Georgia forestry, Vol. 41, no. 4 (Winter 1988)

WINTER, 1988

FEDERAL AID GIVEN MANY TREE FARMERS FOR LOSSES DURING SUMMER DROUGHT

Many Georgia tree farmers who had seedlings killed by the devastating 1988 drought are being offered federal assistance to help replant their acreage.
The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) is being administered by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, with the Georgia Forestry Commission acting as the agency for technical assistance.
"Georgia was fortunate to receive the largest share of the federal money, about $1 .6 million, and it should go a long way in helping timberland owners to reestablish seedling stands lost in the 1988 drought," according to Larry Thompson, associate chief of forest management with the Commission.
'Tree seedlings planted under the Conservation Reserve Program are not eligible for TAP funds," explained Thompson, " because they are covered under special CRP provisions for replanting assistance."

The three areas eligible under TAP for replanting are forest seedlings (TAP-1 ); Christmas tree plantings (TAP-2); and fruit, nut, and syrup seedling plantings (TAP-3). Only seedlings planted during 1987 or 1988 qualify.
Thompson said TAP qualifications and payments are made on an individual stand basis. "Qualifications include individual eligibility, on-site inspection, tree mortality exceeding 35 percent plus normal mortality, and proof of 1987 or 1988 planting. Cost share assistance is set at up to 65 percent of the actual cost for the reestablishment."
Seedlings reestablished through TAP must be maintained for a minimum of five years after the calendar year of planting, ten years if the replanted stands received prior federal cost-share assistance. Fire and grazing prevention for the stands is also mandatory to be eligible for federal aid.

ON THE COVER - Scenic lake nestled within an office complex near Atlanta provides a haven for ducks. Although the 7 5-acre forested area borders a busy interstate, careful planning has preserved a naturally shaded environment for wildlife and office workers . (Photo by Bill Edwards.)
2/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

Georgia
FORESTRY
USPS No. 217120
Winter, 1988 No.4 Vol. 4 1
Joe Frank Harris Governor John W . Mixon Director
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jim L. Gillis, Jr., Chairman, Soperton
Felton Denney, Carrollton Eley C. Frazer, Ill, Albany Or. Gloria Shatto, Rome Robert Simpeon, Ill, Lakeland
STAFF Howard E. Bennett, Editor William S. Edwards, Associate Editor Jackie N. Swinson, Graphic Artist
DISTRICT OFFICES
District One 3088 Martha Berry Hwy., NE
Rome. GA 30 161
District Two Route 11 , Sox 37 Gainesville, GA 30501
District Three Route 4. Sox 168A Athens, GA 30605
District Four P.O. Sox 1080 Newnan, GA 30264
District Five Highway49 Milledgeville, GA 31061
District Six Route 2, Sox 266 Washington. GA 30673
District Seven Route 1, Sox 23A Americus, GA 31 709
District Eight Route 3, Box 17 Ttfton, GA 31794
District Nine Route 2 , Box 722 Camilla. GA 31730
District Ten Route 2 , Box 28 Statesboro, GA 30458
District Beven Route 1, Sox 46 Helena. GA 31037
District Twelve Route 6 , Sox 167 Waycross, GA 31 501
Urban Forest ry 6835 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georg Forestry Commiuion. Route 1, Bo 181 , Dry Branch, GA 31020. Second class postage paid at Macon. GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia Forestry Commission, Route 1. Bo 181 . Dry Branch. GA 3 1020.

[ ! ] t has been almost a year since the Georgia Forest Landowners Council merged with the Forest Farmers Association to form the

Forest Farmers Association Governmental

Affairs Program, and officials of the lobby-

ing group say that it has been a.n

unqualified success. A landowners . perspective is being voiced on n~arly
every piece of proposed congressional

legisl ation .

.

In looking back at the success ofthe f1rst

year, it is interesting to note that it all began

with a few concerned Georgia landowners

who banded together to combat their

biggest foe: tax reform . In February of 1988, Forest Farmer's

Association took action to strengthen its

lobbying efforts by merging with the

Georgia Forest Landowners Council. In

doing this, they also retained the

services of GFLC's governmental affairs

representative C. Randall Nuckolls, an

attorney with Kilpatrick & Cody in

Washington and former legislative coun-

sel for Georgia Senators Herman Talmadge

and Sam Nunn. Georgia Forestry Commiss ion Director

John Mixon was the principle designer of

the Georgia Forest Landowners Council,

Iargely in response to the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Director Mixon says his motivation

to start the organization was based solely

on the availability of Randy Nuckolls.

"I had been working around

Washington for quite some time with the

National Association of State Foresters,

and I found out that there was one person

w ho could open more doors and get more

done than anyone else; that person was

Randy Nuckolls," says Director Mixon. " So

w hen I heard that Randy was going to leave

Senator Nunn 's staff to go into private

practice, I decided there just had to be a

way to keep him in forestry. I contacted a

few landowners that I knew were con-

cerned about recent developments in

Washington, and they quickly agreed to

fu nd retention of Randy as a Washington representative ."

lANDOWNER SUPPORT
Two of the Georgia landowners who were at t he initial meeting to establish the Georgia Forest Landowners Council were Tom Resseau and Nat Hardin. Both of these men were among those who agreed to fund the organization based on that first req uest f rom Director Mixon.
Like most landowners, Tom Resseau w as concerned with the passage of the Tax Reform Act which eliminated exclusion of l~ng-term capital gains. "''ve been in the t1 mb~r business a long time and I have stud 1ed the tax laws and their effect on timberlan_d owners, and I can tell you that there IS no other economic force that can make or break the landowner like the tax law s," says Resseau .
Resseau believes that a capital gains dif-

Commission Director John Mixon, left, discusses forest tax problems with reporter Jason Anthoine.

ORGANIZERS OF UNITED GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS GROUP CITE INITIAL SUCCESS

ferential will have to be restored in order for private non-industrial timberland owners to survive.
Resseau is typical of private nonindustriallandowners in the South. He was once a dairy farmer, but gave up that business some years back for timber growing. " My grandfather had quite a bit of land in Putnam County but over the yec;~rs , due to the depression and hard times, the family holdings dwindled to almost nothing," explains Resseau.
" When I returned from World War II, I
inherited 200 acres of land from my
mother's estate. This was my first attempt at forestry, since what wasn't in row crops, I put in trees. Since that time, I have gradually been rebuilding my family's land holdings and have taught myself forestry along the way. I still have not rebuilt all of my family's land holdings, but I'm working on it." Resseau says.
Passage of the Tax Reform act of 1986 was certainly a setback for Resseau and his goal of rebuilding the family land holdings, but he believes that its passage is only the beginning of a much bigger problem timberland owners w ill have to face over the next few years. Resseau feels that the biggest obstacle facing timber farmers is that " the U.S. Congress is becoming more and more dominated by congressmen from urban areas. These are people who want to wash away problems of the big cities with our tax dollars. We are going to need strong representation in Washington if we are going to have a chance to regain

some of the tax advantages we have losf and to head off further legislation that damages timber growers. This is one ofthe reasons I supported forming the Georgia Forest Landowners Council ," says the Eatonton native.
FUNDS PROVIDED -
Another of those individuals at the first meeting who agreed to fund the hiring of Randy Nuckolls as a Washington representative was Nat Hardin of Forsyth.
Nat Hardin's timber roots go back as far as the Civil War when his great-grandfather started sawing lumber. His father and
grandfather opened a planing mill in 1905
and Hardin has been working in the family business ever since, taking time off for the army and college at the University of Georgia and Harvard Business School.
The family sawmill burned in 1969, but Hardin didn't let that scare him away from timber. He found out that he could make a better profit selling timber than he could by cutting and manufacturing lumber.
Hardin was interested in starting the Georgia Forest Landowners Council as soon as Director M ixon told him of it. 'The loss of capital gains hurt us. It hurt everybody who makes a living from longterm investment but especially timberland owners. When John Mixon told me that Randy Nuckolls was available to represent the interests of private timberland owners, I knew right away that it would be to our advantage to hire him to work on restoring capital gains and other issues that affect the .
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/3

interests of landowners," says Hardin. When the proposal came for the Georgia
Forest Landowners Council to merge with the Forest Farmers Association, everyone, including Tom Resseau and newly-elected chairman of the council Nat Hardin, thought it was a good idea. " It's the greatest thing that could have happened," says Resseau. 'The issues being attacked by Randy Nuckolls are issues that affect all landowners in the South, not just Georgia. By having Forest Farmers' support behind him, Randy will be in a much better position to get things done than with just the support of one state."
" Forest Farmers has always done a wonderful job of representing the interests of private landowners," says Hardin. 'There is no better organization to oversee the lobbying in Washington. Our challenge now is to convince every landowner in the South that together we can make a difference in Washington and we can change the way
"...This is our
chance to do some-
thing to help
ourselves."

things are. We need to fund Forest

Farmers Association's legislative program,

and we need to support it though our own

contacts with our own representatives in

Washington. This is our chance to do

something to help ourselves."

