Georgia forestry, Vol. 54, no. 1 (Spring 2001)

Georgia
FORESTRY

USPS No. 217120 Spring 2001

No. 1

Vol. 54

Roy E. Barnes, Governor J. Frederick Allen, Director Sharon Dolliver, Chief - Forest Information and Urban & Community Forestry

STAFF
Lynn A. Walton, Editor William S. Edwards, Assoc. Editor
Julia Baker, Graphic Artist

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Jim L. Gillis, Jr., Chairman, Soperton H. G. Thomas New, Louisville James G. Fendig, Savannah Larry S. Walker, Oglethorpe P. W. Bryan, Jr., Thomasville

DISTRICT OFFICES
District One 3086 Martha Berry Hwy./Rome, GA 30165
706-295-6021
District Two 3005 Atlanta Hwy./Gainesville, GA 30507
770-531-6043
District Three 1055 E. Whitehall Rd./Athens, GA 30605
706-542-6880
District Four 187 Corinth Rd./Newnan, GA 30263
770-254-7218
District Five 119 Hwy. 49 West/Milledgeville, GA 31061
478-445-5164
District Six 1465 Tignall Rd./Washington, GA 30673
706-678-2015
District Seven 243 U. S. Hwy. 19 N./Americus, GA 31709
912-931-2436
District Eight 2395 U. S. Hwy. 41 N./Tifton, GA 31794
912-386-3617
District Nine 3561 Hwy. 112/Camilla, GA 31730
229-522-3580
District Ten 18899 U. S. Hwy. 301 N./Statesboro, GA 30458
912-681-0490
District Eleven Route 1, Box 67/Helena, GA 31037
912-868-5649
District Twelve 5003 Jacksonville Hwy./Waycross, GA 31503
912-287-4915

Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, Georgia 31020-9699. Second class postage paid at Macon, GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia Forestry Commission, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, Georgia 31020-9699. For subscription additions, changes, or deletions, please contact Kassie Odum: E-mail: kodum@gfc.state.ga.us, Phone: (912) 751-3530, Fax: (912) 751-3559, TollFree: 1-800-GA-TREES, Mail: P.O. Box 819 Macon, GA 31202-0819.

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Georgia Forestry Commission
P. O. Box 819, Macon, Georgia 31202-0819 (912) 751-3500, Fax (912) 751-3465

Roy E. Barnes Governor
J. Frederick Allen Director

Dear Georgia Citizens and Forest Landowners:
As urban/wildland interface increases in Georgia and creates new forestry challenges, the Georgia Forestry Commission is proud to emphasize a positive factor related to this situation. The Tree City USA program is striving to sustain and improve the state's urban forestry environments.
Tree City USA is a community improvement program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters.
Georgia currently has a total of 92 Tree City USA designations including 82 recertifications and 10 new qualifying cities. The total includes eight cities that have received the Growth Award a special award earned by established Tree Cities for advanced accomplishments.
All cities and towns, regardless of size, are eligible for Tree City status. To be named a Tree City USA, four standards must be met. The first is establishment of a tree board or department legally responsible for tree care. The second standard is adoption of a city tree ordinance, which establishes the tree board. The third standard is development of a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2.00 per capita. The final standard is an Arbor Day observance and proclamation; the ceremony can be brief or extended to an all-week observance.
Nationally, there are now 2,619 Tree City USA designations. I urge all Georgians to support this national effort by working with local leaders in establishing and maintaining Tree City USA status.
The plain truth is life is just better in towns and cities filled with trees. Trees are good for people, good for the environment, and create an economic stimulus for business development.
The future of Georgia's urban forests depends on our commitment and care. A special kind of care that brings the joy of stewardship and the gratitude of future generations. For further information, check our website at www.gfc.state.ga.us or contact GFC Tree City USA Coordinator Myrt Phillips at 478-751-3528.
Sincerely,

J. Frederick Allen Director

Jim L. Gillis, Jr. Chairman, Soperton

C. M. Eunice, Jr. Blackshear

J. G. Fendig Savannah

Larry S. Walker Oglethorpe

An Equal Opportunity Employer

P. W. Bryan Thomasville

ON THE COVER:
First year slash pine seedlings from selectively bred parent trees. Each year thousands of trees like these are planted in field tests to evaluate the genetic quality of GFC nursery stock and identify the best sources for Georgia landowners.
(Photo by William Godfrey, Jr.)

Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

Georgia FORESTRY/Spring 2001

Page 4 Page 10 Page 16

Table of Contents
4 Governors Grove
A Special Dedication for Arbor Day 2001
6 Forestry Commission Firefighter Honored
Blalock Receives Governor's Award for Act of Heroism
7 Vote for America's National Tree
American Public has First Opportunity to Vote for National Symbol
8 WWW.GAFORESTS.COM
Online Recommendations for Georgia Landowners
10 Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center
Former Forestry Executive Leaves Outdoor Legacy
12 Educational Forests
Georgia's Natural Treasures
16 GOAL
A Unified and Effective Approach to Okefenokee Fire Protection
18 Traditional Industries Program Focuses on Pulp and Paper
Worldwide Demand Increasing Rapidly
21 Snakes Found in Georgia's Forests
Venomous and Non-Venomous
22 Levels of a Forest
Forest Has Many Different Layers
23 Book Review
Meetings with Remarkable Trees

Page 18

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

3

Governor Roy Barnes dedicates the Governors Grove at the Georgia Forestry Commission Headquarters.

Arbor Day 2001 was celebrated with a special dedication as Georgia Governor Roy E. Barnes flew into Macon by helicopter to participate in a historical tree planting.

A crowd of more than 100 people was on hand at the Georgia Forestry Commission headquarters when Barnes planted a live oak as the first tree of the Georgia Governors Grove - a collection of trees honoring the Governors of Georgia.

Eight more trees were planted in recognition of each of the state's living governors, with two white oaks placed in memory of other Georgia governors. The site is located on the state agency grounds behind the Howard E. Bennett
Forestry Museum.

The dedication of Georgia's Governors Grove marks the culmination of the state's Millennium Grove - a statewide grove of trees reflecting the unique character of the state through its diversified tree population.

Governor Barnes takes a cutting from this live oak home with him. The tree was planted in his honor at the dedication ceremony of the Governors Grove.

The Millennium Grove, started last year at the beginning of the new Millennium, includes at least one tree, on public

land, in every county in Georgia. Georgia's Millennium Grove is part of a nationwide greening-ofAmerica effort initiated by the U.S. Forest Service, Governor Roy Barnes, and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Barnes told the audience the story of the live oak tree, an official state symbol, and its involvement in early Georgia history. He said that settlers made flour from the acorns and used its strong wood for building.
After signing an Arbor Day proclamation, he and Miss Georgia Forestry, Layne Moye of Donalsonville, gently shoveled dirt around the base of the tree.
A few moments later, former Governor Lester Maddox, 84, enthusiastically planted a White Oak tree nearby. Maddox served as governor from 1967-71.
Governors Barnes and Maddox were joined by Jane Vandiver Kidd who planted a Franklinia tree, the choice of her father, former

4

Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

Governor Earnest Vandiver (1959-63), who was unable to attend.
Special guests who were in attendance included: Macon Mayor Jack Ellis, Bibb County Commissioner Tommy Olmstead, Representative Robert Ray, and Janelle Dukes, State Arbor Day poster contest winner. Fred Allen, director of the GFC, presided over the event.
The Georgia's Governors Grove is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you would like more information or directions, please call 1-800-GA-TREES.

The Governor addresses more than 100 people on Arbor Day.

Governor Barnes greets former Governor Lester Maddox and GFC Director Fred Allen before the ceremony.

Janelle Dukes of Lincoln County Elementary School receives the State Arbor Day Poster Contest Award from Governor Barnes. Janelle was accompanied by Chief Ranger Bill Dawkins, fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Kelly, and Miss Teen Georgia Forestry Carrie Burton.

Layne Moye, Miss Georgia Forestry, helps Governor Barnes plant his live oak tree.

Jane Vandiver Kidd plants a Franklinia Tree for her father, former Governor Earnest Vandiver.

