says with a laugh. “I just use the iPhone New England Forestry provided me. I never thought about it being a thing.”

And perhaps that’s part of what makes the photos so special: they weren’t sought out for days with high-end equipment and hundreds of shots. They’re just quick snapshots of moments in the forest that she comes across every day.

Women in the Forestry Industry

The photos are one of the ways Vanessa hopes to “do something bigger than myself” as a forester. 

She’s also a member of Oregon Women in Timber, a nonprofit organization that celebrates women in the industry and strives to raise awareness about the value of forestry and forest management.

“People tend to assume our industry is male. But females have forever been a part of forestry since the Industrial Revolution,” she says.

Women traditionally don’t work at all on the Malaysian island Vanessa interned at. She showed the team there how much a female’s viewpoint can add to a forest plan.

“A woman can offer a different approach and look at things from a different perspective,” she says.

Vanessa wants to encourage and inspire other women to become a part of the forestry industry too.

“If you love being outdoors and want to play an important role in the future, this is the field for you,” she says.

The post Meet Vanessa: Forester, Photographer and Dog Lover for Life appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

BROOKER, Florida—Once upon a time, there was a massive body of water that flowed deep under the ground where it couldn’t be seen. It was so big, it stretched to four different states, providing drinking water for millions of people.

The story of the 100,000-square-mile Floridan Aquifer is so good, it almost reads like a fairytale. Found underneath all of Florida and parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, it provides billions of gallons of drinking water every day. It is one of the most productive aquifers in the world.

How do hidden water sources like this exist? Through groundwater, which seeps down into the aquifers, recharging them. Natural land, especially forest land, is critical to the existence of these important water sources.

Forest Land Serves as a Recharge Zone for Aquifers

More than half of all drinking water in the United States originates in forests, according to the National Association of State Foresters. And that’s not just from protected park lands. Close to 30 percent of drinking water comes from privately-owned, working forests, according to this article by the U.S. Forest Service.

“Forests are a recharge zone for groundwater. They’re not paved, they’re not covered with any kind of commercial activity. It’s open land with a lot of vegetation and trees,” says New England Forestry’s Environmental Affairs Manager Janet Price, a biologist who guides the company on water quality and other environmental standards.

“That’s a valuable resource, particularly in parts of the country where an aquifer is the water supply for people who live in the area.”

Forest land allows water to sit and slowly seep into the ground, replenishing the aquifer. The roots of the trees and other vegetation hold soils in place, preventing washouts and erosion. As the water slowly percolates deeper into the ground, the root systems, soil and underlying permeable rock formations serve as a filter, naturally removing impurities from the water. In the same way, forests slow and filter water runoff as it makes its way into streams, lakes and reservoirs. 

Green Infrastructure Becoming a Part of the Solution to Water Supply Needs

Forests and other green infrastructure, such as wetlands, have such a positive impact on water quality that communities around the world are incorporating green infrastructure into their water plans. One great success story in the U.S. is New York City. It uses the watersheds of the Catskill Mountains to provide what is known as one of the highest quality metropolitan drinking water supplies in the world. By investing in this green infrastructure, New York was able to bypass plans to build a multi-billion dollar water filtration plant, as explained in this article by the National Alliance of Forest Owners.

Best Management Practices Protect Water in Working Forests

Many years ago, in the early 1900s, our industry didn’t know how to properly protect waterways during forestry activities. But as the scientific community discovered what was needed to protect water quality and the ecosystems that depend on clean water, the way we work in our forests changed.

Today, sustainable forestry companies like New England Forestry are guided by Best Management Practices (BMPs). These science-based standards specify how to protect various bodies of water in our forests. Each state has different guidelines for different sizes and types of water systems.

One of the most important aspects of BMPs are Buffer Zones, also known as Riparian Management Zones (RMZs) or Streamside Management Zones (SMZs). Spanning anywhere from dozens of feet to hundreds of feet, these areas are separated from the rest of the forest. Within these zones, the guidelines may call for little or no roads, heavy equipment and forestry activities. Harvesting within the area may be limited or eliminated altogether.

“We’re not touching the land very often, but when we do, we map out the buffers along the waterways that are off limits,” Price says, explaining that forests grow for decades with very little human interaction.

Foresters are trained to protect and monitor these areas during all forestry activities, as one of our foresters explains in this video about Cruising Timber. New England Forestry foresters protect 11,800 miles of streams on our land, as of July 2020.

Taking a Proactive Role in Protecting Water in Our Forests

Recognizing the critical role our forests play in protecting water quality, New England Forestry has worked with partners to not only protect, but to improve the quality of the water systems on our land.

Diverting Water to Brooks Sink, Florida’s Largest Sinkhole

One of our Bradford County, Florida, forests contains a Florida wonder: the largest sinkhole in the state, as shown in the video above. Spanning about 200 feet across, Brooks Sink is a major source of water to replenish the Floridan aquifer. In 2000, New England Forestry acquired the property where Brooks Sink is located. We soon found out there was an opportunity to make the sinkhole do much more to replenish the aquifer.

Back in the 1970s, it was a common practice on agricultural and timber properties to install ditches. They increased groundwater flow and made more of the land plantable. Foresters today recognize the importance of protecting natural drainage patterns and restoring them when the opportunity presents itself. Brooks Sink was one such opportunity. 

About 50 years ago, water that had once flowed naturally into the sinkhole was diverted into a ditch which fed into increasingly larger streams and rivers. The water ultimately fed into the Gulf of Mexico instead of the aquifer, and millions of gallons of drinking water were lost.

We worked with the Suwannee River Management District to direct more of the water toward the sinkhole, the way it had naturally flowed before. The district installed flash board risers that slowed the water flow toward the Gulf, diverting a large proportion of it toward the sinkhole.

The riser sends an estimated 220 million more gallons of water per year into the sinkhole, enough to fill 333 Olympic sized pools to capacity each year, according to the Suwannee River Management District.

“It’s a very unique and special project,” Price says. “I don’t know of any other public-private partnership remotely close to that.”

Restoring Optimal Salmon Breeding and Rearing Conditions

In our Pacific Northwest forests, water protection has changed drastically for the better. Many of the roads and bridges in our forests were built in the early 1900s before our company even existed—and before the needs of the salmon population were understood.

When Washington’s salmon population began to sharply decline, the scientific community looked for answers. They found that the bridges and culverts below Washington’s road systems weren’t sufficient to maintain the natural flow of fresh water salmon need. Without being able to access the shallower upland waters, salmon didn’t have a safe place to breed and rear their young.

Washington passed the Forests & Fish law in 2000 to set a standard for water flow near roads and bridges. Since then, the forestry industry has been replacing whatever hinders the water flow, opening miles and miles of streams to salmon for the first time in a century. We work with marine biologists and other experts to ensure each project is good for the fish population both when and after work takes place.

New England Forestry alone has invested more than $22 million in the program over the past 20 years. In that time, we’ve upgraded or removed 750 culverts and bridges, restoring 220 miles of stream habitat.

To learn more about the program, you can see our video and article, How Foresters Restore Salmon Habitat in the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, the project has benefited much more than the salmon population, restoring optimal conditions for entire ecosystems that depend on the clean, cool waters of the Washington uplands.

Taking Pride in Protecting America’s Water

Price says forestry has one of the lightest touches of any type of land use.

“We maintain the land in a way as close to natural as you can get it and still allow it to be productively utilized,” she says.

When we do work in the forest, we take special care to protect the land and water. Buffer Zones are protected from fertilization, which typically happens only twice in a forest’s decades-long lifecycle and was found in this recent University of Florida study to have a negligible impact on water quality. On our steep slopes, we use techniques like tower logging—which lifts logs high into the air with a skyline cable— to ensure we prevent sedimentation. And we replant our forests as quickly as we’re able to after they’re harvested.

Price says forests are one of the most important keys to current and future water quality nationwide.

“America’s water quality would not be where it is today if forestry had not progressed to what it is today,” she says.

The post Working Forests Protect Water Quality Across the U.S. appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

GRAYS RIVER, Washington—When it’s your job to safely remove trees off mountainsides without disturbing the soils or nearby streams, you have to be a talented problem-solver.

Every forest presents new challenges, like a recent tower logging site here in the beautiful mountains of Grays River. Until recently, there would have only been one way to unwind cable down one steep mountain and up another to set up the skyline: on foot. But a new drone has turned a multi-day job like that into a 10-minute job.

How does Tower Logging Work?

First, a quick background on the steps it takes to remove trees from a steep slope here in the Pacific Northwest:

Step 1: Cut trees in an organized layout

A logging crew cuts the trees and places them on the ground in an organized layout, which will make them easier to move. 

Step 2: Set up the tower and skyline

Loggers set up a tower connected to a cable system. The skyline cable has to stretch from the tower, across the slope the logs are on, to the top of a nearby slope. Setting this cable into place is the step where drones are involved, replacing the work of loggers who would have to spend hours if not days unwinding 100s of pounds of haywire down one slope and up the other to get the cable in place.

Step 3: Use skyline cable to move logs to sorting yard

A motorized “carriage” carries the logs up the skyline. Loggers called “choker setters” attach the logs to a chain that hangs from the carriage, securing them with an interlocking mechanism called a choker. Then the carriage lifts logs up into the air and moves them to a sorting area. 

Did you know? Logs are lifted into the air to prevent them from dragging in the soil, which could lead to erosion and deposit sediment into nearby waterways. Airlifting also prevents damage to the log.

Step 4: Prepare logs for transport to the mills

Once the logs are in the sorting area, they are prepared for transport. This could include the removal of any remaining bark and branches, cutting the logs to fit the truck they will be on, and sorting them by species and size for the various needs of the mills they will be sent to.

For a more detailed description of this process, read our article, How Tower Logging Works.

How Drones are Making it Easier to Place a Skyline Cable

In order to lift bundles of 70-foot logs with a skyline cable, you first have to put a cable into place that stretches high above the ground. To do that, loggers start by unwinding 250-foot sections of synthetic cable (called haywire) as they walk from the tower at the top of the slope the logs are on, to the top of a nearby slope or peak.

This is usually done on foot. It can be exhausting and dangerous because of the terrain. The crew often has to go up and down the mountains multiple times to get more rigging until they finally reach their destination, often thousands of feet away from the starting point.

Stuck Between a River and Two Cliffs

On a recent logging job in Grays Harbor, featured in the video above, ENB Logging owner Ed Bryant knew his team would have to do the job differently. Between the slope they were logging and the slope their cable would stretch to, there was a deep river with high cliffs on both sides.

It would take a team of several people a long time to get the haywire in place. And they would have to get creative to get it across without losing it in the river. In the old days, they might have attached the cable to an arrow and shot it across with a bow. Or they might have dropped it over one cliff and fished it out from the top of the other cliff with a fishing pole. 