Resseau and Hardin weren't the only ones

instrumental in founding Georgia

Forest Landowners Council. Other Georgia

landowners who helped to start what is now

the Forest Farmers Association

Governmental Affairs Program were Fred W.

Greer of C&S National Bank, host of

the first meeting; William A. Pope, of

Washington, Georgia; J.M. " Buddy"

Tolleson, Jr., president of Tolleson Lumber

Company, Perry; William C. Humphries, Jr.,

Forest Resource Consultants, Inc.,

Macon; Andy Stone, president of Stuckey

Timberland, Eastman; Cecil M . Hodges, Jr.

Sandersville; and C. M . and Charles

Stripling, the 1988 National Tree Farmer

of the Year and his son, of Camilla.

Organizers of the Forest Farmers

Association Governmental Affairs Program

said they are well pleased with the progress

that has been made and feel that all forest

landowners are beginning to benefitfrom the

merger of the two organizations in it's

united effort.

.._

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story includes excerpts from Forest Farmer, Sept. 1988 issue)
4/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

Officials of Georgia-Pacific, a major producer of plywood from Southern pine, tour one of the company's 16 plywood plants.

RESEARCH 25 YEARS AGO LED TO

DEVELOPMENT OF PINE PLYWOO D

With Southern pine plywood such a workhorse of the construct ion industry, it is hard to believe that 25 years ago it practically didn't even exist!
Prior to 1963, the bulk of plywood was made from Douglas fir, according to Forester Paul Butts, Commiss ion wood utilization expert. "Douglas fir was used because it had an even texture, turned well on the lathe, and glued well using lower-priced glues," Buns said .
" But the problem with using the lowerpriced glues was that they weren 't water repellent which caused some disastrous construction results.
" So the industry started looking f or an alternative wood, one that would be
cheaper to use, so it could be paired with the more expensive water-repellent glues.
"The preliminary experiments with Southern pine were fa ilures. The large hard knots caused problems with the lathe turning and what usually came off was a pile of splinters ," he said .
Then research developed a way to steam the pine logs before turn ing them , making the knot softer and less likely to spl inter, said Buns.
"This process worked, and when combined w ith a new water-repellent glue, the Southern pine plywood industry was born and Southern pine plywood became the plywood of choice because of its lower price and stronger durability," Buns said .
The first manufacturer to capitalize on Southen pine plywood was GeorgiaPacific. Their first plant, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary,went up in Fordyce, Arkansas in October of 1963. Not long after that G-P opened a large operation in Savannah that ran for more than 15 years.
" It is also interesting to note," said Butts,

" that modern manufacturing processes

allow for a 'combination plywood' of

Southern pine and another soft-hardw ood,

usually gum or poplar.Th is is a good w ay to

conserve resources without compromis-

ing the stiffness of the wood ."

Today, Georgia-Pacific operat es 16

Southern pine plywood plants in eight

states, including plants in Geo r~ia at W arm

Springs, Madison and Monticello.They are

part of a $1 .5 billion industry made up of

59 plants across the South. Th e 198 7 out-

put from all these plants, if laid flat, w oul d

cover about 40 percent of Rhode Isla nd.

Using Southern pine plywood w as a

risky gamble, at best, but a ris k t hat has

certainly paid off handsomely for the

manufacturers and th e construction in-

dustry at large.

4-

FLINT NURSERY PRAISED

One of t he nation 's leading experts on

forest soils and nurseries was favorably

impressed following a tour of t he Com-

mission 's recently establ ished Fl int River

Nursery.

Professor Jack.T.May, a ret ired facu lty

member of the University of Georgia's

School of Forest Resou rces , described the

new fac ility as possibly " ...the best nursery

site in the Southern Region; and maybe in

the United States and in the world."

In a letter to Commiss ion Director John

M ixon, Professor May indicat ed the nur-

sery's potential with the followi ng state-

ment: "The next step is to produce th e best

quality seedlings in the reg ion . Th is will

require considerable skill, knowledge and

judgement."

The Flint River Nursery toured by Pro-

fessor May is one of three nu rseries

operated by the Commission.

.._

Many Christmas tree farms around the state have a customer choose-and-cut operation, while some of the larger farms are in the wholesale business. Modern equipment is used to trim, cut and bundle trees for transport to the market.

GEORGIA'S CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS LOOK BACK

ON YEAR OF INTENSE LABOR AS TREES ARE SOLD

[ ! ] he hard work payed off. The long days on the tree farm are over, and another Christmas tree
season has drawn to a close. There will be no more spraying, weeding, or shaping for this holiday season.The trees are
sold, and the growers are thinking of next
year. So how 'd they do?
Despite some of the inroads that artificial trees have made into the market, over
38 million people in America favor the nat~ral bea uty and aroma of a freshly cut Ch_nstmas tree for decorating their homes. Th 1s makes the tree business a large part of the ~o untry's agribusiness.
. W ith 500 growers in this state producIng nearly 600,000 trees a year, chances ~re the Christm as tree in the Georgia home IS from Georgia.

Georgia's Christmas tree industry has been flourishing recently with a larger number of growers and a much wider variety of trees from which to choose than ever before. And why such success in a narrow market with many out-of-state competitors?
" Freshness and quality," said Bucky Buchanan, president of the Georgia Christmas Tree Association . " Obviously a tree com ing in from Michigan or Canada on the back of an open truck is not going to look as fresh as a tree cut at one of Georgia 's t ree farms .
" Plus the quality is exceptional. Georgia trees aretreated more 'horticulturally' than in other places. They are treated as a specialty crop, like peaches, and the premium tree is strived for. Most Canadian

trees are grown wild , with fewer management techniques involved. By using the proper management techniques, Georgia is able to produce an outstanding tree."
Besides his duties as president of the GCTA. Buchanan tends to his own farm in Grantville, the largest Christmas tree farm in the state. He has 320 acres in the rolling hills of West Georgia and 320,000trees of several different varieties. He will produce 25,000 trees this year alone.
His largest stand is in Virginia pine, but he also has white pine, and a relatively new tree to these parts, the Leyland cypress.
The bulk of Buchanan 's business is wholesale, mainly to nurseries. But like 70 percent of Georgia's tree farmers, he has a choose-and-cut operation. "My favorite time is the choose-and-cut season . My
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/ 5

wholesale work is usually done by then, and I can sit back and relax and watch the kids have a great time cutting their own Christmas tree," said Buchanan.
Not all farmers operate on as grand a scale as Buchanan, with automatic trimmers and seven full-time employees. Most Christmas tree farmers work on a part-time basis as a hobby to help supplement
their incomes. Howell Ball is a postal worker from Car-
rollton. He and his wife work their 1,000-
tree farm on a part-time basis. Ball enjoys working with his trees, but says that it involves much more work than people realize. "If I added up all the time we spend on the trees, we would be making minimum wages," offered Ball.
He sells 700 trees a season-- "alii can
grow," he boasted-- with some carryover for the next season. His biggest stand is in Virginia pine, but he has white pine and some cedar.
Ralph Bedley and his wife moved to Georgia from New Hampshire eight years
ago. They bought a 60 acre farm near Grif-
fin, and on advice from the nearby Georgia Experiment Station, they planted 25 acres in Christmas trees.
" Mostly firs are grown in New Hampshire," said Mrs. Bedley, " so all of these Virginia pines are quite a change for us."
Another part-time grower is Chuck Leavell in Twiggs County. Leavell has 1 5
acres with a total of 6,000 trees. His other
job is somewhat more glamourous: he is a rock musician. Leavell was the keyboardist for Macon 's Allman Brqthers Band and has done recent work with The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Dave Edmunds.
He agrees with the other growers that " Christmas t ree farming is very Iabor intensive, especially if you're a small farmer with another job. It's a big investment of both time and money."
Somewhere between Buchanan's Christmas Tree Plantation and Ball's Tree Farm falls the majority of Georgia Christmas tree growers. Most farms average a little over five acres and most are geared to the local choose-and-cut
operation. But the proximity of many growers to
each other in an area, coupled w ith competition from nurseries, grocery stores, and farmer's markets, has brought about an age-old business dilemma for the choose-and-cut farmer: How do I get the customer to choose my tree over my competitors'?
The answer, in part, is marketing. Most choose-and-cut growers, as well as wholesalers, have begun to practice shrewd marketing techniques in order to gain an expanded share of the market.
" Since Christmas tree sales are seasonal, it is difficult to keep interest in trees going during the off season," said Paschal Brewer of Midway. " So I advertise yearround in an attempt to keep my name in the
6/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

consumer's mind all year long so when the season comes around they will know that I'm here for them ." One way he advertises is by displaying some of his decorated trees at the fairs and festivals around Liberty County.