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

5

FORESTRY COMMISSION FIREFIGHTER HONORED
Blalock Receives Governor's Award for Act of Heroism

Georgia Forestry Commission Ranger, Thomas A. "Tommy" Blalock, was honored recently by Governor Roy Barnes for his act of heroism in saving the life of fellow firefighter, Tom Fearrington of the US Forest Service.

In November 1999, Blalock was assigned to help Georgia Forestry Commission and USFS firefighters battle a wildfire at Lake Marvin in Floyd County.

Tommy was paired with Tom on a chainsaw crew assigned to cut down burning trees (also referred to as "snags") near the fire line. The crew faced difficult conditions in the steep and rugged terrain. Visibility was limited due to smoke and darkness.

At approximately 11:45 p.m., Fearrington made his cutting plan on

a burning snag and identified his and Blalock's escape routes. Blalock

stood at a distance to keep watch on the top of the snag while Fearrington made his preliminary cuts at the base. Blalock moved in closer to assist Fearrington in directing the fall of the tree.

Tommy Blalock (left) saved Tom Fearrington's life while the two were fighting a fire. The men are shown here at the 2000 Governor's Public Safety Awards where Blalock was honored

As the final cut was made, the tree did not fall as expected. On the

by Governor Roy Barnes for his bravery.

way down, it hit nearby limbs which caused the top of the tree to

spin and fall on Fearrington, pinning him face down on the ground. The impact knocked his helmet off and he lay unconscious under

the burning tree.

Blalock immediately yelled for help and ran to try to pull Fearrington out from under the tree, suffering several burns and cuts in the process. He finally succeeded in dragging Fearrington out from under the tree just before the tree began to burn intensely.

At 5 a.m., Fearrington was air-lifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. He was treated for several weeks for second- and thirddegree burns and broken bones, and is still undergoing treatments and surgeries associated with the burns.

Blalock was treated by paramedics and emergency room staff for abrasions and second-degree burns on his hands. He was released and placed on modified leave.

It is the consensus that Fearrington would have died if Blalock had not acted immediately and ignored the danger to himself. Blalock was honored for his act of heroism at the 2000 Governor's Public Safety Awards Ceremony which was held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia. He was one of thirteen recipients and 62 nominees who were recognized for their acts of heroism, outstanding deeds, and exemplary performance which enhance the public safety profession.

r-

y

k

Thomas Blalock is a Ranger I at the

s

Floyd/Gordon County Unit and has

m,

served with the Georgia Forestry

e

Commission for 22 years.

6

Each day, thousands of dedicated public safety professionals labor tirelessly to make sure Georgia is a safe place to live, work, and raise our families.
It is important that we recognize the heroic actions as well as the every day selfless contributions of these men and women
who are in the forefront protecting us from crime, fires, disasters, and other emergencies.
Let us all find a way to show our appreciation to them and their families.

Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

For the first time, the American public has the opportunity to vote for a national symbol......
AMERICA'S NATIONAL TREE!
U.S. National Anthem... "The Star Spangled Banner" U.S. National Motto... "In God We Trust" U.S. National March... "Stars and Stripes Forever" U.S. National Flower... Rose U.S. National Emblem... Bald Eagle
U.S. National Tree... That's for you to decide!

Most of the United States' national symbols were determined hundreds of years ago by our founding fathers...but now, for the first time, the American public has the opportunity to vote for the National Tree.
The National Arbor Day Foundation* is hosting a process that makes it possible for people to vote for "America's National Tree," either by visiting the Foundation's website, www.arborday.org or by mail.** Online voting will take place from January 1, 2001, through midnight before National Arbor Day, April 27, 2001.
The United States is blessed with a wealth of tree species, more than twice as many as in all of Europe. "America has the grandest trees on earth -- the largest, the oldest, and we think, the most beautiful," John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation, said. "It's time for the American people to select a National Tree as an enduring symbol of all of our magnificent trees, and of our natural heritage."
The results of the vote will be announced on National Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska and throughout the nation. Then America's National Tree can take its place with those which have been designated in countries around the world.
Listed here are the 21 tree names or "genera" which appear on the ballot. This list of 21 broad types of trees (genera) incorporates all state trees and suggests the wealth of species across the United States.
Visit www.arborday.org to cast your vote!