But the cliffs were a safety hazard, the terrain was rough, and they would waste valuable time. Ed wasn’t going to put his team through that. It was time to call in a drone.

“It’s a good tool. If we didn’t have that option, we would’ve taken a few more days to get across,” Ed said as the drone pilot arrived.

An Unusual Drone to the Rescue

Thankfully for Ed, he’s not the first to run into this kind of challenge. Mark Standley of Banks, Oregon, spent most of his life logging. He saw many hours waste away placing haywire on dangerous terrain. Then he got into the business of creating drones to solve the problem.

Pacific UAV offers custom-made “workhorse” drones that can lift heavy weights, release items and even spout fire! While not all logging companies own the high-end drones, those that do own them can be hired to fly them for their colleagues.

Ed called C&C Logging Company. Soon, their drone pilot, Operations Manager Rex Pitullo, made his way up the mountain to help.

Rex attached the haywire to his Hector T drone using a servo attachment that releases by remote. Meanwhile, one of Ed’s team members drove to the peak of the next mountain. He then walked into the forest to find a strong tree to serve as the “tailhold” that the cable would connect to. Then he communicated with Rex by radio, guiding him to drop the cable nearby with his drone.

Using a Spotter to Guide the Drone

As the drone took off, haywire followed after it, quickly unwinding itself from a large container. Ed’s team stood alongside Rex, holding up binoculars to try to find their spotter on the ground across the slope. The man waved his orange coat, trying to help the team spot him. But with tall trees all around him, he was barely visible.

“A little to the right, a little to the right, now come in straight ahead,” the spotter said over the radio.

“I’m not the one flying the drone,” Rex said as he positioned the drone above the spotter. “My spotter guides me where I need to be.”

When the spotter could clearly see the drone within close proximity to the tailhold, Rex used the remote to command the drone to drop the haywire, trying to avoid any tree branches that could tangle with it. After a few minutes of searching, the spotter found it and secured it into place.

Rex says that’s just one of the many ways the drone is impacting forestry work. His drone can assist in firefighting, deliver bags of seedlings to planting sites, bring tools to workers whose equipment breaks down in remote areas, and countless other uses.

Celebrating a Milestone in Safety and Efficiency

With the cable line quickly in place, Ed’s team got back to work. The team pulled a stronger cable through a pulley, or spool. Finally, they pulled a strong cable through. This one would be able to support the weight of the motorized carriage and its loads of logs.

They were days ahead of where they would have been, thanks to a single drone flight.

“I’ve been doing this for 47 years, and this is pretty new to me,” marveled ENB logger Dave Johnson.

To New England Forestry’s Timber Production Forester Scott Grigg, who works with our logging contractors to come up with the safest possible harvest plans, it’s an exciting step forward in forestry safety.

“The dollar value (of using a drone) is a big deal, but the safety factor is insurmountable,” he says. “It shows just how much this industry has embraced technology to keep people safe.”

The post High Power Drones Are A Safety Game-Changer in Tower Logging appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

GRAYS RIVER, Washington—Have you ever wondered how terrain that’s hard to even walk on could be used in forestry operations?

A technique that has vastly improved logger safety—and prevents erosion and sedimentation into waterways—uses a cable system to hoist logs high into the air to move them to flatter ground.

This popular method for moving logs off steep slopes has many names: tower logging, skyline logging, cable logging and cable yarding are among the most-used. 

This overview will help you understand how we use this type of logging in the Pacific Northwest:

Beginning with An Organized Cutting Operation

Before a tower is even brought to the site, a logging crew will begin by cutting the trees and placing them on the ground in a neat, organized layout that will make them easier to move when the time comes.

While some slopes have to be logged on foot with chainsaws, many steep slope logging jobs are now being done with a winch assist system, which anchors into flat ground above and supports vehicles on the slope with a cable. The driver of a machine that cuts the trees on the slope uses a remote to control how strongly the winch assist system supports his vehicle.  

Further Reading: You can learn more about winch-assisted logging and see a video of it in action in our story, Winch-Assisted Logging Boosts Safety on Steep Terrain.

Setting Up the Tower and Skyline

Once the trees are cut, it’s time to get them off the steep slope and onto a flat “yarding area” above the slope. In order to safely move them without damaging the ground, causing erosion or damaging the logs, we lift the logs high into the air.

To set the system up, first a large tower is put into place with the support of several cables called “guylines.” They connect to the tower and then anchor into place in various directions to ensure the tower remains steady against the weight of the logs.

The part of the tower that gives it height, referred to as a “tube,” can be 100 or more feet tall. Years ago, loggers used strong trees to serve as towers. But using man made, movable towers gives loggers a much more reliable option, with the added safety benefit of not having to climb a tree with heavy rigging.

Replacing Synthetic Haywire with Skyline Cable

Once the tower is anchored, it’s time to put the skyline cable in place. The strong cable, typically 1.25” thick, would be too heavy to carry across mountains. Instead, a lighter, synthetic cable called haywire or strawline is used first.

Getting this line into place can be dangerous: imagine how hard it is to walk up or down a mountainside, and now imagine doing it while carrying and unwinding 50 to 80 pounds of cable. The cable is usually 250 feet long, meaning it will take several trips to gather more cable to cover the thousands of feet between the slopes.

While it is still done on foot in many cases, large drones are becoming an increasingly popular, safer alternative. Rather than losing a day’s work or more having several people carry and disperse the cable, a drone can carry it through the sky. It travels from the tower to the “tailhold” the cable will attach to across from the slope the logs are on.

A tailhold can be a strong tree or stump that will hold steady under the weight of the cable and the logs it carries. If there isn’t anything strong enough, a heavy vehicle can also be used.

Further Reading: To learn more about how drones are now being used to put skylines into place, check out our article and video, High Power Drones Are A Safety Game-Changer in Tower Logging.

Once the synthetic line connects the tower and tailhold, a stronger cable is then led through a spool, followed by the thick, heavy skyline that will be used in the next step. (Depending on who you ask, a spool can also be referred to as a pulley, sheave or block).

Moving Trees to the Sorting Yard

With the skyline cable in place, a motorized “carriage” can be placed on the cable to carry the logs up the skyline.

How do the logs get attached to the cable? Loggers called “choker setters” attach the logs to a choker (or babbitt), which is a separate cable that hangs from the carriage. It secures the logs with an interlocking mechanism called a bell and knob. (The bell-shaped side is like a keyhole, while the knob is like a key).

Ed Bryant, owner of ENB Logging, refers to choker setters as “the guys out in the brush who make things happen.” In addition to choker setter, they have also traditionally been called rigging slingers and rigging men.

This method is preferred over using on-the-ground equipment or people to move the trees on the dangerous slopes. And while it might be easier to drag logs on the ground, that would create deep ruts in the soils and send sediment into nearby waterways. In order to protect the water and the ecosystems that depend on it, loggers use the airborne option. 

Further Reading: You can read more about how we protect waterways in forestry by checking out our video and article, How Foresters Restore Salmon Habitat in the Pacific Northwest. 

Preparing the Logs for their Buyers

Once the logs have made their journey off the slope and into a flat area called a yard, it’s time to prepare them for transport. This could mean removing their bark and branches with an aptly-named debarker machine. The logs also might be cut to fit into the trucks they will be loaded onto.

The logs also will be sorted by size, quality and species in order to best determine which mill each group of logs will be delivered to. The highest quality logs will be used for products like flooring and lumber. Lesser quality logs can be processed into pulp, which is used in thousands of everyday products.

Further Reading: You can learn more about the products that are made from logs by reading our #ItStartsWithTrees series. Here’s a link to the first article in the series.

The post How Tower Logging Works appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

FORKS, Washington—After more than 40 years of using chainsaws to cut trees on steep slopes, Dave Dilley remembers the first time he watched a winch-assist machine in action.

He stood in the forest, unable to take his eyes off a feller buncher as it eased up and down the mountain. Without the winch-assist machine, the buncher—a machine that efficiently cuts down trees and “bunches” them together—would be at risk of toppling, sliding or at least digging deep ruts into the soil. 

But the winch, a machine that anchors into place and supports the buncher with a powerful cable, enabled the buncher operator to move across the terrain easily, using a simple device to operate the winch-assist machine from within the cab of the buncher.

“I just saw where it would work here,” says Dave, owner of Dilley & Soloman Logging Company and a lifelong resident of this small town on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington. It wasn’t long before Dave had two winch assist machines of his own.

The Logging System is Safer for Loggers

“The most important thing with this procedure is safety. It’s always our first concern,” says New England Forestry Timber Production Forester Dennis Cox, who encouraged Dave to make the change.

The logger agrees.

“You need less people on the ground, so there’s less danger. That’s the big reason we got into this type of logging,” he says.

Slopes that are too steep for a buncher have to be cut on foot. Loggers walk down the steep terrain and cut trees by hand with chainsaws. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the industry. 

There are still some slopes that are too steep to operate a buncher on, even with a winch-assist machine, but the machine has enabled many sites to be logged in a safer, more efficient and eco-friendly manner than ever before. 

Helps Lighten Environmental Impact

“Logging operations on any slope steeper than 30 percent need some form of support,” says New England Forestry’s Senior Timber Marketing Manager Dan Stransky. That guideline, set by the Department of Natural Resources, helps ensure a harvest that’s safe for workers and the environment.

“They don’t want us putting big ruts up and down the hillside because, when the rains come later, all that water runs down those gullies and it delivers sediment to those streams,” he explains, “so it’s just something we work hard at avoiding.”

Seeing the Environmental Benefits of Using the Winch Assist Machine

Dave says the winch assist machine allows him to do his work with a lighter impact on the soils.

“There are certain spots where you have to be pulled” by the winch-assist machine, he says. “There are others I could probably log unassisted, but I’d be turning up my tracks and making ruts. 

“If I just push [the winch assist controls] to, say, a four, it just pulls me right up and doesn’t create any tracks.”

Up against the heavy rains this region is known for, the winch-assisted logging system is one of many ways New England Forestry works with contractors to keep sediment from reaching waterways. 

Why? Sediment would interfere with precious habitats in and around the water. It would also be harmful to our work, washing away the rich soils we’ve developed over decades of forestry. As we explain in the article Forest Engineers Build 100s of Eco-Friendly Roads and Bridges, we adjust all projects and operations to have the lightest possible impact on the environment.

How a Winch Assist Logging System Works

So how does a winch assist logging system keep a feller buncher from slipping on a steep slope? The base machine anchors into place on flat ground above the slope.

Dave explains: “You just dig, point the bucket all the way forward, and get it down.”