"I also leave my brochures in the rest stops on 1-95 to catch those who may be heading to see relatives in Florida for Christmas," said Brewer. He expects to sell
3,000 trees this year.

Wholesaler Tom Scissom of Blairsville agrees that a specialized marketing plan is the key to success in the business.

When asked if he had a Virginia _pine stand , he said he found it more profitable to grow other species. " Everybody in the whole state grows Virginia pine, " he added. 'The market is full."

Scissom now grows white pine, several spruce species, and what he considers " the Rolls-Royce of Christmas trees," the fir, both Boston and Fraser. He says that people come from as far away as Chattanooga and Columbus to choose from
among his 35 acres of trees at Mountain
Valley Tree Farm.

He believes that for the wholesaler to succeed he must break into the large Southern metropolitan markets: Chattanooga, Atlanta, Charleston, Tampa, and even New Orleans. 'The potential for customers in these large areas is huge, and through efforts of the Georgia Christmas Tree Association I believe all Georgia growers can work together to compete in these markets," said Scissom.

The future of the Georgia Christmas tree industry seems to be healthy. "There were some worries during the summer drought that future production figures would be lower," said Buchanan, " but there was no considerable tree loss in the state."

The GCTA president also says the state's tree growers are fortunate to have the Georgia Forestry Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Service helping to control disease problems in the trees. He pointed out that research is also being done by the University to produce genetically-superior trees.

According to a GCTA survey, Georgia is a million tree market. With current state pro-
duction at nearly 600,000 trees, there is
room for more Georgia-grown trees. Hopefully, by conquering the Georgia market, it wi II be possible for state growers to move into the large out-of-state markets and increase the healthy growth of Georgia 's Christmas tree industry.

It is doubtful that the artificial tree will

ever take the place of the freshly cut

Christmas tree. Too many people cherish

the childhood memories of wandering

through the trees to decide which one is

best. Christmas tree cutting is a family

tradition that will live on for generations to

come, which is good news for Georgia's

Christmas tree farmers.

-+-

Georgians are urged each holiday season by the Georgia Christm as Tree Association to bring Southern tradition back home by buying a fresh tree grown here in the sta te. Georgia-grown Christmas trees are available at retail markets and choose-and-cut farms across the state.
VIRGINIA PINE
An old favorite. characterized by its fore st green color and slender. stiff needles. This pine can be cut as early as Thanksgiving a nd will retain its needles throughout the holiday season. Found in all areas of the state.
WHITE PINE
A lovely tree. lighter in color than the Virginia Pine. The flexible needles of the White
Pine are from 2 to s
long. Grown predominantly in north G eorgia.
RED CEDAR
Famous for its fragrance. this class ic Georgia tree will have your whole house smelling like C hristmas. Found naturally through the wood lands of G eorgia. -~..,.1.0.....--
SAND PINE
Similar to the Virginia Pine. the Sand Pine has soft, green needles. Found in south G eorgia.
LEYLAND/ARIZONA CYPRESS
These fragrant trees are very similar in appea rance to the Red Cedar and are gaining i popularity. They a re found throughout the sta te.
Several vanetles of Firs and Spruces are also grown in north Georgia.

GEORGIA LOG HOME COMPANY SEEKING GREATER SHARE OF JAPANESE MARKET

WILKES COUNTY MANUFACTURER'S BUILDINGS NOW IN 20 STATES AND THE ORIENT

By Howard Bennett

lex Boatwright stood in 16 inches of snow on a mountain top some 65 miles north of Tokyo one day last month to observe w orkmen erecting a building from logs processed by his company back in Rayle, Georgia. It was not the first log building the Georgian has sold in Japan, but it was the most unique. It was a log restaurant for a popular ski resort in the high altitude of Nikko National Forest. The enterprising Boatwright. owner and president of AAA Log Homes, Inc., inherited a sawmill from his father and gradually converted it into a plant to produce pre-cut and packaged log home kits that are now sold in 20 states. Although he is appreciative of his domestic customers, in recent years he has accepted the challenge of reaching across the Pacific to strengthen his export business. He spent nine days in Japan to check on the restau rant construction, study the log home market in that country, "and just to have a vacation." He found that more than 5,000 log homes already exist in Japan and most are of imported materials. Boatwright said he saw some " large, beautiful trees in Japan and they would make great logs," but they were mainly in gardens, parks, and on ceremonial grounds. He said there seems to be an abundance of trees on private lands in the mou ntainous regions. but they are of a species that doesn't grow large enough to make a standard sized log. The manufacturer said he appreciates the help he received from John Wells, a professional forester with the Commisson who is now serving under contract with the Georgia Department of Industry and Trade as a trade specialist. Wells helped make the contact for Boatwright's recent sale.
Wells said he was aware of log home ~panies on the West Coast enjoying bn~k sales t o Japan and advised Chuck Sh1momura of the Atlanta offices of Marubeni Am erican, a large trading comgany ~hat owns the resort, that several
eo~g1a com panies are also producing qhu~hty log homes and are eager to export t elr product.

Wells said the representative and his company later became interested in a log structure for the resort and having seen one of Boatwright's log homes that had been erected in Japan, officials chose to come to the United States and visit the plant in rural Wilkes County and tour several homes the company had sold around the state.
The Japanese businessmen gave Boatwright a rough idea of what they wanted for their spa and after designing and altering plans several times to satisfy the buyers, the company assembled the logs. lumber. hardware, and other materials for shipment to Japan. The logs were packed in six 40-foot containers and shipped by rail to the West Coast, where they were soon bound by ship to Japan.
When Boatwright visited the construction site in November, however, he learned that many of the pre-cut pieces had to be slightly shortened to make the building smaller than the planned 1,650 square feet. The owners elected to shrink the dimensions to avoid an extremely high tax the government imposes on larger build ings.

Boatwright also ran into another pecu-

liarity. He found that the Japanese way of

installing a subfloor was much different

than the plan he had sent. The local carpen-

ters spent considerable time in dovetailing

cross pieces between the floor joints be-

fore the subflooring was put down. Al-

though this ancient practice of interlocking

timbers was employed, modern carpentry

methods and power tools were used in

other phases of construction.

Boatwright said the restaurant, built to

overlook steep ski slopes. was designed to

withstand earthquakes. He said the Japa-

nese are very strict in their building codes

and plans had to be reviewed by a local

architect before construction could get

underway.

With automobiles, cameras, and elec-

tronic gearfrom Japan flooding the United

States. Boatwright and his nine employees

in little Rayle are doing their part to help

turn the tide. The company president is

taking an optimistic approach to building a

strong market in Japan, now that he knows

firsthand that the log home has become

very popular in the Land of the Rising

Sun.

~

One of the company's log buildings being erected near Macon.

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/7

about every little detail of that aircraft before he goes to sleep at night, making sure that everyth ing was done right. It's his name on that check-out sheet and he will have to live w ith himself if something goes wrong ."
The reason al l of the sch edu led main-
tenance is done in Macon is to assure safety, said Crouch. He doesn 't want the pilots to be worried about the mechanical condition of the aircraft when he shou ld be concerned with flying .
The planes in operation are al l Cessna 180s, 182s , or 185s. Each district is assigned a plane and a pilot. Add itional pilots are hired for seasonal work durin g the busy fire season. The pilot's ma in job is to fly over the district and search for fires.lf smoke is spotted , then the pilot m ust locate it and determine if the f ire is w ild or not.
During actual fire fighting, the pilots assist the ground crews in battling t he blaze and maneuvering safely. From the air, it is easier to decide wh ich way to direct the plows to head off the fire beca use smoke and intense heat do not interfere with the pilot's vision . But that doesn 't mean that the job of aerial surveying is easy.