BALDCYPRESS COTTONWOOD (POPLAR) ELM KUKUI OAK PECAN (HICKORY) REDWOOD

National Tree Candidates
BIRCH DOGWOOD HEMLOCK MAGNOLIA PALM PINE SPRUCE

BUCKEYE DOUGLAS-FIR HOLLY MAPLE PALOVERDE REDBUD TULIPTREE

*The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship.

**People without Internet access can mail their vote to America's National Tree, The National Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by April 1, 2001. Include your name and address on a 3 x 5" card and the tree of your choice. The Foundation will add these votes to those made online.

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

7

Forest Stewardship. . .management plans for Georgia landowners Timber, Wildlife, Soil & Water Conservation, Recreation, and Aesthetics

WWW.GAFORESTS.COM

Forest Stewardship

Online Recommendations for Georgia Landowners

What recommendations does the Georgia Forestry Commission make for loblolly pine plantations in Northwest Georgia? Do those recommendations differ in other regions of the state? Which species is the best to grow? How can timber management be modified to improve habitat for wild turkey?
Landowners will be able to learn the answer to these questions and many more by accessing Georgia's Virtual Forests on the Internet. The Website www.gaforests.com has the descriptions and recommendations for various forest stands in five different forests corresponding to five geographic regions of the state.
Start by selecting the region of the state in which you have property or an interest. The next window will have a map showing just that region. By holding the mouse (do not click yet) over a county on the map, an information box will appear. This box will have the county name and the telephone numbers of the Georgia Forestry Commission Chief Ranger and Forester for that county.

Now click anywhere on that map to go to the next page. Here you will find several options that include "Pine", "Hardwoods," "Mixed," "Interesting Stuff," and "Reforestation." Select the option you desire and you will advance to the appropriate page.
The next page has several small pictures of various forest stands at different ages. Select the one that interests you. A large stand picture will appear with a written description and recommendations for management of that stand.
Common forestry terminology will be in bold letters with a small tree beside them. Hold your mouse over the tree (do not click) and a definition of that term will appear.
So, come walk through our Virtual Forests and compare our forest management activities to the ones you use on your forestlands.

Select the region of the state in which you have property or an interest

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Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

Forest Stewardship. . .management plans for Georgia landowners Timber, Wildlife, Soil & Water Conservation, Recreation, and Aesthetics

Hold mouse over county for information

Piedmont Region
The most distinctive feature of the Piedmont is the terrain with a very obvious geologic break along the Fall Line. Loblolly pine and shortleaf pine naturally occur in this region and are the primary pine species here. Loblolly pine is the primary species used in plantations. This region is predominately hardwoods however. There is a great mixture of hardwoods with oaks, hickories, yellow poplars, and sweet gums as the more important species.
-from Wharton's "The Natural Environments of Georgia"

Click on "Pines" for stand information
Spring 2001

Slash Pine 22 yrs. Old Planted

Description:

This stand of slash pine is 22 years of age. The basal area

(BA) averages 100 square feet per acre. The trees average

12" dbh and the trees are straight and well formed. The trees

were originally planted at a 16' by 16' spacing. This spacing

has eliminated the need for a thinning to this point. The

crown ratio is between 55 to 60%. There

Click on stand for description and recommendations

are a few understory species such as muscadine vines, poison ivy, and honeysuckle.

Georgia Forestry

9

Forest Stewardship

CHARLIE ELLIOT WILDLIFE CENTER
Former Forestry Executive Leaves Outdoor Legacy

Forest Stewardship. . .management plans for Georgia landowners Timber, Wildlife, Soil & Water Conservation, Recreation, and Aesthetics

Alesia Rast, Curator of the Charlie Elliot Museum, arranges books in an exact reproduction of Elliot's study. Located in the Visitors Center of the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, the museum reflects Elliot's life through a collection of books, photographs, hunting displays, fishing exhibits, and other memorabilia.