He double-checks that it’s secure by ensuring the boom doesn’t move. Then he connects the cable from the winch to his buncher and gets to work, using a remote to control the strength of the winch’s pull on the buncher.

As an extra security measure, if the winch assist base machine moves at any point after it is set, an anchor switch immediately sounds a blaring alarm and applies brakes to the winch drums.

Dave says the trickiest part is the logistics of figuring out how best to position it on each site, “but the machine itself is very user-friendly.”

An Organized Harvest

At ground-level, the results of a harvest operation may look messy. But the view from above shows how carefully-planned each step of the harvest is. The trees lay in neat, straight rows.

“When we log with this system, we get a lot less breakage. It’s very organized,” says Dennis, New England Forestry Timber Production Forester. “With a drone, when you look down on it, it should look like combed hair. And it does.”

After cutting finishes, a second operation involving a cable yarding system, also known as tower logging, is used to bring trees up the slope (again without damaging the soiles). At the top of the landing, they’re sorted and loaded onto trucks.

Harvesting in a Responsible Way

Dave has been in the logging industry for four decades, starting out with his uncle when he was a young man. He’s seen a number of changes over the years, and he’s proud of the strides the industry has made to protect loggers’ safety—as well as the environment.

Despite the stereotype that loggers “pillage” the land, he says, “we may be the best environmentalists out there. Yes, we do want to harvest, but we want to do it in a responsible way. We’re very conscious of streams and wildlife.”

The post Winch-Assisted Logging Boosts Safety on Steep Terrain appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

With logs rushing to meet the needs of today’s consumers, do you ever find yourself asking, “Are we going to run out of trees?”

Believe it or not, sustainable forestry companies like New England Forestry plant many times more trees than we harvest. In the typical year, New England Forestry foresters put more than 30 million trees in the ground. We reforest most areas we cut within two years of the harvest. The trees we plant will provide for the next generation.

It’s not just a simple process of dropping seeds and leaving them alone for decades. It takes years to plan each planting operation. We combine everything we know about genetics, agriculture and soils. We also consider the unique conditions of each region where we plant to help each forest thrive.

For this story, planting teams in three different parts of our ownership, the U.S. South, the U.S. Pacific Northwest and New Zealand, explain how we plant trees in each of those regions.

Planting forests over a lifetime

Imagine working as a farmer, but rarely being able to harvest the crops you plant. You nurture them every day, but it will be for another generation to actually gather the fruits of your labor.

That is the work of a forester. They plant trees knowing they will grow for decades before it’s time to cut them.

On rare occasions, a longtime forester may see the process from start to finish. Dan Hildebrand, a New England Forestry resource land manager who’s been with our company more than 30 years, has done it. He harvested the same trees he planted many years prior. Then he replanted that same field again.

How to plant trees in the U.S. Southeast

During a recent planting operation near Jesup, Georgia, Dan climbed aboard a refrigerated van. He checks it each day to ensure his loblolly pine seedlings inside are nice and cool. 

The van, powered by a diesel engine, maintains a 37 degrees Fahrenheit temperature to ensure the trees stay dormant. Warmth might signal that it’s time to grow. This would stress the trees unnecessarily in the already stressful transition from our nursery to the forest. 

Planting trees in the coldest months

The goal is to plant all the trees in the coldest winter months, November through February. That ensures the roots have time to become established in the ground before the seedlings begin to grow.

“We have about 475,000 trees per vanload,” Dan says. “We try to plant them all in about one week.”

While some parts of our ownership rely on outside nurseries to grow our seedlings for us, in the Southeast we use trees grown in our own seedling nursery in Elberta, Alabama. That region’s rich soils grow healthy rootstocks, giving the trees a great start.

The seeds for these trees come from New England Forestry seed orchards. We breed our best-performing trees in the orchards and harvest the seeds from their pine cones.

Site prep keeps trees dry in rainy months

Out in the forests Dan’s crews are replanting, all the “site prep” work has already been done to prepare the ground for planting. Since many of these properties are low-lying, we often row the soil into long, straight raised beds. That will ensure the trees are above the water table and don’t drown before they’re established. Thanks to GPS on the tractors, the rows are perfectly straight and exactly the right distance apart to ensure the right spacing for the trees.

Throughout the day, Dan checks on various planting crews, each of whom will plant thousands of trees per-day. They use a tractor to pull a “hopper” through the planting area, and a person sitting in the hopper drops the seedling in the ground at just the right moment. 

“In the front is a 36-inch, knife-like disk that looks like a pizza cutter,” Dan explains. “It cuts a narrow slot in the ground. You drop the tree in the slot, and then the wheels on the back of the hopper packs the slot back together.”

Dan says the planters use a “cadence,” planting every two or three seconds to ensure each tree is 5 feet apart. The spacing will ensure even growing conditions, similar to how one would plant a garden.

Ensuring the trees are planted right

Dan walks the field and performs what our foresters call “an audit.” He checks the trees to ensure they’re being planted deep enough, giving a gentle tug on their tops. He makes sure the roots are planted straight down and the stems haven’t been handled too roughly. 

Since all trees are primarily alive only in their outer cambium layer, Dan explains, “The live part of this 1-year-old tree is thinner than a piece of paper. It has to be planted deep in the soil to stay protected.”

Once they’re in the ground, these trees will be under a careful forest management plan for the next two decades. They will receive fertilizer treatments, competing weeds will be removed, and, in about 12 years, the weakest of the trees will be thinned out and used for pulp products like toilet paper, cardboard and paper.

Somewhere between 18 and 25 years from now, the remaining trees will be harvested for products such as lumber and fencing. It’s a long time, but as you’ll see, in other areas, our trees grow twice as long.

How to plant tress in the U.S. Pacific Northwest

Our planting operations in the Pacific Northwest are done with entirely different trees, methods and terrain. Near the small Washington town of South Bend, David Springe pulls on a jacket to fend off the chilly weather.

Out here, the cold Washington air is just right to keep our Douglas-fir seedlings dormant.

David, a resource land manager for our Hoquiam team, picks up a seedling and admires its root system.

“This has a good root to shoot ratio,” he says, explaining a tree should have a generous amount of roots for the amount of green “shoot” coming out of the ground.

While our trees in the Southeast were only about a year old at planting time, here they grow an extra year in the nursery, reaching their second birthday before they’re replanted to ensure they’re about two feet tall before they’re exposed to the infamously rainy weather of the Washington mountains.

Leaving stumps and branches on the ground

While we plow neat rows in the South, here in Washington we leave most stumps and tree debris (known as “slash” to the locals) on the ground after the previous forest is harvested. That will help hold the soils in place, preventing erosion on the steep slopes and keeping sediment out of waterways below. It conserves the organic matter and nutrients within the soils. And, as the slash breaks down, it will also serve as a natural, slow-release fertilizer for the trees we plant today.

Planting each tree by hand

With steep slopes and rough terrain, these forests aren’t planted using tractors or other heavy equipment. Out here, each tree is planted by hand and shovel.

While the work isn’t easy, experienced planters can put more than 1,000 trees per-person in the ground in a single day. Just like the tractor planters in the Southeast, these planters develop a rhythm that keeps them planting at a steady pace while they’re evenly spaced apart from one another.

“They dig a hole by stomping on their shovel and wrenching it back and forth, which loosens the soil. Then they place the seedling with the roots hanging straight down and use the shovel to push the soil back in,” David explains.

Each person on the planting crew wears two bags loaded with trees: the pair weighs about 40 lbs. when full.

Watching as a crew planted across a picturesque hillside, David said, “They’re choosing the best location to dig every hole. It’s one of the most important decisions made in each of these trees’ lifetimes.”

The typical forest in the Pacific Northwest will grow Douglas-firs about 40 years before they’re harvested.

How to plant trees in New Zealand

Our New Zealand team, New England Forestry | Matariki Forests, also plants primarily on steep terrain, so hand-planting is the most common method. Seedlings come from a number of independent nurseries who work closely with us.

“I enjoy working with the tree breeders, seed producers and nursery growers to deliver treestocks that are ‘fit for purpose’ for our field sites, silviculture and target wood products,” says Forest Estate Manager Paul Adams. “Nurseries are like ‘mini’ plantations, and each year they produce treestocks that are the start of the next age class of productive, high-quality forests across our estate.” 

Delivering Seedlings with Care

The team has a carefully-planned process to deliver seedlings to the forest in the best possible condition. 

“Many of our regions are able to plant tree stocks within 24 to 48 hours of lifting. There are generally daily deliveries of stock from the nursery to planting sites using a pod system to reduce compression of stock from boxes stored on boxes,” Paul explains. 

“These boxes are then carried in the field, commonly on a belt around the planter’s waist. The seedlings are taken directly from the box and planted in each planting hole.”

The work is undeniably challenging.

“Hand planting can be a difficult job due to the terrain, weather conditions and the physicality of the work,” says Forest Estate Manager Paul Adams. “It can take two to three years before a planter is proficient.”

Planters hard to find

While the scenery is beautiful and the work is consistent throughout the winter, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find enough planters to keep up with the demand. The New Zealand team is looking closely at advancing technology in the hopes that there will one day be efficient mechanical methods to assist with planting efforts. But, for now, there is nothing better than hand-planting.

With the coldest weather coming at the opposite time of year versus the United States, in New Zealand the prime time to plant is from mid-May to early August. The New Zealand team plants mostly radiata pine, some Douglas-fir and—on high altitude sites—some pine hybrids.

At times, the team is able to plant without having to prepare the ground beforehand, like our Pacific Northwest team. Other times, there is so much tree “residue” left behind that it would be too difficult to plant on. In those instances, the team uses mechanical site preparation. They collect the “residues” from the previous harvest into windrows, or “heaps.” If soils are compacted so much that they will limit tree growth, then ripping or mounding may be undertaken. In frost-prone areas, the team uses “spot mounding” to plant seedlings above ground level, where it will be warmer.

Taking pride in the trees we plant

Our foresters take pride in the trees they have planted. They’re contributing to the forests’ lifecycle, the health of the environment now and the needs of generations to come. Just ride along with one of them through the forest, and they’ll point out each stand they remember planting.

For Dan, there are many, many forests in the Southeast that he had a hand in planting.

“These trees will be used by my children and my grandchildren and their children,” he says.

To Learn More about our planting process:

Read our article, How Foresters Use Controlled Pollination to Improve Tree Performance, to learn more about our genetic breeding process.

Watch our video, Planting and Lifting Seedlings at New England Forestry’s Tree Nursery, to learn more about our pine tree nursery.

See a timeline and videos about all the steps of a tree’s life in the forest on our Lifecycle of a Forest web page.

The post New England Forestry Foresters Plant Millions of Trees Every Year appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

GAINESVILLE, Florida—Olivia Johnson is in her element as she leads a team of students through the forest.