SURVEY TIME CONSUMING

Helicopter mechanic AI Newman inspects aircraft during routine maintenance.
COMMISSION'S AIR DIVISION PROVIDES VITAL LINK IN FOREST FIRE SUPPRESSION

By R. Jason Anthoine

raging forest wildfire, when observed on the ground, often seems uncontrollable. However, when viewed from several hundred feet in t he air, it is a rapi dly spreading menace that can be contained through careful firefighter coordination. The firefighter operating the crawler tractor on the ground has limited vision as he plows into the dense smoke, but the pilot high above the inferno observes the behavior of the fire and instructs the operator on maneuvers necessary to contain it. It is during these times of heavy fires that the Commission 's Air Operations, part of the Forest Protection Department are most visible. What isn't so readily noticed is the hard work that goes on everyday in keeping the planes and helicopters flying and keeping our forests free of wildfire. According to Brad Turner, supervisor of air operations, keeping the aircraft mechanically sound is an ongoing process. " We have both planes and helicopters and they all require schedul ed maintenance at different intervals."
All of the schedul ed maintenance
8/ Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

(except engine rebuilding) is completed by the Forestry Commission in Macon. The maintenance hangar for the planes is at Herbert Smart Airport, adjacent to t he Com mission headquarters. The helicopter maintenance hangar is on the Commission grounds, where all the helicopters are kept.
EVERY INCH INSPECTED
Chief aircraft mechanic Vernon Crouch has been with the Commission for 30 years . " When I got here, there was no aircraft maintenance program. I put the planes on a 100-hour maintenance schedule and an annual checkup. That is even more important now, since a plane that used to cost $1 7,000 now costs around $1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .
" I was the only mechanic for a long t ime. Now we have the best maintenance in the Southeast and the FAA says that we have the best kept fleet of planes in the country. ! don't expect anything less than that. "
According to Crouch, the mechanics go over every inch of the aircraft before it is released to the district. " A mechanic thinks

" Sometim es the days are long and ha rd for th e pilots, especi ally during th e fire season. Many hours are spent surveying the land for fires and helping t o direct the ground crews. It is easy to get fatigu ed ," said Crouch.
The hel icopt ers, on the oth er hand, are activel y involved in actual fi re suppression. In areas where the terrain is too rough for the tractors or the fire is too intense fo r t he ground crews to move in cl ose, the helicopters are used to drop water on the fire.
Helicopter pilot Carlos Layson said that the most difficult part of dropping the water is dipping the bucket. " It is very important for us not to get the cables of the bucket ta ngled on
Brad Turner, supervisor of air operations, listed the following as pilots for the Commission 's 12 d is t ricts :
Curtis Dowis. Jimmy Vaughn, Jim Lanning, Wayne Womack, Stephen Brooks, Joe. Warren, Charles Prince, Bo Harden, Titus Baxter, Kenneth Hanson, Thurmond McDonald, Vance McLaughlin, and Addis Baxter.
The helicopter p11ots are Carlos Layson and Brad Turner.
Mechanics include Vernon Crouch, Donnie McCa y, Jack Davidson, Ray Bryant, and AI Newman.
the skids of the helicopter. This could cause the aircraft to tilt and hit the water. W e are

very careful of that." Helicopter mechanic AI Newman is the
one assigned to fly with Layson to assist in water dipping and dropping. "Dumping that water is a two-man job," said Layson. "It wouldn't be efficient for me to fly and dump the water. There's just too much to
look out for. " And efficiency is the name of the game
w hen you're fighting fire from the air. A two-minute turn-around time between drops is most effective. To reach this end, the water is dipped from any available source including lakes, rivers, or private ponds. "Usually the landowner is very cooperative in letting us dip from his pond. Maybe it's because the fire could easily threaten his property," added Newman.
When not dropping water, Newmanis charged with keeping the Commission 's three Vietnam-era Bell helicopters in top working order. He performs 25-hour inspections and a more thorough 100hour inspection. "The helicopters are not used for surveillance because the operati ng costs are prohibitive. Planes cost $30-$40 per hour to fly while helicopters

THIS SYSTEM OF GROUND CREW WORK ASSISTED BY AIR SURVEILLANCE HAS BEEN AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.
are more in the range of $300-$400 per hour," said Newman.
The helicopter hangar is being expanded in order to house all of the operational helicopters. "The elements are tough on them. There are so many moving parts and

dirt and sand can cause serious damage

right quick, " said Layson.

The aircraft operations are a perfect

complement to the ground crews. A prime

example of this cooperation occurred last

fire season. Some ground crewman were

working a fire m~ar Cartersville when ,

unknown to them, they were surrounded

by fire. Fixed-wing pilot Curtis Dowis spot-

ted the two patrolmen, Bobby Smith and

Jimmy Crawford, and warned them to

make a run for it and put on their portable

fire shelters. Dowis then directed helicop-

ter pilot Brad Turner to drop water on the

men and their equipment. Forester David

Nicholson, operating the bucket, said he

was hindered by dense smoke, but he "hit

the target" and the patrolmen were

saved .

This system of ground crew work assis-

ted by air surveillance has been an un-

qualified success. Especially during the

heavy fire season, there are quite a few

landowners who breathe heavy sighs of

relief because of the hard work done to

combatthefires. lt's good to know that the

Air Operations are there to help.

.+.

J,;e Commission 's chief aircraft mechanic Vernon Crouch is assisted by Jack Davidson in inspecting the engine of a Cessna at the aeon hangar.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/9

The national headquarters of Chick-fil-A exemplifies metro Atlanta's commitment to conserve trees when construction is planned. The wooded trails on the grounds often attract school children and other visitors on field trips.

METRO ATLANTA COUNTIES' LANDSCAPING ORDINANCES ADHERED TO IN EFFORT TO PRESERVE URBAN TREES

BY PAIGE HAYS

Early reading books depict cities as concrete and steel jungles with airplanes, eighteen wheelers and traffic cops whirling about their pages. For many people, that image of city life lingers long after they graduate from the adventures of Dick and Jane. Not so for children growing up in Atlanta.
As you drive along the streets of the South's largest metropolis you are surrounded by trees. Some of the city's prettiest oaklined streets are only minutes from the heart of downtown. Further out near the perimeter, office complexes and shiny new subdivisions are obscured by the forest. How did these venerable shade trees and dogwoods ever compete with construction during Atlanta's growth spurt of the ' 70s?
Atlanta's commitment to its urban forest was solidified in the City of Atlanta tree ordinance. Yet, few of the nearly one million people who have flocked to the city since 1977 actually live within its limits. Much of this decade's growth has occurred on the outer edge of the perimeter. Since 1985, three metroAtlanta counties have established tree ordinances. Fulton,
10/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

Gwinnett, and Cobb counties all have guidelines for maintaining and protecting their trees.
Fulton county was the first to establish an ordinance and the first to back up those requirements with a full-time arborist. Ed Macie was hired in 1985 to enforce the new ordinance and he works with developers in Alpharetta and Roswell, as well as in Atlanta . Every application for a land development permit in the county must be accompanied by a formal tree protection plan and Macie reviews the plan and then inspects the site.
Fulton county's tree ordinance requires a minimum of 1 5 tree units per acre. These units can be earned by a variety of combinations. Some sites meet the requirement with one large specimen tree while others end up needing 30 trees two inches in diameter. Basically, the requirement is tailored to guarantee a minimum of 15 square feet of basal area per acre.
Macie says that on the average developers exceed Fulton's requirements by 40 percent and that flexibility and willingness to work with the developers is the key to the success of the

ordinance. ''Fifteen units is the fundamental tree density formula. We'll work with the developer and the site limitations to produce the most viable tree environment possible," Macie

explain ed .

. .. .

.

. .

His main respons1b1ht1es as county arbonst are s1te mspec-

tions and evaluation of site plans. Macie is out in the field three

days a week inspecting construction sites. He also has the authority to issue a court citation for violations of the ordinance, but has rarely exercised that privilege. 'There is a strong

understanding among developers that what they are doing is a good thing," said Macie, 'They think it is important for the

kids ."

ATTRACTING FOREIGN INTEREST

Fulton combines an educational approach with the administration of its program . Right after the ordinance was passed , 2 50 developers and engineers attended the first informational seminar. Because of these efforts, most of Atlanta's building community is well aware of Fulton County's tree ordinance. Other people are learning about it too, as inquiries have come from as far away as Canada, Great Britian and South Korea.
Macie says he has witnessed an urban forestry rena issance in the Southeast. He thinks the public is increasingly attuned to their surroundings. " Atlantans are becoming scared they've taken their resources for granted, but we aren't discouraging development....We are trying to integrate a growing city into a more natural environment." he concluded.
Two corporate real estate developments in Fulton are prime examples of this concept of dual existence between nature and urban growth. The Chick-fil-A and Life of Georgia headquarters both symbolize the goals of arborists around the city.
Truett Cathy is a well-known Georgia success . Macie hopes the new Chick-fil-A headquarters in south Atlanta will become another example for people to follow. The 73-acre development near Hartsfield International Airport was built for tree lovers, literally. Cathy requested his architects and the construction team to save every tree possible. As you drive through the colorful patchwork of fall leaves, you know they followed their directive.
C~thy wanted to motivate his employees by creating an ~nv1 ronm ent that would entice them and make them enjoy commg to w ork. His first step was to hire Landscape Architect Roy Ashley to work closely with architects Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart and Associates, Inc. They and the principle contractor, Hardin International, formed the tree preservation team . Tree save guidelines were established by Ashley and closely adhered to by all.