Charlie Elliot, a true native son of Georgia, who achieved national fame as an outdoor writer, died on May 1, 2000 at the age of 93. But the legacy of his character and accomplishments lives on with the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, a 6,400-acre tract of woodlands and fields encompassing 28 man-made ponds with almost 300 acres of water. The mission of the center is to educate children and adults to become wise environmental stewards.
Born in Covington, Elliot had an impressive career in forestry and other related job positions. When the Georgia Forestry Commission was known as the State of Georgia Department of Forestry, Elliot worked for the organization as a District Forester and Assistant Director of Education (1928-1935).

Although Elliot's book indicates he enjoyed his work with the GFC, he was not one to let grass grow under his feet in those days. He moved on to become Associate Forester with the National Park Service from 1935 to 1937. In 1937, he became the first Director of State Parks in Georgia and served in that capacity until 1941. His next job was Director of Public Relations for the Region I National Park Service. (19411943). Then he became the first Director of Georgia's Fish and Game Commission.
In 1950, Charlie Elliot found his niche. He landed the job of field editor of Outdoor Life magazine. The rest is history. Elliot became nationally famous for his articles on hunting and fishing. His stories include many trips with noted figures in business, sports, and industry.

In his autobiography, An Outdoor Life, Elliot remembers one of his GFC job duties was to visit schools statewide and "help the 4-H clubs select a typical forestry plot which the landowners deeded or leased to the school, survey and map it and then, with the help of the students, write a management plan for the tract. This included planting trees, thinning, fire control, and harvesting timber."

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame sums up his career with the following tribute: "Charlie Elliott is probably the best known Georgian on the national outdoors scene including hunting, fishing, writing, and educational programs. During a lifetime devoted to these activities, he achieved national recognition and an enviable list of accomplishments.

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Georgia Forestry

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Forest Stewardship. . .management plans for Georgia landowners Timber, Wildlife, Soil & Water Conservation, Recreation, and Aesthetics

ELLIOT REMEMBERED Elliot's fame grew through the years as outdoor writer, speaker, and instructor of hunting and fishing clinics. The State of Georgia took notice and did not forget its former employee.

Through Governor Zell Miller's Preservation 2000

Program, the

S t a t e o f Geor-

gia purchased

several tracts of

land, including

the Marben and

Clybell Farms,

in 1993; the

land is located

approximately

12 miles north

of Monticello

in Jasper and

Newton Coun-

ties. The Wild-

life Resources

Division man-

ages this land

as Marben Pub-

Charlie Elliot

lic Fishing Area, Clybel Wildlife

Management

Area, and Preaching Rock Wildlife Education

C e n t e r.

The 6,400-acre area was dedicated in honor of Elliot and named the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center. Although heavily forested, and isolated in a natural setting, the area is within an hour's drive of 39 percent of Georgia's population. This includes the populations of Atlanta, Macon, and Athens.

FISHING AND HUNTING The Marben Public Fishing Area consists of 22 lakes managed for largemouth bass, bluegill, shell cracker, catfish, crappie, and hybrid bass. Many of the lakes have picnic areas, boat ramps and restrooms. Fishing access for disabled anglers is provided at selected lakes. For anglers who want more privacy, walk-in ponds provide excellent bank fishing. Maps are available that describe facilities at each site.
The Clybell Wildlife Management Area (WMA) offers a wide variety of small game, turkey, deer, and waterfowl hunting. A hunting license and WMA license are required to hunt. Hunters must apply for quota hunts.
CAMPING AND HIKING A primitive camping area is available for those who want to enjoy the area day and night. No reservations or permits are required for camping. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
More than four miles of hiking trails provide an ideal opportunity to explore a variety of habitats, including a granite outcrop, mixed pine/hardwood forests and lakes.
BIRDWATCHING Extensive forests and lakes of the area offer a mecca for birdwatchers of all ages. More than 150 species of birds have been seen in the area, ranging from the tricolored heron to the peregrine falcon.
The center offers a keyed-list, including all species seen in the Wildlife Management Area. Order of species and nomenclature follow the "Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds" (Georgia Ornithological Society, 1986).