“This area would be perfect for recreation,” she says, gesturing to a sunny stand of trees. The students nod in agreement as they continue walking through Austin Cary Forest, University of Florida’s official teaching and research forest. Their assignment: to come up with a business plan for a pretend landowner, figuring out how to get the most value from a 95-acre section of the forest.

“I love tromping through the woods. I can’t believe you can just do this as a major,” says Olivia, a fourth-year student who is finishing her bachelor’s and working on her master’s this semester.

A Love for the Forest

Olivia, who recently received the first-ever New England Forestry Scholarship to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Operational Forestry, says she never feels more at home than when she’s in the forest.

“My family moved from the mountains of North Carolina to Key West, and I missed the forest,” she says. “I volunteered at Key West’s botanical gardens, and that’s the one place that felt right.”

Olivia enrolled in the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources & Conservation expecting to go into a conservation career, or perhaps to work at a national park. But then she fell in love with something unexpected: operational forestry.

“I love going through the woods of course, but I also love the math part of it,” she says. “I love taking what I see and making sense of it. I love figuring out, just from the height and diameter, how much a stand is worth.”

She says operational forestry is a perfect “win-win” because a forester can determine ways to enhance the value of the property while also maintaining sustainable practices and protecting the ecosystem that depends on the forest.

Workforce Diversity in Forestry “Is Already Here”

In the past, college-level forestry programs throughout the U.S. have struggled to attract women and minorities. Asked if she expects to see more diversity in the forestry profession in the future, Olivia says, “It’s already happening. In my forestry department, there are so many people of different backgrounds.

“Everyone respects each other. I’ve never felt like I was treated any differently than anyone else in the program,” she says. “My advice to anyone considering forestry is that it shouldn’t be a barrier. There are more and more of us going into natural resources fields.”

She says the rich array of perspectives will benefit the forestry profession as it becomes more diverse in the years to come.

Entering into Forestry Research

Determined to work her way through college, Olivia has been using a job at Gainesville’s Kanapaha Gardens to cover her tuition. But she’s become passionate about genetic research in forestry and wanted to find work that would give her experience in that field. 

“The scholarship from New England Forestry helped a lot. It’s paying for this next semester of college, which is allowing me to pursue forest genetics,” she says. 

The financial support allowed Olivia to take a position as a research assistant for the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program that UF manages. Ironically, as a member of the coop, New England Forestry will benefit from the work she does.

Olivia says she’s looking forward to working full-time in the industry after she graduates next year.

“I love that you can just be outside and make money at it,” she says. “It’s such a fun profession and it’s really cool.”

The post UF Student: Workforce Diversity will Benefit Next Generation of Foresters appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

FORKS and HOQUIAM, Washington—Imagine the amount of infrastructure required to reach the timber on hundreds of thousands of acres of mountainous land.

In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, New England Forestry has a massive network of private roads and bridges stretching across nearly 400,000 acres of forest land. In order to maintain our infrastructure to the best possible standards for the environment while also doing what’s best for our timber operations, we rely on a talented team of forest engineers.

“Timber without access has no commercial value, so our job is to access timber and then to maintain the infrastructure required for that access,” explains Engineering Manager Mark Smalley, who oversees the team. The forest engineers build and maintain roads and bridges, create a plan for each timber harvest and source money-saving rock pits on our land to provide some of our road-building materials.

When it comes to roads, they don’t just seek the cheapest, simplest route to each stand of trees. They look for the method that will impact the environment the least, doing extensive research to ensure their plans won’t deposit sediment in waterways, cause erosion that would strip the rich soil from the land, or interfere with the ecosystems in the streams and rivers they cross.

“I think it’s very important that we manage the lands properly,” says Field Engineer Mike Leavitt, a lifelong resident of Forks. “We need to have the continuance for sustainability out here because I want my community to survive, and New England Forestry’s a big part of this community.”

Harvest Planning a Complex Task

“The most important thing we do is the harvest planning,” says Pete Waldrip, who’s been a New England Forestry Forest Engineer for 39 years. “We make sure that we’re harvesting the right timber at the right time for the right market and adhering to our goals as a company.”

The work is complex. A forest engineer must locate timber that meets the market’s demand for a specific species, age, size and quality of wood. Then, the infrastructure needed to reach that stand of trees must be in place. The trees may be many miles from a public road, meaning the engineer has to ensure the roads and bridges leading to that stand are adequate for the work and also compliant with environmental standards. In addition, the engineer will work with a logging company to configure the best way to harvest the trees, keeping in mind the complications added by the steep slopes in the Pacific Northwest. A harvest operation on a steep slope requires careful planning to ensure the safety of the logging crew and to minimize erosion.

Partnering with Contractors to Solve Problems

Forest Engineer Wendi Lubinus recently worked with a longtime New England Forestry partner, RL Smith Logging Inc., to identify stands of trees that could be harvested with fewer roads than typical. 

“We purchased a six-wheel-drive skidder from Tigercat a couple years ago and I brought that to the attention of a couple landowners,” says Roger Smith, who owns the logging company. The skidder, outfitted with tracks, can cover a larger area of land without damaging the soil bed and causing erosion the way a more traditional skidder would.

“It was a really good collaborative effort between us and the logger,” Wendi said during a recent visit to a harvest site near Hoquiam, where Smith’s team was using the skidder.

Doing Better with Less

Like detectives for the land, forest engineers explore properties, review maps and consult with experts to determine how to do the most good with the least amount of infrastructure. Sometimes they find ways to close old forest roads altogether.

“It’s an impact on the environment, but it’s also land out of production,” explains Wendi.

She says there are instances when she’s able to close old forest roads and replant with trees for future generations. Other roads are closed so old culverts can be removed, eliminating interference with upland streams.

Restoring Salmon Population an Integral Part of Forest Engineering

Forest Engineer Matt Poppe spends all of his time reviewing and either replacing or eliminating road crossings to ensure the best possible fish passage conditions. A century ago, foresters built roads without realizing how detrimental they would be to the ecosystems in the streams they crossed. They placed culverts under the roadways, believing that would be enough to allow the streams to continue to flow naturally. But more often than not, those culverts were too small, blocking the natural flow of water certain times of year. That prevented salmon from reaching the upland streams that are so critical for breeding and rearing their young. 

Poppe says New England Forestry has replaced 750 culverts and bridges in the past 20 years, opening more than 220 miles of fish habitat. 

The program operates under the guidance of Washington’s Forests & Fish Law. Learn more about it in our article, How Foresters Restore Salmon Habitat in the Pacific Northwest.

The Next Generation of Forest Engineers

With some forest engineers who have been with the company for three and four decades, and others who are only a year or two out of college, New England Forestry has benefitted from generations of engineers learning from one another.

Engineers like Mike and Pete have a reputation in the company—and the community—for their vast knowledge of both the land and the environmental guidelines for managing the land. Younger engineers, like Griffin Ollar and Chris Janik, more recent college graduates who studied Forest Engineering in their respective colleges, are bringing a new perspective, adding a level of technological expertise that has impressed their counterparts on the engineering team.

“It’s great to see not only the younger employees learn from the older employees, but to also see the older learn from the younger,” Smalley says. “We have a diverse group of employees on this team, and we’ve really benefited from that collaboration.”

The post Forest Engineers Build 100s of Eco-Friendly Roads & Bridges appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

WILDLIGHT, Florida—Imagine how the world might change over the next generation: Will we drive flying cars? Visit Mars? Teleport from here to there?

We don’t know what the future holds, but today’s researchers are striving to prepare the tools and materials future generations will need. At New England Forestry, forward-thinking individuals like our Biometrics Projects Leader Nate Osborne challenge us to continue pushing the limits of what we know about our trees and the products they could one day be used for.

We’ve learned it’s not just the information we hold, but also who we work with that will continue moving our company—and our industry—forward. Nate (shown on the right in the photo above) recently welcomed Guillaume Salzet, a forestry modeling engineer from France, to present his research to a team of New England Forestry employees. Guillaume works with the ExtraForEst program at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAe) in Nancy, France. He has been working with Nate on a project seeking a deeper understanding of the relationship between forest growth and wood quality.

“Before we create industries, we model whether they will be sustainable,” Guillaume explains. His research with the program is advancing a better way to predict the chemical makeup of wood, with the hope of being able to maximize the concentration of certain chemicals needed for high-end makeups and pharmaceutical products. Surprisingly, what’s considered one of the least valuable trees for typical wood products is one of the most valuable for Guillaume’s research: he found trees with knotty wood have the highest concentration of the desired chemicals.

“This could make use of a tree that once was not considered very valuable,” says Guillaume, who is also collaborating with forestry researchers at the University of Georgia to compare findings and research methods during his visit to the U.S.

A hope for more trans-continental research partnerships

Neither Guillaume nor Nate have heard of trans-continental research partnerships like theirs in the forestry industry, but they hope to see more of them in the future.

“The research we’re doing in North America isn’t the only research out there,” says Nate, who, himself, studied in Scandinavia, Scotland and France to broaden his perspective during graduate school. “There’s a whole other space in Europe that’s really siloed off. We can gain a lot more intellectually and business-wise by these kinds of collaborations.”

Connected through a common mentor

Nate and Guillaume met through the INRAe professor who mentored Nate in France, Francis Colin. It was Francis who first introduced Nate to the concept of using a medical CT scanner to gain a deeper understanding of wood properties, which became critical to the research Nate used in his own doctoral dissertation at Oregon State University. (Although, a bit less glamorous than the dedicated scanner in Francis’s research lab, Nate used the scanner at a nearby vet clinic between the clinic’s scans of sick pets and zoo animals.)

Guillaume, visiting the U.S. for a month, included several tours of New England Forestry’s forests and meetings with New England Forestry researchers in his visit. He was able to share firsthand experiences his American colleagues could use in the field, while they offered him a forestry experience from the perspective of a company whose work must be aligned with its standards for sustainability as well as profitability.

“It was very interesting to have another view with this scale of a company and see the different thinking,” Guillaume says. “It’s been a pleasure to be here and meet people and discover different aspects of forestry.”

Small town forests impacted by global markets

With our forests growing in quiet rural towns for decades and then being harvested by small, often family-owned logging contracting companies, it can be easy to see forestry as a strictly local business. But the market for timber is a worldwide industry, and that makes it critical to understand what’s happening in forests worldwide.

“How does the industry use radiata pine in New Zealand? How is the spruce beetle epidemic influencing forest management in Northern France? Factors like these can impact the value for timber across North America,” Nate explains. “It’s a global market, and our research needs to help us solve global challenges to be sustainable today, as well as preparing us for opportunities in the future.”

