WEA Forester Examines Humanizing Hunting on Blood Origins Podcast

 

Wiregrass Ecological Associates (WEA) Forester Alex Harvey was recently featured on the 97th episode of the Blood Origins Podcast. The Blood Origins podcast uses unique storytelling to raise awareness for conservation and change how hunting is viewed. Episodes encompass all aspects of hunting and conservation, featuring guests like Weatherby Award Winner Enrique Zamacola, Matt Drury (Drury Outdoors), and Cuz Strickland (Mossy Oak).

Blood Origins host Robbie Kroger and Mr. Harvey met in our Gulfport, Mississippi office to chat about humanizing hunting and the current stereotypes that come with being a hunter. Mr. Harvey encourages those to break the mold on what it means to be and look like a hunter, emphasizing that any and everyone can be a hunter no matter who you are or where you come from. The podcast can be found on Audible or Apple Podcasts and by clicking the link here: Episode 97 – On Humanizing Hunting

Mr. Harvey holds a BS degree from Mississippi State University in Forestry (with a Wildlife Management concentration) and has over 15 years of experience working in the public agency, non-profit, and private forestry sectors. He is a Registered Forester and USDA Forestry Technical Service Provider in Alabama and Mississippi.

WEA Presents on Imperiled Species Considerations at Florida Master Logger Workshop

 

Wiregrass Ecological Associates (WEA) recently instructed students during the 2021 Florida Master Logger Workshop in Lake City, Florida.  This 2-day initial training workshop is sponsored by the Florida Forestry Association and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) State Implementation Committee (SIC).  Loggers earn their Florida Master Logger certification by completing this workshop which includes modules on safety, business management, and environmental regulations.  George Fullerton, WEA Senior Biologist, presented about logging considerations for imperiled species in Florida.  His program discussed the history and status of environmental regulations in US and Florida, detailed descriptions of imperiled plant and animal species and critical habitats in Florida, best management practices and regulations for interacting with these species and their habitats, potential future listings and legal challenges, and the value of logger’s efforts towards biodiversity and conservation.  This opportunity to address loggers is valuable because the SFI Principles call upon every program participant to meet market demands while complying with applicable laws and agreeing to use environmentally responsible practices that promote the protection of biodiversity, wildlife, plants, soil, water, and air quality.  WEA has presented environmental modules during this Master Logger training workshop since 2016.

 

The FFA administers the Master Logger program for the Florida SFI-SIC. The program is designed to enhance the professionalism of loggers through training in safety, timber harvesting, business, and environmental regulations. Following initial training, Master Loggers must complete Continued Logging Education (CLE) credits annually  to maintain their certification.

https://www.flforestry.org/programs/master-logger/

SFC and WEA Provide Insights to UF Students on Wildlife Management for Private Lands

 

John Dooner (SFC Partner) and Austin Carroll (WEA President and SFC Partner) joined the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation’s Integrated Natural Resource Management class as guest lecturers for the second consecutive year. Focusing on Wildlife Management and Environmental Considerations on Private Lands in Florida, Mr. Dooner and Mr. Carroll discussed the complexities of managing for multiple objectives on industrial and non-industrial land holdings in the Southeast.  The focal points of the discussion included common silvicultural practices to achieve recreational and financial objectives and the importance of adaptive management when considering the long-term sustainability of multiple resources. The lecture concluded with a brief review of available wildlife management funding sources and a question/answer session.  UF students asked questions on topics ranging from how to evaluate emerging ecosystem services markets (e.g. carbon) to landowner conservation easement considerations.  SFC and WEA are proud to provide practical, real-world insights and scenarios to the next generation of natural resource managers.

 

Are You Maximizing Potential During Reforestation?

Common responses when landowners discuss options for reforestation are, “I will never reap the benefits of the investment” or “I want to minimize costs because it will be so long before I can harvest.” Every situation is unique. Landowners must consider time frame, capital availability and allocation, current and future ownership arrangements, market dynamics, and other objectives that may or may not be financial. Did you know that there are opportunities for shortening the rotation age (date of final harvest) of a timber stand? How complicated can it be? Trees are planted and the owner waits for many years until the timber is suitable for harvesting. Sounds straight forward, however several factors are at play when planning and implementing a reforestation project. Let’s take a deeper dive into these considerations.

Species.  While the site conditions such as soils, topography, and drainage certainly dictate the species chosen at establishment, landowner objectives also drive the ultimate decision on species selection. What is the real motivation for establishing a stand of timber? Is it strictly the performance of the investment? Are wildlife habitat concerns equally important? Is some other non-timber product like pine straw a factor in the investment strategy? Are aesthetics of the timber stand crucial to long-term success? These questions embody the landowner’s vision and goals for the site. Site conditions at times limit options for species selection. Nutrient deficient sites may require slower-growing species that survive in harsher conditions. Sites prone to periods of flooding require species that can best withstand inundation. For most reforestation projects, species selection is the first decision to be considered, and it facilitates the decision-making process for the other components covered below.