'TREE SAVE' BANNERS EVERYWHERE
Nolan Robinson, senior director of administration for Chickfil-A, closely supervised the construction process. He says everyone went all out to comply with Cathy's requests. 'The road looked like a Christmas parade. Everything was plastered with red 'tree save' banners. It made construction very difficult for_th?se guys and sometimes they couldn't even get close to the bUJidmg for the trees." Somehow they managed. The building has won prestigious awards for its precast concrete construction, architectural design and land development. And, amazingly, few trees died in the process.
In fact. Robinson said the mandate to save all trees resulted in t~e breaki ng of an old custom for Hardin International. "It's tradi-
tiO~ t? have atopping out ceremony. They put atree on top of the
bUJidmg to symbolize its completion, but they didn't do it for this ~roject. We wouldn't let them cut a tree." (A tree was brought in rom another property.)
f Truett Cathy wanted an island of woods to screen the building t~om the pa r~ing lot. So, today his employees take a brief walk
rough a m1xed hardwood stand on their way to work. That's gpaOOdrot faCtt~ittuhdy'esapthwiloorsko.phy: good aesthetic standards generate a

This dedication to excellence continues throughout the grounds. Paul Jones, the building maintenance engineer, is responsible for 3/ 4-mile trail of cypress mulch that leads through the woods and encircles a pond inhabited by geese and swans. Dr. James Skeen of the Fernbank Science Center has labeled and identified trees along these paths by their common and scientific names and all species are native to Georgia if not the grounds. The trails attract many teachers and children who tour Chick-fil-A to learn about nature.
The woods and grounds they tour are always lush and green, even during summer drought. This is because the entire property is irrigated by the pond, which can cause some confusion. Robinson explains: " We had county agents come twice this summer to investigate our water source. They couldn't believe our landscaping looked so good, it just made them suspicious."
Visitors often tour the award winning building also. Chick-fil-A was awarded the Fulton County Award for Architectural Design and
Land Development in 1985. The five-story building was remodeled so that Cathy's executive suite would be at eye level with the tree
tops. He tells visitors that he always wanted to have an office like a tree house and now he's built one!
On the northern end of Fulton county, another office complex resides in a maze of interstate, road construction and office buildings, but you cannot even see the Life of Georgia buildi~g for the trees.
As the oldest life insurance company in the state, Life of Georgia has learned to respect man's dependence upon nature and his need to preserve it. When the company decided to move their headquarters from downtown Atlanta, their first priority was to relocate in a scenic setting. They needed a large tract of
As many trees and shrubs as possible were saved to preserve the scenic beauty of the area when Life of Georgia established its new headquarters in Northern Fulton County.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/111

undeveloped land to create an environment conducive to corporate expansion in natural surroundings.
The property they selected was an 108-acre tract of woodlands adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Their first attempts to rezone that land for commercial use did not win popular support. In order to generate good will in the community, Life of Georgia designated 40 acres for a residential development, donated eight acres to a local church , set aside 17 acres as undisturbed buffer, and agreed to widen Powers Ferry road at their own expense. As it became evident that the company intended to preserve the natural beauty of the land they had acquired and to respect the needs of the community, the residents began to accept the project. It was time for construction to begin.
CAMPUS SETTING AMONG TREES
Life of Georgia wanted to create a campus like setting among the trees. Ken Henderson, real estate officer, said, " our main objective was to keep trees as close to the parking lot and the buildings as possible." They hired Franzman-Davis & Associates, Ltd. He worked closely with the architectural firm of Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates to design a two building complex that would complement and blend in with the environment.
The firm embarked on an extensive tree-save program that was incorporated into all phases of the development. Requirements for tree save fencing and a $500 fine for every tree lost from a tree save area were written into the builder's contract. Two miles of tree save fencing were built on the site, and not one tree was lost. "We didn't even have to levy the first fine," Ken Henderson proudly stated.
The site is very hilly with many knolls and valleys. Life of Georgia spent millions of dollars building 17 retaining walls rather than level and fill those areas. " We built huge retaining walls that enabled us to keep the ridges with the original woods intact," Henderson explained, "The walls minimize the disturbance to the woods. It was well worth the investment. "
The largest retaining wall is 400feet long and 35 feet high. At its base the wall extends 12 feet back into the earth for support. The west parking lot built upon the foundation ofthis wall is surrounded by trees. Less than 100 feet away, cars whip around Powers Ferry road, but you cannot even see the whirlwind of traffic. If the naturally steep grade from the parking area to the street had been leveled, it would have eaten away at this natural wooded barrier to the hectic city beyond.
The massive walls do not stand in stark contrast to the beauty around them. They are made of hand laid rubble stone and are designed to blend in with the setting. The steep grades the walls maintain create quite a water run off after a heavy rain, but they planned for that, too. Spillways of rubble lead the water to rougher rock which slows down the flow and prevents erosion .
STUDIOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL
A storm water lift station was installed to prevent filling one valley and subsequently killing a cluster of trees. Water runs off the area into a manhole and is then pumped to another location on the property. A costly venture for the company, but now they have a beautiful cluster of trees nestled into avalley of rock croppings within 50 feet of the building.
This commitment to proper tree care has continued since the building was completed in 1985. Gibbs Landscape Company cares for the grounds with studious attention to detail. On a recent tour of the property with Henderson they discussed everything from a patch of stubborn grass to complex irrigation for a steep incline on the site. Gibbs has tagged and identified trees on the site and keeps a history of their health and growth. The trees are checked regularly and injected with fertilizer and chemical treatments if necessary. One tree on the property received surgical treatment after suffering from storm damage.
12/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

Henderson was on site for every day of construction and closely supervised the tree save program. His pride in the results ofthat program are evident. Trees encircle the complex on all sides but the entrances, and some trees are as close as ten feet to the building. Bringing in the heavy equipment needed to hang the panels of precast concrete near the tree save areas was difficult. A tig~t construction schedule resulted to limit the number of vehicles on the property at any given time. This minimized the disturbance of the site, and slowed construction considerably. It took 22 months to complete the two buildings on the complex, but was worth the wait. They have received the Georgia Association of American lnstitute.of Architects Award for excellence in Architecture 1985.
The employees seem to enjoy their surroundings. 'This facility is much more serene that it was downtown," Henderson explained. "Here some of our workers jog around the building." Leon Hames, Senior Vice President, echoed Henderson's observation, 'W e wanted to make our employees proud of this project, and they are. They care aboutthe grounds...l've even seen them picking up trash in the parking lot."
Indeed it does seem that the entire center is involved. Each of the elegant conference rooms is named after trees native to the South. This love of nature has been extended to wildlife also. A dozen bluebird nests have been scattered around the grounds, and each year they obtain full occupancy. Hames said, 'We wanted it to look and feel like a park. " It looks so much like a park they often get unexpected visitors. One day a Japanese tour bus drove up the tree lined entrance and unloaded at the complex.

CONCEPT IS CATCHING ON

The success of these two tree save projects is directly related to

four key factors: the commitment originated with the top manage-

ment, tree save areas were included in initial planning stages, tree

save barriers were erected during construction, and post construc-

tion maintenance followed.

The deep commitment to enhancing the natural beauty of the land

and the work environment shown by these two projects is not

always in evidence, but the concept is catching on. Macie attributes

this arborist zeal to the new idea of corporate responsibility. Maybe

it's also a sense of confidence in the permanence of the business

involved. Ken Henderson illustrates this assurance in his company's

future, 'The difference between our building and a leasing develop-

ment is that we view this as our home. We'll be here for years to

come." Thanks to the care they have taken since this project's incep-

tion, so will the native Georgia trees that surround them.

...

Tree species are carefully selected for their durability to withstand drought and emissions from vehicles.