The post Forestry Researchers Connect Across the World appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

HOQUIAM, Washington—A forest stream went more than a century without salmon after a road crossing was built above it. Then recently the small pipe that led the stream under the road was replaced with a bridge that allowed water to flow more freely—and suddenly the stream came to life.

A few weeks after the bridge project was finished, Matt Poppe, a New England Forestry forest engineer, pulled a team of contractors off a nearby worksite to see the impact of the bridge they built.

“This is why we’re all doing this,” he told them. “There haven’t been fish in this stream for 100 years, and here we are seeing large salmon in this stream right now.”

That was just one of the 750 upgrades New England Forestry has made to culverts and bridges on its property over the last 20 years to help address Washington’s declining salmon population. The effort is guided by Forests & Fish, one of the most comprehensive environmental laws in the U.S., which protects 60,000 miles of streams across Washington’s state and private forests. It uses the latest scientific standards to ensure the best possible habitats for salmon to live and spawn in, as well as other amphibious creatures that depend on upland streams. 

In addition to replacing insufficient culverts and bridges to improve salmon habitat, New England Forestry also improves forest roads to reduce the amount of sediment making its way into streams and, when possible, closes nonessential forest roads altogether.

Since the law passed in 1999, New England Forestry has:

• Opened 220 miles of fish habitat
• Upgraded 750 culverts and bridges
• Invested $22 million in salmon habitat restoration

The long process to get a stream’s profile just right

The process to set even one project into motion can take a full year before building the structure during the “fish window,” when upland streams are naturally slowed and work will be least likely to disturb the fish, from July 15-Sept. 30. Matt must undergo months of permitting application reviews as well as a review process with stakeholders including environmental agencies and representatives of the local Native American tribes.

Portia Leigh, an area habitat biologist for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), often previews the proposed projects and advises Matt on how to make the pass-through simulate the rest of the streambed. She sometimes advises him to leave woody debris in the streambed or to drop hay seeds for vegetation, which will slow the water flow, enhance shade, and create pools and protective areas. That gives smaller salmon places to hide, spawn and grow before they go downstream into more open waters, says Portia, shown below.

Matt also conducts a “stream survey” with the partners to ensure the new passthrough simulates what the streams were like before a road passed through them. He explains that those who built the roads in the past (some of these roads are more than a century old) didn’t know the culverts they were using were not sufficient to maintain the streams below the roads.

“People in those days were doing their best with what they knew. All they worried about was getting the water across, and they thought the fish would come no matter what,” Matt says. “Many of the culverts that were put in these streams were just rolled into the hole. In those situations, it created an artificial stream channel.”

Today, the work to determine the proper placement for a culvert is much more complex. During the stream survey, Matt and the partner agencies will view the streams 100 feet above and below the project area to understand what the stream would have done naturally.

“We’ll come back and mimic that with our design. It can drastically change where that structure is placed and at what elevation it’s placed,” explains Matt, shown below.

Handling culvert and bridge replacements with care

Culvert and bridge projects are handled with extreme care. Before any digging begins, a watertight pipe is used to divert the stream around the project area, and fish screens are placed to ensure fish don’t come into harm’s way. Work to place culverts or bridges only begins after the project area is fully dewatered.

“The allowable amount of sediment contamination in the stream is zero. We’re mindful of that 100 percent of the time,” Matt says.

During a recent project, he pointed out a crawfish who was curiously swimming near the diversion pipe in clear water, just feet away from the project, a testimony to how well the diversion pipe worked to keep the water clear.

At the same time, Kelly Dunkerson, site supervisor for John J. Karnas Co., was placing a 40-foot-long culvert into the streambed. The Hoquiam-based company has contracted with New England Forestry for more than 30 years and has served as a knowledgeable partner in the culvert and bridge replacement projects. While this particular culvert’s circumference was 10 feet around, about a third of that would be backfilled with streambed material to match the rest of the stream.

From start to finish, the projects typically take about a week, and then waterflow returns to normal. It can be shocking how quickly the streams attract salmon who have not been there in years. Portia, of WDFW, says they can sense the change in the waterflow once the work is done.

Matt says New England Forestry has about 40 more miles of habitat to open and 125 more structures to upgrade in order to fully comply with Forests & Fish, but the work won’t stop there.

“As we build new roads, eliminate roads, stream enhancements change and other dynamics change, we’ll continue to do this work,” he says.

Matt’s proud of the work New England Forestry is doing to help restore and improve salmon habitat in the forest.

“I love what I do every day of the week,” he says. 

The post How Foresters Restore Salmon Habitat in the Pacific Northwest appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

CALLAHAN, Florida—Most of the work in the forestry industry is done out of public view, deep in the forest, so it’s no wonder many school children don’t know a lot about forestry.

A group of more than two dozen forestry-related businesses here in Nassau County came together to change that, hosting Northeast Florida’s first-ever Forestry Career Day at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds in September 2019.

Just under 200 high school juniors and seniors were immersed in forestry career experiences throughout the day, trying their hands at operating heavy equipment, researching genetics and even flying drones.

The theme of the day: there’s a forestry career for everyone and every level of education, whether you’re looking for something you can do with on-the-job training only, or with a Ph. D. 

“There are so many facets to working in forestry,” says Jody Davis, New England Forestry’s Manager of Human Relations and Talent Acquisition. “There are jobs from operational equipment operators to foresters, who are the science behind the growth and the replanting of trees.”

A Rising Demand for Forestry Heavy Equipment Operators

Employers are experiencing a rising need for employees in the operational side of the industry, which includes work such as operating heavy equipment and driving log trucks. New England Forestry Senior Resource Land Manager Ed Carter, who came up with the idea to host the event, says these jobs are ideal for students who don’t want to attend a four-year college program.

“There are vital jobs out there,” he says. “We want to reach all those students and let them know, in the forestry industry, you can make a great living and a career even though you don’t get a four-year degree.”

Several local heavy equipment operator employers, including Tim-Prep, Bobcat of Jacksonville and Conner + Conner Logging, allowed students to sit in the driver’s seat of their equipment, operating a skid steer, a mini excavator and even moving logs with a loader.

Students also learned firsthand from foresters about their role in the forest, from grafting and genetics to maintaining water quality and protecting wildlife. Representatives from colleges including the University of Florida, University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College talked to students about their offerings for forestry degree programs.

There were also hands-on lessons about GIS mapping, a field the industry depends on to ensure data is accurate on each stand of trees.

Jim Tootle, a Senior Forester for the Florida Forest Service, says learning about forestry at this stage in their lives can help students get a good start in the industry.

“When I enrolled in the forestry program, I had no clue what I was getting into. I just knew I wanted to work outdoors,” he recalls, “so I didn’t really know how to focus my studies in a particular direction that I wanted to go. Something like this may give a student an idea of what direction they want to go in the forestry industry.” 

Forestry a Major Industry in Florida

In Florida, forestry is a critical industry. In fact, forest land accounts for almost half of Florida’s total land area. The forestry industry employs 124,000 people and contributes $25 billion to the state’s economy every year, according to the Florida Forestry Association. 

Representatives from the production side of forestry, including New England Forestry Advanced Materials and Westrock, taught students about the many items in their typical day that come from the forest and how they are made. More than 5,000 everyday forest products play a key role in our daily lives, including lumber, plywood and papers and cardboards, as well as items with a lesser-known wood component, such as LCD screens, rubber tires, bath products, even diapers. You can learn more about why trees are used in so many products by checking out our #ItStartsWithTrees articles.

To learn more about Forestry careers, visit New England Forestry’s Forestry Careers Resources page, which explains what different forestry careers are and links to schools, vocational programs and other resources for future foresters, at https://www.New England Forestry.com/careers/career-resources/.

The post First Forestry Career Day in Northeast Florida a Success appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

KINGSLAND, Georgia—A row of south Georgia pines appears to be on the move as an aptly-named feller buncher saws through more than a dozen trees in a row, gathering them in its claw-like grip while they’re still upright. 

Once the buncher is at capacity with a large bundle of pines, it lowers them to the ground and drags them out of the forest in one trip, careful to leave neighboring rows of trees unharmed; what remains will be growing for years to come.

This is a thinning operation, and only a portion of the trees will be harvested.

WHAT IS THINNING TREES?

Believe it or not, thinning trees is one of the healthiest activities that can be done for a growing forest. Once trees have matured to a certain age—here in this Georgia forest, they’re about a decade old—they begin to compete with each other for nutrients, water and light. Full rows of trees are removed, allowing the remaining pines to grow to their full potential over the next six to eight years. 

In addition to removing full rows, a thinning operation will pick off less desirable trees from the remaining rows.

“We remove trees that are small, forked, diseased. Any trees with defects,” explains Resource Land Manager Josh Steiger.

What remains to grow in the forest are the healthiest, strongest trees with the highest potential to become the products future generations will need, from poles for docks and utilities, to lumber for homes, to the wood used in furniture and countless other products.

“Thinning is a big part of what we do. It allows the crop trees to grow and expand into the solid wood product that we want when we clear cut that stand. We want to have a lot of really good options for whatever our customers will need,” Josh explains. (“Crop trees” refers to trees that will be managed to full maturity and then marketed for their highest and best use).

Similar to weeding a garden, the removal of trees in a thinning leaves the forest less crowded so light can reach more of the tree canopy, and nutrients and water aren’t so hard to come by. After all, there are no sprinkler systems in the forest: there’s only so much water to go around.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TREES THAT ARE REMOVED IN A THINNING?

After growing for about 10 to 14 years, the trees removed in a thinning have an important role to play. The majority will go to pulp mills, where they will be processed into the pulp substance that is used in thousands of everyday products, such as paper, cardboard, fabrics, bath products, rubber tires and LCD screens.

WHY NOT PLANT LESS TREES IN THE FIRST PLACE RATHER THAN THIN LATER?

Foresters plant a certain number of trees per-acre with the full knowledge that some of those trees will later be thinned from the forest. In the meantime, those trees help develop a healthy forest in a number of ways:

• First, they help stabilize the soils when seedlings are first planted in the freshly-tilled ground.
• Secondly, when trees are planted closer together, they tend to grow tall rather than wide, with less branches on their trunks. This is important for the quality of the wood of the trees that will grow to full maturity: less branches means less knots in the wood, making a stronger and more attractive product.
• Third, as mentioned above, the trees that are removed play an important role in the forestry industry, supplying much of the wood needed in pulp production.
• And, finally, the trees destined for thinning offer the same environmental benefits as all trees while they grow: sequestering carbon, filtering water, stabilizing soils, providing shade and a host of other benefits.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A FOREST IF THE TREES WEREN’T THINNED?