Site Preparation.  Although a clear-cut area planned for reforestation may appear to be a clean slate, Mother Nature is never at rest and awaits new opportunities to utilize space and resources. Site preparation techniques must be tailored to address the species that will occupy this “clean slate” and ultimately compete with the newly planted trees. What are the primary species to control? Can they be controlled with an herbicide application? What mixture of herbicides will address the species of concern? Will mechanical site preparation be necessary to address certain species? Is burning before planting an option for the site? Does the site’s hydrology require physical amending to prevent flooding of seedlings? These are just a few of the considerations that must be evaluated months before a seedling is ever planted. Research indicates that appropriate site preparation will increase volume production and reduce a stand’s rotation age by several years. Insufficient site preparation often results in additional costs within ten years of establishment to prevent the complete loss of the investment. It is imperative to consider the minimum, necessary site preparation requirements for the establishment of a timber stand, but it is wise to consider what your budget may allow above and beyond the bare necessities.

Seedling Genetics.  Genetic improvement in seedlings began in the middle of the twentieth century and has now reached a level that allows landowners and foresters many options for improving performance. Some of the tree characteristics favored when making selections are quite intuitive such as stem straightness and growth rate, but have you ever thought about breeding a tree so that the angle of the branches creates smaller knots upon natural pruning? Have you ever considered that selecting a top performer in growth that is prone to specific diseases in your geographic area may prevent your investment from ever maximizing its genetic potential? Genetics selections are generally available to match most considerations including budget, geographic location, and market opportunities. Proper selections can improve your investment’s performance by at least thirty to forty percent, but a proper investment in genetics may not mean the most expensive seedlings. In some geographic regions of the US Southeast timber markets are very limited, so choosing the most expensive seedlings that have “all the bells and whistles” is a waste of your budget that could be allocated to another component of the reforestation project. Working closely with your forestry consultant to determine the appropriate investment in genetically improved seedling stock will help ensure you are maximizing potential.

The old adage about “cutting corners” during the establishment of a stand of timber is not justifiable when we have the ability to influence so many components and ultimately reduce the amount of time to achieve financial return on the investment. By carefully evaluating species, site preparation, and the genetic quality of the seedling stock selected, the rotation age of a timber stand can be reduced substantially while additionally improving the stand quality. While these three components are most important, other options should be considered. For example, fertilization and post-establishment herbicide applications can increase growth and yield, shorten rotation length, and enhance return on investment in some instances.

While foresters often joke about gauging success during reforestation by observing, “green side up and roots in the ground” when referring to seedlings, this does little more than generate a laugh.  Decisions during the establishment of a stand of timber should be carefully considered with the same due diligence that any investment would be given.  These decisions should be made to maximize the effectiveness of the available budget, should be tailored specifically to landowner objectives, and should integrate the different components of the project discussed here to utilize the full potential of the site.  Let’s change the narrative from, “I’ll never reap the benefits of the investment” to “how can I reduce the rotation age of my investment and generate returns as soon as possible.”  Through an understanding of these dynamic systems, opportunities to improve performance are more available now than ever before.

 

Ashley Farms Recognized as 2020’s Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year

 

Southern Forestry Consultants (SFC) is excited to announce that Ashley Farms, owned by Don Ashley and Theo Meadows, has been recognized as the 2020 Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.  This award is presented annually by the Florida Tree Farm Program, a non-profit organization, and the state affiliate of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).  Our SFC team in Monticello, Florida assists Ashley Farms with forest and wildlife management, a relationship maintained for over 25 years.

SFC Vice-President, Dave Lewis, began working with Mr. Ashley’s and Mrs. Meadows’ parents in the early nineties and attributes a great deal of the success at Ashley Farms to the family’s willingness to adapt.  From local shifts in weather patterns to global influences on forest product markets and anything in between, the determination to “make the best of things” is unwavering.

Dave characterizes the resolve and adaptive approach of Ashley Farms in his comments that, “Regardless of the next management challenge, Don and Theo are always ready to tackle any obstacle with a solution-focused mindset.”

Ashley Farms has experienced quite the transition over the last four decades from a shade tobacco farm to a diverse property focused on striking a balance between timber production, wildlife habitat, and row crop production.  These efforts also led to Ashley Farm’s recognition as the Florida State Forest Stewardship Landowner of the Year in 2007.  While recognition as the Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year may be the culmination of efforts focused on maintaining this sustainable, multi-use farm, Ashley Farms is excited to continue and improve for years to come.

SFC and WEA are fortunate to work with outstanding landowners who are committed to sustainable management.  As a result, Ashley Farms is our fifth client since 2010 selected as the Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.

For more information on Ashley Farms and their award, please visit the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences announcement.