DOT LANDSCAPING AND ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PLANTS TREES ALONG HIGHWAYS FOR BEAUTY AND SAFETY

[!] here's only one chance to make a first impression , and Georgia Department of Transportation Maintenance Engineer Don Watson tries to make certain that the first impression visitors have upon entering the state is a good one. With the help of trees. he's succeeding .
W atson is in charge of the DOT Landscaping and Roadside Development Program that began several years ago. As part of the highway beautification effort, the Department's two landscape architects and seven roadside enhancement coordinators draw up landscape plans for DOT rights-of-way. Trees are planted on those rights-ofw ay which are bare or have been cleared for construction.
W atson said the program has accelerated in recent years, with particular emphasis being placed on the entrances into the state. " When people enter the state, the first thi ng they see is a vast stretch of interstate," he said . " We try to make our highways more attractive by planting t rees . "
The engineer said that the DOT doesn't reconstruct roadside areas but plants trees which will enhance the natu ral growth of the site. Occasionally, evergreens are

planted to add color to the roadside during the winter months.
The trees the Department plants must be compatible w ith their environment. " Our trees are judged for their durability against drought, heat. and emi.ssions from automobiles, as well as for their looks," Watson said .
Tree species used by the Department include oak, pine, poplar and sycamore, and to a lesser extent. maples and magnolias. Watson said the trees are puchased on a lowbid basis from several North Georgia nurseries, as well as from Georgia Forestry Commission nurseries. Many garden clubs throughout the state are now co-sponsoring the program .
Watson said that, in addition to making Georgia's highways more beautiful, the trees serve another purpose-that of making the highways safer.
"When you 're travelling on the interstate, mile after mile of the same scenery becomes hypnotic, and therefore dangerous," the engineer said. " We try to break up the line of sight to help drivers stay alert and reduce the number of accidents on our roads."
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/13

Willie B., a popular Zoo Atlanta resident, roams through the simulated African Rain Forest, a major addition to the park.

ZOO ATLANTA'S $4.5 MILLION TROPICAL RAIN FOREST ENHANCED BY 20 SPECIES OF NATIVE GEORGIA TREES

By Bill Edwards

oo Atlanta's new $4.5 million simulated African Rain forest includes 20 species of trees native to Georgia and offers the possibility of observing the zoo's most famous resident, 459-pound gorilla Willy B., lounging under a Southern magnolia. The new Ford African Rain Forest (major funding by Ford Motor Company) is one of many renovations expected to make Zoo Atlanta a world-class zoological park. The renovation program marks a positive reversal of the zoo's image following a highly publicized 1984 scandal involving zoo conditions. A large percentage of the zoo's staff were replaced after the negative publicity. Don Jackson, Zoo Atlanta's curator of horticulture, who was recruited from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens following the scandal, said " We have new people, new attitudes and progressive concepts now - and the new rain forest is a major phase of this progress." Jackson said native Georgia trees used in the rain forest especially species of magnolia - have characteristics of tropical trees; leaf traits include large size, drip-tips, and a smoothwaxey surface. Since most of the animals will be displayed in outdoor settings, Zoo Atlanta will have an impressive botanical display- as well as an international variety of birds and animals. Native Georgia trees have an important role in simulating this natural habitat environment. The objective is to stimulate natural habitats of the animals as nearly as possible. Natural habitat encourages characteristic
14/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

animal and bird behavior, which is important to the research program now an integral part of Zoo Atlanta. Animals interact w ith nature and each other the same way they would in the wi ld, while visitors observe them at close proximity without the distorting influence of cages and bars.
In addition to Willy 8., a number of other Silverback gorillas will inhabit the rain forest. With anticipated gorilla births during the first year, Zoo Atlanta 's rain forest is expected to have one of the largest gorilla populations in North America. The rain forest area will also be the home of a variety of tropical birds w ith species ranging from the orange-cheeked waxbill to the doubletoothed barbet.
Simulating a natural forest environment for a variety of exotic wildlife requires careful selection of tree species and various other plants. In addition to native Georgia trees, Jackson said numerous other trees and plants typically associated w ith Georgia were also used in the rain forest. Approximately 11 00 trees, 1800 ferns and 680 shrubs were planted. Some 1200 elephant ears and an equal number of cannas were also placed in the forest; while more than 6,000 bulbous plants and a multitude of vines were added for an authentic touch to make t he residents feel at home.
Jackson, a University of Kentucky graduate with a B.S. in horticulture, also completed phases of graduate study in education at the University of Cincinnati. He emphasizes that graduate work in education - although the general public does not generally relate it to zoo operations - is actually essential.
"Operating a modern zoo is no longer a matter of just putti ng

animals in cages and selling tickets for people to look at them," Jackson said. "The modern zoo is a compatible blend of recreation research, conservation and education- a social and environme~tal benefit to the times we live in."
Jackson cites the new rain forest as an example of this concept- w ith obviou.s conce.ntration on.edu.cation. He poi~ts out that excessive cuttmg of ram forests w1th VIrtually no restnct1ons or efforts toward regeneration is creating serious problems; negative results vary from making certain species of plants extinct to increasing fears that the world's weather patterns are being disturbed by the mindless destruction.
" Species of rain forest trees and plants that have never been research ed are vanishing into extinction," Jackson said. " One of these plants could offer a cure for cancer,or serve some other beneficial purpose. We just don't know without research ."
Jackson said there is a need to make the publ ic aware of such situations. He points out that- contrary to popular opinion- rain forests are not areas that regenerate quickly. Shallow top soil and excessive erosion make natural regeneration a losing proposition. Unlike Georgia 's pine forests that are regenerated and harvested within 30 years under intensive forestry management. the intricate requirements for regeneration of a clearcut rain forest are much more complicated .

As an example of such destructive logging practices, Zoo

Atlanta's rain forest includes the large, sawed logs of a tulip pop-

lar (a native Georgia tree). Complementing the authenticity are

corn and other crops planted in the logged areas; native farmers

living in the rain forest often practice this form of agriculture.

Even dead trees (including Georgia oaks) have been set as

" climbers " to enhance the realistic atmosphere in some areas.

Orangutans, especially, enjoy climbing these dead oaks.

Although the Ford African Rain Forest was a massive project,

meticulous care was taken in selecting the right size and species

of trees and other plants. Many trees, including native Georgia

species, had to be transported long distances and set by crane.

Jackson emphasizes that the care and knowledge exercised in

establishing the rain forest will be practiced in establishing other

scheduled natural habitat projects. Future projects in Zoo Atlanta's

agenda include an Arctic Coast and an African Savanna.

Zoo records show the attraction of the Ford African Rain Forest

and other completed projects have already increased attendance at

the zoo from 2 79,000 in 1984 to 618,000 in 1988 (August).

"Judging from the positive reactions we've experienced so far,"

Jackson said, "I don't think it would be unreasonable to believe Zoo

Atlanta will be one of the finest zoological parks in the United

States."

.._

:or~_men_ erecting ~ead trees, including Georgia oak, to provide authenticity to the rain forest and to point out the destructive logging
ac Ices m the Afncan region. The trees also provide climbers for some of the zoo 's primates.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/1 5

Tour Educational For Guide!

FORESTER HAS GREATER APPRECIATION. OF FREEDOM TO MANAGE GEORGIA WOODLANDS AFTER LEARNING OF EUROPEAN RESTRICTIONS

ours can be as educational for the guide as the tourist, according to Lane Garland, forester, Barrow-Jackson Forestry Unit. Garland was recently performing his usual duties when he was called on by the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources to act as a tour guide for an Austrian forestry professor visiting UGA. The visitor was Max Krott, professor of forest policy for the University of Vienna. Enroute to Tennessee on a rushed schedule, the Austrian was visiting t he U.S. for observation of various fo restry practices. Since Garland was near UGA and considered a highly capable forester, he was contacted by the university to take the Austrian professor on a four-hour whirlwind tour covering several area counties. " He didn 't speak English very well, " Garland said , " and my German is confined to less than a dozen words, but we commun icated enough t o make it an educational experience for both of us. " The first thing the visiting professor wanted to see was a clearcut." He told Garland that he wanted t o see such an area because there was no such th ing in Austria , where cl earcutting is prohibited by law. Garland sa id Krott was impressed by the clearcut and Georgia's vast, wellmanaged timber tracts that make such practices feasible. He pointed out to Garland that Austria (smaller than Georgia), like many areas of Europe, is a relatively small area with a heavy concentration of people and a resulting preoccupation with preserving trees. The trend is nothing new in Europe, even Hitler managed to work in some restrictive forestry practices for Germany with his plan to conquer the world . Although Garland was aware of the general atmosphere of European forestry, he said it was another thing to personally witness the response of an European forester to Georgia 's forestry practices. " He was really impressed with our 30 to 40 year rotation plan for pines," Garland
16/ Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