“We know that any given acre of land can only grow a certain amount of fiber,” Josh says. “If we do not thin, when that stand reaches its capacity, something that’s very common is what we call ‘self-thinning.’ The trees that are less vigorous will start to die.”

When the forest self-thins, it can be more vulnerable to disease and insect infestations, which can “absolutely devastate” a stand of trees, he says.

How does thinning trees impact wildlife and plant life in the forest?

Thinning a forest can have a significantly positive impact on wildlife and plant life in the forest. When a stand of pines needs to be thinned, the thick cover of treetops—known as the overstory—blocks almost all sunlight from reaching the forest floor. That prevents most plants—or, understory—from growing on the forest floor. After a thinning, shrubs and bushes that foraging animals seek for shelter and food become more readily available.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FOREST AFTER A THINNING?

Once a forest is thinned, the remaining trees will often be fertilized to give them a boost as they now have space to grow. But, for the most part, with more light reaching their leaves, more water reaching their roots, and more nutrients to go around, nature will take its course and the trees will naturally grow into a more robust, mature forest.

FOR FURTHER READING ON THINNING TREES:

Tree Thinning 101, by the American Forest Foundation

Thinning my Forest, Partnership for Forestry Education

The post What is Thinning Trees, and Why Do Foresters Do It? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

What happens on a timber cruise, and why is it important in forest management?

A timber cruise is an essential tool used by foresters to determine the value of a specific area of land, including the trees.

To learn more about how this process works, we talked to three New England Forestry employees, including Florida Resource Unit Leader Rick Piagno, Timber Marketing Manager Rusty Cobb and Resource Land Manager Kyle Purvis.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A TIMBER CRUISE?

“At a basic level, timber cruising involves collecting information like tree measurements on specific plots,” says Rick, who’s based in Hastings, Florida. “This allows the company to calculate how much monetary value we have in the trees and land.”

That information is critical to the company’s budgeting and planning, but it has to be obtained in a way that makes sense financially.

“We can’t measure every single tree. That’s just not possible, and it would be way too costly even if we could do it,” adds Rusty, who’s based in Yulee, Florida. “We take a statistical sample instead, collect the data, and run that through some analysis software that gives us a good estimate for how much volume of wood is out there in a particular stand.”

A stand is a community of trees that are uniform in age, species and condition. 

The First Type of Cruise is Called Timber Cruising

Rick says there are two types of cruising: “The first I’ll refer to as timber cruising, which is primarily used prior to harvesting a stand or group of stands.”

“With this type of cruise, we measure tree diameters and heights, then class each tree as to the product it will likely be merchandised as—such as pulpwood, sawtimber, etc.”

Pulpwood trees have a smaller diameter than the larger sawtimber trees. They’re used in everyday products like paper, the LCD screen on your phone, bath products like lotions and soaps, diapers, and thousands of other products. You can learn more about why it’s in so many products in our #ItStartsWithTrees article series.

Sawtimber logs have a larger diameter with few flaws. They provide the wood used for planks, boards and other lumber used in building houses, fences, furniture and other wood products.

Once the tree diameters and heights are recorded and classifications are determined, Rick says, “this information is first used to estimate the volume of timber in each product class, then used to value the timber.”

The Second Type of Cruise is Called Inventory Cruising.

“Inventory Cruising is generally done at specific ages in a stand’s life. This information is used and maintained in our system so we understand what volume is available at any point in time—primarily in the future.”

Rick likens it to a store owner inventorying their merchandise so they know how much of each item they have in stock.

Rusty adds that an inventory timber cruise plays an important role in planning for the future. The data is entered into growth and yield models to project what the forests’ wood supply will be in years to come, when the trees reach maturity.

He says inventory cruising is also done close to harvest time.

“That way we know real accurately what to expect for pricing” when the trees are harvested and weighed, he explains. “That’s how we budget each year, based on those cruises.”

He demonstrates an inventory cruise in the video below:

WHAT HAPPENS ON A TIMBER CRUISE?

Both types of cruises are completed in a similar manner. 

New England Forestry’s Land Information Services, or LIS, team determines where information is needed in order to predict the current and future value of a specific stand of trees. The team enters the coordinates they need information about into a software system that the foresters will have access to in the field.

“Basically, a pre-established grid is laid out over a stand of timber,” Rick explains. “The cruiser walks through the woods on a certain bearing for a specific distance, then stops and measures a plot. Where they stop is called the plot center. The plot is a small subsample of the timber near the center.” 

What Types of Tools are Used on a Timber Cruise?

Several different methods can be used to complete a cruise depending on the type of cruising and information needed, but the most common are variable plots, fixed area plots, and rectangle plots. 

The tools foresters typically use to complete the measurements include:

Prism – While a forester stands at the plot center, this tool is used to determine which trees should be measured and which should not. If the view of a tree’s trunk within the prism touches the view of the trunk outside the prism, it should be measured.

Diameter Tape – This specially-calibrated tape is stretched around the tree trunk at a height of 4 1/2 feet, also known as Diameter at Breast Height, or DBH. This measurement can be entered into a formula to also determine the cross sectional area of the tree, which is called the Basal Area. This helps determine both the size of the trees and the density of the stand (in other words, whether the trees are crowded or well-spaced).

Measuring tree diameter during a timber cruise. Notice that the numbers are different from a traditional tape measure, because it measures diameter rather than circumference.

Clinometer, Hypsometer or Biltmore Stick – All three of these tools can be used for the same purpose: to measure tree height without having to leave the ground. A forester will stand away from the tree at a specific distance, look through to the top of the tree using the tool, and read the height.

• A clinometer contains an ocular gauge with numbers inside to help the forester calculate height using basic trigonometry
• A hypsometer is like a clinometer, but it also incorporates a laser to further ensure accuracy.
• A Biltmore Stick looks like a yardstick, but is calibrated to calculate height.

Data Recorder or Tablet – A handheld computer allows foresters to enter their measurements into New England Forestry’s company-wide mapping system as they take them.

Kyle, who’s based in Lufkin, Texas, explains, “The tablet is probably the most important tool we have. It’s an important data recorder that lets us input all of our values” and update the company’s systems with the new information instantly.

Kyle enters data into his tablet after measuring a tree in a specific plot.

New England Forestry uses either employees or contractors to complete the work depending upon the scope of the project and location, and the time it takes depends upon the size of the stand and conditions in the woods.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TIMBER CRUISING?

“Cruising timber is really important to the company,” says Kyle. “It basically lets the company know what they have.

“It also lets them know if there’s anything wrong with the stand, any bug spots or maybe a small fire broke out. So it serves multiple purposes.”

Foresters also look for signs of important animal habitats, such as the Red Hills Salamander habitat on our Alabama land, a gopher tortoise burrow on our Florida land, a Northern Spotted Owl habitat on our Pacific Northwest land or kiwi in New Zealand. If a habitat is found, the forester marks that location on the tablet to ensure the habitat will not be disturbed during forestry operations.

“Anything that we could pose a threat to, we definitely want to protect and make it known that that area has something that we’re trying to protect,” Kyle says.

The post Why do foresters “cruise” timber? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

For years, Resource Land Manager Neris Biciunas puzzled over how to get rid of an invasive plant that was harming trees on New England Forestry’s Washington land. Called Scotch Broom, it is difficult to spot and nearly invisible from the air, except for a small window of time each year when it blooms with bright yellow flowers. 

Then Neris, who’s based in Forks, Washington, became one of New England Forestry’s drone pilots. He flew his drone as soon as the Scotch Broom plants bloomed, collecting aerial photos so he could develop a precise map of the plant locations across miles of forestland. Once the plants were located, his team was able to develop a treatment plan to get rid of them.

There are countless success stories like this that show how drone flights are impacting New England Forestry for the better. They’re used to take a quick initial look at a stand of trees, to monitor a contractor’s work, to more safely assess the devastation during and after a forest fire, and even to create 3-D images. 

After a preliminary “pilot” team tested how the company could use drones in 2017, New England Forestry saw the potential and launched the program nationwide, encouraging at least one forester in every U.S. location to get their FAA drone pilot’s license. There are currently 30 pilots on our U.S. team.

In New Zealand, our first employee pilots were trained in early 2018 after a couple years of working with contractors to test the impact of drones. Now we have a drone in each of the five regions in which we operate, with 15 trained pilots. The New Zealand team typically refers to their drones as UAVs, which stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

“We have some clever, motivated people who are determined to leverage this technology—and technology in general—to do existing work better and, even more exciting, find new ways to do more than we could previously,” says Forest Information Manager Joanna Drabsch, who’s based out of Auckland, New Zealand.

A New Perspective

“A drone allows us to see something we wouldn’t have been able to see any other way. It’s a tool that gives us a whole new perspective,” says Technical Analyst Sara Bellchamber, a self-described gamer who organized the U.S. program.

Based in Wildlight, Florida, Sara says one way she uses her drone is to help New England Forestry’s land resources team measure the depth of fill dirt pits using a program called Drone Deploy. The software uses images taken in a grid pattern and stitches them together into a 3-D image.

Sara says she has seen drones save costs, increase safety and save time throughout New England Forestry’s ownership. In the South, for example, they minimize the gap in time between the harvest of a forest and the preparation of that forest for replanting during Florida’s hot summers.

“After a harvest, you’d normally have to fly a plane to estimate what it will take to prep the site [for replanting],” she explains. “In high summer, there’s a haze in the sky and planes can’t take clear photos through it. But drones can fly below the haze, getting us the imagery we need much sooner.”

While planes are still the preferred option for imagery collection, work doesn’t have to grind to a halt if a plane is not an option.

Working with Drones in the Forest

Blake McMichael and Dan Hildebrand, both Resource Land Managers based in Jesup, Georgia, use their drones when they’re in the field assessing forests.

“One of the best uses I’ve found is for site-specific management,” says Blake. “It helps me delineate where treatments are needed and where they’re not. It’s not replacing boots on the ground, it’s giving us a birds-eye view we’ve never had before.”

Eliminating Hours of Work

For Dan, who’s been a New England Forestry forester for more than 30 years, his drone eliminates hours of work tromping through the forest to locate pre-commercial thinning candidates, trees with flaws such as forking that should be removed to make room for the optimal trees to grow.

When he first became a forester, “it used to be all boots on the ground,” Dan says. “But I’ve always been open to new possibilities.”

In hazardous conditions such as difficult terrain, drones can make a task much safer. Neris, the forester in Forks, used his drone to save himself from a long, cold walk to determine whether snowy roads would be drivable or not after a heavy snowstorm (they weren’t). 

“It took me 10 minutes to do with a drone what would have taken me 2 hours to do on foot,” Neris says.

That sentiment is echoed by many drone pilots across many tasks: work can be done quickly, accurately and more safely by incorporating a drone.