said of Krott, " as opposed to Aust ria's 60
to 80 year rotation plan for t imber."
As the tour continued, Garland said Professor Krott was also favorably infl uenced w ith planting, harvesting and several CRP tracts . The Austrian showed particular interest in one-to-three-year-old pine stands and t heir management .
The professor also visited a control led burn area . He told Garl and t hat forest fires of any kind are virtually non-exist ent in Austria because permission to burn is virtually non-existent. Krott sa id t hat in his country, if a landowner (or anyone else) is responsible for a fire that goes out of control and burns wood la nds, houses or whatever that person is liable for all damages caused by the fire.
As the tour prog ressed through the woodlands of Oconee County, Garland and the Austrian gradually overcam e t he language barrier and Garland learned t hat Austrian legal concern is not only for live
FOREST FIRES OF ANY KIND ARE VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT IN AUSTRIA BECAUSE PERMISSION TO BURN IS VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT.
trees, but extends w it h complete seriousness to dead ones.
Krott said when at ree dies in A ustria, the landowner just doesn 't go out and cut it down to get rid of it or use it f or f irewood . A government forester must be contacted ; the forester then schedul es an exam ina-

tion and instructs the landowner as to whether or not he has permission to cut t he tree down.
" Over there," Garland noted, " the general situation seems to be that foresters are not asked for advice on what to do, they're asked for permission. "
When they reached a large scale logg ing operation on the tour, Garland described the Austrian 's reaction as "amazed" at the size, efficiency and versatility of our loggi ng equipment. Krott explained to Garland that Austrian logging operations are usually confined to the strained efforts of a farm tractor. The Austrian landowner (afte r receiving permission to cut his tim-
ber) cranks up the farm tractor and proceeds . Then he is confronted with anot her contrast to U.S. Forestry. In Austria t here is no middleman (logger) in the buying/ sell ing process. After the landowner has the timber cut, he must drag the logs to a convenient roadside area so a mill can pick it up.
The final source of amazement to Professor Krott on the tour came when t hey happened to drive through a resid ential section of Greene County. Krott asked Garland if these homes were " govern ment homes" - were they built for high level government officials?
When Garland replied that the homes were a typical suburban area , Krott said it was hard to believe that middle cl ass citizens could afford to live in such extravagant dwellings. He pointed out t hat in A ustria the middle class lives in six-story housing complexes because it is all t hey can afford ; only the financially elite and high-level government officials live in homes like those in the Greene Cou nty suburb.
To make the housi ng situation even more complicated, Krott said that if an A ustrian citizen happened to be fort unate enough to own woodland property and desired to bui ld a house in t he woods, the chances are he would not receive goverment permission to do so. Why? Because t rees wou ld have to be cut to make room

for the house. Garland completed his duties as tour
guide and Professor Krott went on h1s way to other U. S. points of forestry m.terest before returning to the Umvers1ty of
Vienna . " I don 't know about Professor Krott, but
1 won't forget this tour for a long time,"

Garland said. "Although you might really

know it on some level, this sort of thing

makes you realize how fortunate and free

we are in this country to manage ourforest

resources. And it made me especially

aware of how efficiently Georgia manages

all phases of forestry. We're lucky to be

here for a lot of reasons."



Steven Pontzer in stand of birches.
EXCHANGE STUDENT OBSERVES FINNISH FORESTS
"The winter is long and the trees must make up for it in the summer and then the growth rate is phenomenai. ..At the present time I can look out my window and see the silver birches turning their rusty yellow for autumn, but the Norway spruce and the Scotch pine still hold their year-round green."
That's an excerpt from a recent newsletter from Steven Pontzer of Clarke County, a University of Georgia forestry student currently serving six months in Finland in the International 4-H Youth Exchange Program.
He pointed out that pine, birch, and spruce are the tree species that make up much of the Finnish forest industry. There are some others like the trembling aspen, a tree that provides wood used for making saunas because it doesn 't get hot. There are also two birch species that inhabit the wet areas and a dwarf birch that grows in Lapland above the Arctic Circle.
The Georgia student said the wet areas of Finland are constantly being improved by the use of ditches. Even in the wet areas,the Finns mark their forest boundaries w ith a one-meter-wide strip of land on which they have cut all the vegetation. They are al so very conservation-minded.
Many species of animals inhabit the Finnish woodlands .Wolves, whitetail deer, bears, rabbits, lynx, and fur-bearing animals are all a part of the forest and many types of grouse, ducks, raptures, and song birds also call the forest home.
The moose, however, is the animal that concerns Finnish foresters most. It feeds on pine and birch tree seedlings. The small trees are eaten and the large moose walks over the older trees and bends them over to reach the tender shoots and bark and help feed the young moose. . Since the forests of Finland only renew themselves every 100 years,the forestry Industry is closely governed by regional and national forestry boards. "They tell what trees can be harvested," Pontzer said,"and they check for reforestation. Most of t he trees are harvested in the winter because the farmers have no crops to work In the snow and harvesting on frozen ground reduces root damage to uncut tree s. "

DIAMETER LIMIT CUT CAN BE BIG MISTAKE

A prospective timber buyer approaches

a landowner with the offer to buy all the

landowner's pine timber over 12 inches in

diameter at breast height and "give the

smaller trees room to grow." In a situation

of this type, landowners should be wary!

'This proposal from a prospective tim-

ber buyer can be a very expensive mistake

for a landowner," said John Merrill,

reforestation forester assigned to the

Commission's Athens District.

Merrill warned that many of these

smaller trees are just as old as the bigger

trees but are of inferior genetic material

that have been suppressed by the more

vigorous trees.

" Even after they are given 'room to

grow', they may never respond with more

rapid growth," said Merrill.

He explained that after the larger trees

are cut the genetically inferior pines cannot

compete "with the hardwoods that spring

up" and the result is often an over abun-

dance of unwanted growth from the

forest floor.

"We (the Commission) often hear from

the landowner after the cutting has been

done and the hardwoods are coming in so

thick that the landowner wants to do

something about it," said Merrill.

At this point the landowner has few

alternatives. One possible solution is to cut

the inferior pines, treat the hardwoods

with herbicide, and replant the land with

superior quality pines by hand.

Merrill advised landowners to avoid this

type of situation by contacting the Com-

mission or a licensed forestry consultant

before seriously considering a diameter-

limit cut.

4.

MYERS ACCEPTS POSITION
AT UGA FORESTRY SCHOOL
J. Walter Myers, Jr., retired executive vice president of Forest Farmers Association and immediate past president of the national Society of American Foresters, has recently been retained to assist in teaching forest resource policy at the University of Georgia's School of Forest Resources.
He will be working with Dr. Fred W. Cubbage, who is in charge of this area of instruction. Myers will collaborate with Dr. Cubbage in developing and leading class case study discussions on such subjects as forest policies in practice, impact of legislation on forestry activities, various forms of timber management, pine regeneration, and management of wetlands.
Myers resides in Atlanta, and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in forestry from Louisiana State University. _.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/1 7

67 PERCENT OF LAND

planting. The volume of hardwood growing stock
increased 4 percent to 44 million cords. Tupelo and blackgum, the major hardwood species in the region, increased 3 percent to 1 5.5 million cords. Collectively, oak volumes were up 3 percent to 12.3 mill ion cords. The two groups accounted for almost half of the total gain in hardwood volume.

IN 35-COUNTY AREA IN COMMERCIAL FORESTS

The volume of softwood growing stock declined less than one percent to 65 million cords. Loblolly pine inventory increased 9 percent to 13.8 million cords. Volume of slash pine, still the dominant softwood species in the area, decreased one percent to 37.3 million cords. However, slash still accounts for 57 percent of the softwood volume. Longleaf pine volume fell 21 percent to 5.3 million cords, while cypress increased 7 percent to 6.5 million cords.

When the area is divided into two sub-

units along the Ocmulgee-Aitamaha River

system, differences in ownership and

management become apparent. The

Southern area is 56 percent owned or
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA TIMBER SURVEYED leased by forest industry, compared to 2 8 percent in the North. Sixty-four percent of

A large group of landowners, industrialists, foresters, and other interested persons gathered at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon recently to hear a report on the principal findings of a survey on forest resources in the 35-county Southeast Georgia area. Taking part in the presentation were Senator Hugh Gillis, Commission Director John Mixon, Lamar Beasley and Noel Cost of the U.S. Forest Service, and Resource Consultant Herb Knight.