“My favorite way to use the drone is by using the Maps Made Easy software to quickly map a large area in high definition, then be able to convert that to a file which can directly be transferred to our GIS system,” says Graduate Forester Patrick Dravitzki, who’s based in Whangarei, New Zealand. “This is great for doing harvest reconciliation mark ups as we get an accurate measurement of the area which has been harvested, then compare that with the volume recovered to get a volume recovered per-hectare.

“This also solved a problem, as previously we had to walk the perimeter with a GPS or hand draw on a map. This method is a lot safer, faster and accurate.”

Using Drones to Prepare for the Future

The drone pilots share files and tips with each other and come together for a regular cross-country phone call, hearing new ways fellow foresters have discovered to use their drones in the field and helping each other expand their skills. The team is continuously trying to prepare for what’s next: several of the pilots are even part of a New England Forestry “super users group” tasked with staying on top of any future technological advances that could benefit the company.

Neris gives New England Forestry leadership credit for supporting the program from the start.

“They were receptive, asked hard questions, listened thoughtfully, and let us check it out,” he says. 

The result is a program that not only benefits New England Forestry now (one forester said the information gleaned in a single flight saved more money than the cost of his drone), but it’s also positioning New England Forestry for the future.

“Having a team of drone pilots, the infrastructure for the program, the experience and understanding how to use the data we’re collecting puts us in a very strong position for when the next development rolls along,” Neris says. “We’ll be ready.”

The post Flying Foresters: Meet New England Forestry’s Drone Pilots appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

HOQUIAM, Washington—No one asked Zack Jones to build a system that would change the way we work. We didn’t even know it could be done. But thanks to our New England Forestry culture, which encourages employees to challenge the status quo and seek new ways to solve problems, no one got in the way when he decided to try.

Zack, the Manager of Forestry Systems on our IT team, took the initiative to build a real-time reporting tool that’s become a game-changer for the forestry team. He saw the need within the organization for better reporting and visualization around the company’s mobile land management software system and he did something about it.

The Inspiration For A New Reporting Tool

“We needed a good interface to give the employees on the ground their reports,” Zack explains. “I was working on the mobile load project, where we were updating from old handheld devices to iPads, and I realized the end-users had to go to the website, type in a query, and go to the bottom of the site to see how many loads they’d have to run for the day.

“The old handheld devices didn’t sync as often and the load data wasn’t updated in real-time, so they’d have to check back late in the day. So, they’d get the load count, destination and products, but it was cumbersome to use and hard to visualize—and that’s where the power of charts come in.”

Zack realized he could easily fix the issue by using visualization software to organize the data into a real-time, intuitive and user-friendly interface.

“We’re still using the exact same data the website had,” he says, “but this system allows you to filter it by products, mill, contractor, sale, mill quotas, date ranges for the day, week, month or year, etc. from your PC, smartphone or iPad and shows you the data in easy-to-read charts and graphs.”

Letting Departments Set Custom Alerts

Zack explains how the tool empowers each department to better track data: “You can build an alert so members on your team can see when there’s a voided ticket or set notifications for quotas so everyone receives an email once that quota has been met.”

The app updates live and, since it’s cloud-based, it reduces the load on the servers.

“It’s very interactive and you don’t have to wait for results or wait until you get to the office to view the information.”

The main benefits:

●       It saves tons of time by allowing users to access information in-the-field in real-time

●       It helps the sales and marketing team on the mill side to better negotiate prices

●       It gives a better understanding of where loggers are with current production

●       And it’s incredibly affordable

Who Is Benefitting From The New Tool?

Since its inception, the app has gone from about 40 users to over 120. It has become a major efficiency tool for on-the-ground employees who manage contractors, loggers, mill negotiators and marketing and sales teams.

“I think this is a really good example of people being able to do what they do best,” says Pacific Resource Unit Leader Bill Monahan. “Here you have a situation where Zack, on his own initiative, went out and used this software to design a really cool tool the foresters really use. But what’s really cool is the compliance foresters and timber marketing managers can look at this data any time they want throughout the day, and I just think it’s awesome.

Senior Accounting Manager Kevin Leep agrees: “It’s really impressive to see somebody like Zack, who had a passion for something, did some study, and the way people responded to it was very gratifying. He didn’t have to do that, but he still did, and it indicates the kind of people we have working at New England Forestry.”

“I use it all day every day,” says Senior Timber Marketing Manager Dan Stransky. “It’s such a powerful tool to be able to click on and see at-a-glance exactly what you need.”

“Zack is a person who’s always going out of his way to make things better, to help people do their jobs better and to anticipate things people may not even realize they need,” says IT Director Adam Brown.

How Zack Found New England Forestry and What He Loves Most About His Career

As fate would have it, Zack grew up in Montesano, Washington, about 10 miles from New England Forestry’s Hoquiam office. He attended the local community college, got his degree in GIS and started with New England Forestry as a GIS technician.

Throughout the years, he moved up through managing data in the GIS group and moved into IT, where he now works as Manager of Forestry Systems.

When asked what he loves most about his job, he says: “They treat me really well and I enjoy what I do.I love being able to manage and work on the systems that help people and the business. It’s a flexible job that works well for my family. Plus, my wife and I are both from Washington state and enjoy the lifestyle here with our children.”

Recognition for a Job Well-Done

Zack was recognized with an award for fostering continuous learning, innovation and creativity. 

“I was thrilled and surprised by how useful people feel it’s been to them,” Zack says. “It’s truly one of the fastest tools I’ve ever built! But it’s impressive what you can build to help fulfill a need, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. It’s a great tool.”

The post New England Forestry IT Manager Creates “Game-Changer” for Forestry Team appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

MILLWOOD, Georgia—Down a long, dirt backroad in this tiny Georgia town, the beginnings of millions of acres’ worth of forests are budding in a New England Forestry seed orchard.

The tiny pine cones forming in these carefully-bred trees—so tiny, they’re called “conelets”—will grow into the forests that provide wood products for future generations 20 years from now. New England Forestry’s Forest Productivity & Sustainability team is determined to ensure they’ll be the best trees this company has ever seen.

Morning after morning, Genetic Resources Manager David Barker stops at this seed orchard on his way to the office, climbing into a mechanical lift to take a peek at the conelets. He is watching for signs that the conelets, which are the female “flower” part of the tree, are nearly ready to peel back their leafy outsides, called bracts. Known to researchers as “stage 5,” it will be the precious, short window of time when the conelets are receptive to pollination before the bracts close again.

Acting Fast in the Seed Orchard

When they’re nearly ready, Seed Production Manager Austin Smith snaps into action, working with a dedicated team of contractors to place a paper bag over each flower cluster. At this tender size, the conelet is very fragile and must be handled with care, so each bag is fitted with a wire that keeps the sides of the bag from injuring the flower. With the bags in place, the random pollen that comes with the wind, which could come from disease-prone or less robust trees, won’t be able to interfere with the conelets’ potential.

Austin and his helpers work from sunrise to sundown, using mechanical lifts to reach into the treetops and access the flowers. Tens of thousands of clusters are covered with bags that look similar to a paper lunch sack.

Introducing Pollen From Superior Trees

The research team will check the flowers again in the days to come until they’re open. Then they will use air guns to dust pollen from superior trees into each of the bags. (New England Forestry also harvests the male part of the tree, called the catkin, to collect pollen in liter-sized jugs, drying it into a powdery substance and storing it in freezers for future years). The pollen comes from trees that New England Forestry has chosen for disease resistance, straightness, volume growth, height and diameter.

“It’s really incredible to be able to actually make this happen when we’ve spent so much time on paper planning to make it happen,” Austin said during a rare break at Millwood recently. He likes to compare the process to horse breeding: the best of the best trees are selected, the result of years of genetic research.

Once the conelets’ scales close up, they are no longer receptive to pollen and the bags will be removed. The conelets will grow to full-size pine cones over the next 18 months. Then the cones will be harvested and sent to a seed extracting company. The resulting millions of seeds will then be shipped to our seedling nursery in Elberta, Alabama, for planting. After growing in the nursery for about a year, the baby pine trees will be planted in forests throughout our ownership across the United States.

Decades of Research

For over 50 years, our research team has nurtured seed orchards of pines that, unlike plantation pines, are intentionally spaced wide apart to allow their branches to spread, producing as many cones as possible. While the seeds that come from the Millwood Orchard will be sent into our forests, we also use the controlled pollination process on a much smaller scale for research as we continue to improve the parents of our future generations of trees.

Just a few weeks before the mass bagging operation in Millwood, Tree Improvement Forester Serenia O’Berry bagged and pollinated conelets in New England Forestry’s Ohoopee Seed Orchard in Reidsville, GA, on a small cluster of trees. Each had to be specially tagged and marked to ensure researchers would know which male and female parents were used. Seeds from those cones will be harvested, planted and grown and monitored closely. In about five to six years, testing on the trees that grow from those seeds can determine whether they are ideal parents. It sounds like a long time to wait for results, but by forestry standards, it’s not. Researchers in previous generations had to wait as much as 15 years before testing their genetic breeding.

Serenia says selective breeding, something that has been done in the agricultural world for centuries, speeds up what nature would have done on its own over a much longer period of time. And, by managing the parents of our trees, New England Forestry is able to make more uniform, consistently-growing stands of trees, which is ideal in forestry.

Despite the long hours during pollination season and countless trips up and down into the treetops to monitor the flowers, the research team looks forward to this process all year.

“I love getting to do the research, I love getting to be in a lift and I really love to be able to contribute to that next generation of trees,” Serenia says. “This is hands-down my favorite part of my job.”

The post How Foresters Use Controlled Pollination to Improve Tree Performance appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana—A towering, 20-foot wooden pole with a smooth, slippery surface seemed impossible to conquer when the 62nd annual Southern Forestry Conclave kicked off its pole-climbing competition last weekend.

One student after the next attempted the climb, but some couldn’t get their feet to stay on the pole at all. Others struggled to make it half-way, their bodies visibly shaking from the effort. One fell off. A few finally made it.

Crushing the Southern Forestry Conclave Pole Climb

Then came a student from Stephen F. Austin University who had clearly done this before. He shimmied up the pole, slapped the sack of chalkdust on top to signal timekeepers to stop their watches, and whipped back down before his climbing time could even be announced: he had crushed the pole climb in an incredible 4.685 seconds.

His classmates let out cheers of triumph, waving a massive school flag above their heads as he was pronounced the winner. But it was only the beginning. Still to come were competitions in axe and knife throwing, swaing, pole felling and even log birling, in which contestants try to outlast each other while running atop a spinning log in a lake (shown below).

Like a Lumberjack Competition

Conclave, featuring timber sport events reminiscent of a lumberjack competition, is an action-packed tradition that has lasted more than 60 years. This year’s event on March 21-24, 2019, attracted 250 college students from 15 universities across the South. LSU’s Society for American Foresters Student Chapter hosted the event at LSU’s AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.

Technical Challenges and Physical Competitions

The competition kicked off Friday with technical challenges relating to forestry, like photogrammetry (examining and interpreting aerial photos), tree diameter estimation, tree identification and compass and pacing (using a compass and chain to locate a specific point). Then came the physical competitions:

• Crosscut sawing
• Bowsaw
• Axe throw
• Knife throw
• Chain throw
• Archery
• Log chop
• Pole fell
• Log rolling
• Archery

Proud to Sponsor this Event

New England Forestry was proud to be a sponsor of the event, passing out sunglasses, sunscreen and other supplies to the students and talking forestry with them. We cheered on several former New England Forestry interns as well as some future interns who will be joining New England Forestry this summer.

When the results of all the competitions were in, it was announced that Stephen F. Austin came in first place overall, followed by the University of Arkansas at Monticello in second and Clemson University in third.

We can’t wait to see everyone again at next year’s conclave!

The post Axes, Saws and Running on Logs at Southern Forestry Conclave appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

YULEE, Florida—How do you teach a class of teachers a lesson they’ll never forget? You do exactly what they would do: invite them to touch, see, hear and—most importantly—ask questions.

Each year, 45 Florida school teachers are selected for the 4-day Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour, where they experience sustainable forestry firsthand. Offered by the Florida Forestry Association in concert with the Florida Forest Service, Project Learning Tree of Florida and Friends of Florida State Forests, the tour includes real-life demonstrations like a timber harvest, a controlled burn and processing at a paper mill.

The hope is that what’s learned on the tour informs the lessons teachers offer their students about sustainable forestry. Only 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified sustainable, which means the landowners protect wildlife, water quality and soil quality. New England Forestry, which follows best practices on 100% of its land, takes part in the tour, hosting the teachers for half a day on our land.

Learning about Sustainable Forestry on New England Forestry Land

“Listen! What do you hear out here?” New England Forestry Sustainable Forestry Manager Ben Cazell asked a group of teachers on a recent tour. They were crowded around him for a presentation in the middle of one of our Nassau County, Florida, forests.

The answers came back: Cicadas! Insects! Frogs! Birds!

“It’s a community,” Cazell concluded, explaining New England Forestry’s sustainable forestry practices help protect the wildlife that lives within our forests.

The teachers learned about research advances that have improved New England Forestry’s production over the years. Resource Land Manager Josh Steiger explained that our improvements in site preparation, fertilization and other practices like controlled pollination have significantly improved what we can do with one acre of land.

“We grew under 50 tons per acre in the 1940s. By 2010, our tonnage was over 200 per acre,” Steiger said.

Learning How New England Forestry Uses GIS to Make Decisions

Technical analyst Hillary Sherrill explained how New England Forestry’s in-house Geographic Information System, or GIS, plays a role in our decision-making process.

“Say there’s a forester who wants 12-year-old loblolly pine trees within 25 miles of a certain mill, but it’s the wet season so he needs to be sure they’re dry. We can help with that,” she said, explaining our in-house system contains multiple layers of data about each stand of trees’ size, age, soils, elevation, and more.

Technical analyst Sara Bellchamber showed the teachers how New England Forestry uses drones to gather data and save time in the field, and Senior GIS Programmer Greg Day taught the teachers how to survey a stand of trees using a prism and a clinometer.

The teachers joined Timber Marketing Manager Rusty Cobb for a timber harvest, watching mature trees being harvested as he explained that — once a stand is clear cut — work immediately begins to prep the site for the next generation of trees.

The teacher tour is a favorite event of the year for the Florida Forest Service’s Jacksonville District Manager, Jenn Hart, who organizes it.

“These teachers deserve some special time, this is our opportunity to give back to them,” she said.

The last day of the tour, when each teacher speaks about what he or she has learned, is one of the most memorable parts for Hart. The day is often filled with emotions and even tears as the teachers talk about what they will take back to the classroom from their hands-on lesson in the forest.

To learn more about the Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour, visit floridastateforests.org/teacherstour.

The post Teaching the Teachers About Sustainable Forestry appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

LUFKIN, Texas—Did you ever look at a towering, perfectly-straight utility pole and wonder what tree could have made such a large pole?

Some of them come from New England Forestry land!

The most valuable trees on our land in the U.S. South, “pole” trees can become utility poles for telephone and power lines or piles for docks and piers.

“It Starts with Genetics”

Pine trees in a natural forest typically do not provide a large number of poles, explains New England Forestry’s Lufkin-based senior timber marketing manager, Jeremy Flood. But our in-house genetic research team has worked to develop seed families that produce tall, straight trees with smaller branches.

“It starts with genetics,” Jeremy says, “followed by decades of management with proper thinning and fertilization. The result is mature plantations with high quality grade timber.”

Finding the Right Trees for Poles

Even though the trees in a stand of timber are the same age and species, they still mature to a variety of shapes and sizes. A forest manager ensures each tree reaches its highest potential use. Trees worthy of becoming poles are the rarest—and, consequently, the most valuable—because of the very specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify.

Without careful planning and attention to detail, one could overlook these valuable trees, selling them as sawtimber, a significantly less valuable product. Jeremy’s team created a plan to ensure as many trees as possible became poles.

“It Would Be a Waste Not to Capture Their Full Potential”

“These stands have been nurtured and grown for more than 25 years. It would be a waste to not capture their full potential,” says timber marketing manager Shane Bergman, who spearheaded the project.

To locate potential poles before a harvest, a forest technician takes an inventory, statistically measuring the stand of trees to locate those that meet the size specifications needed for poles. Our foresters work closely with a logging contractor, who cuts them down, separates them from the other trees, and places them to the side for the next step.

Strict Specifications for a Log to Become a Pole

Once the poles are laying side-by-side in a giant row, a forester inspects them one-by-one. He measures them to ensure they’re straight, with an even thickness and free of defects like scars and knots that could penetrate the wood. They also have to be the right diameter for the customer’s needs.

“Poles have very tight specifications required by the customer and consumer,” Jeremy explains.  “It’s not all cosmetic, much of the specs are required for engineering purposes, to ensure strength and longevity.”

They reject, or “cull,” logs that don’t meet the rigorous standards and use them for sawtimber. Using a chainsaw, they manually cut those that meet the standards to the exact size specifications of the buyer.

The logger delivers the logs to a pole mill to be processed into the final product.

Shane couldn’t be happier with the way the project worked out.

“It’s exciting to scale poles because of the relationships you build,” he says. “As you work with the contractors you get to learn about them and see that they have the same values as New England Forestry when it comes to being a good steward of the forest. We truly get to work with some great individuals.”

The post Where Do Utility Poles Come From? appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

New England Forestry’s forest rangers are like warriors primed for battle during fire season.

Patrick Hughes, based in our Coastal Resource Unit in Yulee, Florida, spends March through August watching the weather, communicating with local firefighters and taking preventative measures wherever New England Forestry land appears vulnerable. His tractor and radio are always close by, just in case.

Preventing Forest Fires

Throughout our ownership, we rely on forest rangers to prevent fires on our land and our neighbors’ land. Their first job when they survey a stand of trees is not to see the trees at all, but to see the fuel around them—the dry brush, undergrowth, and other risk factors that could feed a fire.

The team creates “fire breaks” and “fire lines,” using tractors to clear wide trenches, eliminating fuel for a fire and making it less likely to spread past the trenches.

When it’s prudent to do so, they also take the lead in controlled burns, putting fire to work by burning off potential fuels in smaller, carefully-monitored burns in select portions of New England Forestry’s forests.

“It’s good training for us and it benefits the land,” Patrick explains, noting that clearing older undergrowth that competes with the trees creates room for new growth that’s attractive to wildlife.

“A Dangerous Time of Year”

Despite the ongoing preventative measures, though, “When there are high winds, low relative humidity and low rainfall… it’s a dangerous time of year,” Patrick says.

Those were the conditions when a fire broke out in early 2018 a few miles from Patrick in Yulee. A spark from a train had caught some brush on fire, quickly spreading toward a heavily populated area near New England Forestry land.

Rushing to the scene of a neighboring fire

Knowing that area has prevalent broom sage, a “flashy fuel,” Patrick rushed to the scene with a tractor fitted with a fire plow attachment. He saw that the fire was headed away from New England Forestry’s nearby land, but a local fire chief alerted him it was heading rapidly toward an apartment complex.

Patrick, who is temporarily deputized by the Florida Forest Service in fire emergencies, took his New England Forestry tractor and rushed to the scene.

The first to respond to the fire, Patrick found traces of an old fire line between the blaze and the apartment complex—a line he had plowed, himself, several years ago during a similar fire.

He replowed the line to create a wide, clear section of land between the fire and the apartments. Then he worked to put the fire out blaze-by-blaze (it had spotted, with separate fires in seven or eight spots, all moving toward the apartments). Eventually, close to 100 firefighters responded to the blaze. Thanks in large part to Patrick’s efforts, the fire never reached the apartment complex and was contained within four hours.

Want to learn more? Read about New England Forestry’s fire prevention efforts and hear from wildland firefighters here.

The post New England Forestry Forest Rangers Focused on Fire Prevention appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.

GLENNVILLE, Georgia—How do you convince a tree it’s years—maybe even decades—older than it really is? New England Forestry’s genetics research team does it by using a technique called top grafting.

The process shaves a massive amount of time off our advances in tree genetics research.

Rather than waiting for a new seedling to mature to seed-producing age (about 7 years), our seed production team grafts our most promising trees with older trees.

Top Grafting in the Treetops

Climbing into aerial lifts to reach the treetops, the team fuses shoots (branch ends) from genetically superior young trees onto the end of the older trees’ branches at the top of the crown. The young tree shoots then perform as though they are the age of the older trees.

This leads the promising new trees to produce seeds within the year, allowing us to plant and research how their progeny perform. The best performers from the seeds we plant will be selected for mass planting in our seed orchards.

Pot Grafting Promising Trees

Similar grafting techniques are then used on smaller rootstocks in a method called pot grafting. Once we select the ideal trees to use in an orchard, we want to get a whole lot of these trees in a short period of time so we can plant them and generate seeds that will be used throughout our ownership. We do this by attaching the shoots of the superior trees to potted trees, allowing our team to make hundreds of copies of the best trees in a matter of days. These will then be planted in the orchard, where trees are spaced farther apart to allow more branching—and thus, more pinecones—to produce millions of seeds.

The post New England Forestry Researchers Save Time and Increase Quality with Grafting appeared first on New England Forestry Stories.