The survey showed that plantations now occupy 2.5 million acres or 35 percent of the timberland in this region. In addition, plantations contain almost a third of the softwood inventory and are now supplying a third of softwood removals.
Also shown in the survey was an increase in artifical regeneration from 7 5,000 acres annually during the 19 7181 period to the current average of155,000 acres. Including both artificial and natural regeneration, 159,000 acres

Southern area pine stands are plantations. There has been a 9 percent pine inventory increase, 11 9 percent of pine growth is being removed, and only 21 percent of pine plantings have been made throug h the Conservation Reserve Program.
In the Northern area , 45 percent of pine stands are plantations. There has been a 9 percent pine inventory decrease, 80 percent of pine growth is being removed, and 79 percent of pine plantings have been made through the Conservation Reserve.

Mixon emphasized that results of the of new pine stands were established The forest statistics report for Southeast

forest survey are widely used by both yearly. This exceeded the acreage of pine Georgia was prepared by the Southeast ern

government and industry. Information stands harvested by 4 percent. Nearly 60 Forest Experiment Station in North Car-

developed during the survey is used for percent of the total regeneration occurred olina as part of an on-going study on the

determining amounts of money to be on non-industrial private land. Loblolly inventory and analysis of Georgia's tim-

spent on forestry practices, new manufac- pine accounted for 54 percent of new pine berlands.

.+

turing plants, expansion of existing plants,

and in other planning and decision making.

INTERSTATE OBSERVES 20th ANNIVERSARY

The survey measures acreages and

Interstate Paper Corporation recently Senate, citing Interstate as "a role model...

volumes of timber in various ownerships, observed the 20th anniversary of produc- in effective rural development." Interstate

types and classes of timber, volumes of tion at its Coastal Georgia facility with a was financed in part by a 1966 industrial

growth vs. volumes removed, and changes celebration by hundreds of employees and development loan from the U. S. Department

that have occurred since the last survey. their famil ies and a salute in the United of Commerce's Economic Development

Results of the 22-county Southwest States Senate.

Administration.

Georgia unit were announced in June, and

This year's annual family day picnic held

'The EDA loan has long since been paid off,

the 49-county Central Georgia unit will be at the mill marked the 20th anniversary for and for 20 years, Interstate has provided sta-

completed in early 1989.

the kraft linerboard mill at Riceboro, some ble, well-paying jobs for some 300 persons

The 35-county Southeastern area con- 35 miles south of Savannah.

spread over a 12-county area," Fowler said.

tains 10 .7 million acres total, of which 7.2

U. S. Senator Wyche Fowler (D-Ga). con- 'The annual payroll is currently some $1 2

million or 67 percent is in commercial gratulated Interstate Vice President and million," he added.

forest. Another 368 thousand acres of General Manager Dean D. Barger and the Praising the unusual stability and dedica-

forest is restricted use, primarily in the entire Interstate "family" on the produc- tion of the Interstate workforce, Fowler said

Okefenokee Wilderness area. Commercial tion milestone through a telephone hookup. the employee turnover rate is among the

forest area has increased 30,000 acres

Fowler, who was prevented from attending lowest in the pulp and paper industry. He also

overall, but this masks an increase in 16 in person because of the Congressional ad- noted that 29 employees are "second genera-

counties, a decrease in 16 counties, and no journment rush, commended the company tion" -a son or daughter of a present or past

change in 3 counties.

and its employees in a statement to the U. S. Interstate employee.

_.

18/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988

J EFFE RSON FARRIS, formerly a patrolman in t he Whitfield Unit. has been named ranger of the Appling County Unit to succeed LeRoy G. Page, who recently retired .

FA RRIS

PAGE

The new ranger, who came with the Commission in 1984 as a patrolman in the Crisp-Dooly Unit, is married to the former M iss Debbie Sims of Rockmart. Farris, a native of LaFayette, has earned associate degrees from Abraham Baldwin College in forestry and wildlife management...More than 60 persons gathered to honor LEROY G. PAGE at a retirement party that marked the end of his 34-year career with the Commission. A native of Wheeler County, he served as ranger of the Turner County Unit and was later transferred to the Appling County Unit. He received the Outstanding Ranger Award in 1984. The retiree and his wife, Lucy, are active in the Friendship Congregational Church ...Jesup native
BRANTLEY MCMANUS has been named ranger of the Turner County Unit in

Ashburn. He holds an associate degree in forestry from ABAC and formerly served as
supervisor of the Clayton County Water
~~thority. The new ranger, who succeeds
f en M . Smith, who was recently transt~rred to the Flint River Nursery, is married F the form er Miss Patti Prescott of
t olksto~ . They.haye one son, Kevin, and c~fa mlly IS active m the United Methodist
urch... Forester TERREL BROOKS seed orchard manager, ret1.red recently' after

serving 34 years with the Commission... BILLY BARBER, who came with the Commission in the summer of 1957 and held many responsible positions across the state during his long career, was recently honored at a retirement dinner. During his years with the Commisison the forester served as ranger in Clay County, district ranger in the Camilla District. assistant district forester in Statesboro, district forester in Gainesville and McRae Districts, superintendent of the Dixon Memorial State Forest and supervisor of the Baldwin Seed Orchard. Barber and his wife, Lena, now make their home in Milledgeville...CARLOS LAYSON has been

BARBER

LAYSON

retained as a full-time helicopter pilot after flying on contract for the Commission since 1985. Layson will be working out of the Macon headquarters. He and his wife attend lvey Baptist Church in Gordon...STEVE ANDREWS, a native of Macon, has been named ranger for the Henry County Unit. Andrews, who has a degree in forest technology from Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, was previously employed for nine years as a forest technician with Georgia Kraft. He was active in scouting for 17 years and attained Eagle Scout status. Andrews and his wife, Georgia, have a son and daughter... RAY BRYANT has been promoted from Jefferson-Giascock Unit patrolman to aircraft mechanic at Macon headquarters. Bryant and his wife, Cindy, have one daughter and are expecting a son .

They live in Louisville and attend Wadley Baptist Church...GARY WHITE has been assigned the ranger position for the Johnson County Unit. A native of Maryland, White graduated from West Virginia University (Morgantown, WVA) with a degree in forestry. Prior to being employed by the Commission, he served in the Peace Corps and was assigned to Bunkina Faso, West Africa as a reforestation forester. White and his wife, Katrina, live in Wrightsville.

COMMISSION GIVES TREES FOR PROJECT

The Commission has donated 7,000

trees to be included in a special "Arrive

Alive Tree Planting" event to be held at

Stone Mountain Park April 1, 1989. Arrive

Alive is a national organization dedicated to

the objective of increasing public aware-

ness concerning the tragic results of driv-

ing under the influence of alcohol and

drugs.

. T~e purpose of the Stone Mountain pro-

ject 1s to focus attention on past tragedies

caused by persons driving under the in-

fluence of drugs and alcohol. Approx-

imately 6,000 trees will be planted in

memory of teenagers killed in 1988 in

drug or alcohol related driving accidents.

All trees planted above that number will

symbolize the thousands of lives being

saved through Arrive Alive efforts. Trees

donated by the Commission include

1,000 dogwoods, 1,000 sawtooth oaks,

and 5,000 loblolly pine.

The event will begin with thousands of

young people climbing to the top of Stone

Mountain and lining up to form the words

" Say Yes To Live." The group will then be

shuttled down the mountain to plant trees

on various sites.

The day will conclude with a concert

sponsored by Z93 Radio and the first offi-

cial showing of Lasershow '89. " It is

expected to be the biggest event ever

sponsored by Arrive Alive," said Jack

Mathis, chairman of the group. "Drawing

thc:>usands of Georgias youth to the park is

ev1dence that our efforts are reaching the

necessary people, and they are enthused

about our projects."

The 'Tree-mendous Day" will serve as a

f~nd raiser for the Arrive Alive organiza-

tion. Trees are being sponsored by busi-

nesses, civic groups, and individuals for

$20 each . 'There is no limit to the number

of trees we can plant. just as there is no

limit to the lives we can save," Chairman

Mathis pointed out.



Georgia Forestry/Winter 1988/19

W hen soil on the farm no longer supports row crops or pastures, it's time to plant those marginal acres in rapidly growing trees. The nurseries of the Georgia Forestry Commission provide millions of quality seedlings for the state's landowners and the agency's professional foresters stand ready to assist in site preparation, planting and proper maintenance as the stand matures. Contact the nearest Commission office for literature and further information on reforestation. Turn poor land into profitable land!
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT MACON, GEORGIA