The Wildlife Resources Division plans to develop the Preaching Rock Wildlife Education Center as an outdoor classroom where Georgia's teachers can learn about habitat restoration, wildlife management, and other environmental issues then return to their classrooms better prepared to educate students.

continued on page 20

Currently, the Center operates the Brooke

Ager Discovery Area (BADA), which has

ten learning stations and a classroom.

Course topics include tree

identification, stream/pond ecology, and a habitat trail.

Kid's Fishing Event is one of

Future plans include an adult lodge for 60 people, youth cottages to house 200 people, a dining hall, and a nature

the numerous activities offered to
youngsters by the Charlie

center.

Elliot Center.

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

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Educational Forests
GEORGIA'S

Scouts stroll through the Bartram Educational Forest in Baldwin County - Milledgeville, Georgia.

Why watch a television program or read a book about forests when you can experience them in person! Thousands of Georgians are doing just that at our Educational Forests. These unique public facilities are one of the hottest new ways to learn about forests and how these natural treasures play a vital role in everyone's lives.
Educational Forests are outdoor learning environments where students of all ages can participate in hands-on studies. The goal of these forests is to teach conservation education of Georgia's natural resources in a real-world environment.
These areas are also "working forests," which means that a special plan has been created to care for the land in

such a way that meets goals relating to; timber production, wildlife habitat development, water quality, educational opportunities, and recreation.
There are currently three Educational Forests located in Georgia - Hightower in Dawsonville, Spirit Creek in Augusta, and Bartram in Milledgeville. They are managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Future development goals include construction of an educational building at each of the forests. The structures will be used as both a facility to implement conservation education programs regardless of weather, and as a teaching model for forest products utilization, ecological and environmental construction, and building homes wisely in a forest setting.

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Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

NATURAL TREASURES

A class tours the 800-foot-long boardwalk through the Tupelo Swamp at the Spirit Creek Educational Forest in Richmond County - Augusta, Georgia.

Students build a model log house at the Hightower
Educational Forest in Dawson
County Dawsonville,
Georgia.

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

13

HIGHTOWER
Educational Forest
Dawson County - Dawsonville, GA Opened 1994
4500 Hwy 53 East Dawsonville, GA 30534 Phone: 706-216-6073 Open: Mon- Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Located approximately 3 miles east of Dawsonville, GA on Highway 53. Access from the east can be obtained from GA 400 at the Hwy 53 intersection. Turn west toward Dawsonville and travel approximately 1.5 miles. Look for the Georgia Forestry Commission Unit sign on the left at the bottom of the hill.

SPIRIT CREEK
Educational Forest
Richmond County - Augusta, GA Opened January 2000
4052 Smokey Rd. Hephzibah, GA 30815 Phone: 706-790-2351 Open: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Located in South Augusta/Richmond County, south of Tobacco Rd. From Highway 25, take Brown Rd to McDade Rd. Turn left on Smokey Rd. The Forest entrance will be on your right. From Highway 56, take Old Waynesboro Rd to McDade Rd. Follow it to Smokey Rd on right. The Forest entrance will be on your right.

Norma Rainwater (left) helps a student with a soil test exercise during a class field trip to Hightower.
"Hightower has a variety of areas for educational experiences - a mountain ridge, open field, lush stream areas, the Etowah River, and a fertile floodplain. Even though it is the smallest in acreage of the three Forests, it has a lot to offer to groups that visit."
"Future plans are to include an educational center to enhance outdoor experiences at the Forest. Demonstration areas will develop as trees mature. Commercial development is rapidly expanding in our area, and Hightower will offer a green oasis within a short drive of many schools."

Cathy Black (center) shows wooden bridge at Spirit Creek to city and state representatives.
"The most interesting feature of the Forest is the 800-foot long boardwalk through the Tupelo Swamp. As the seasons change, so does the face of the swamp. Right now it is in its wet season with almost full sunlight reflecting through the Forest. This summer and fall the swamp will dry up, the ferns will cover the forest floor and the leaves will completely shade the area making it feel as if you are stepping into another world."
"Right now we are trying to raise funds to build an educational pavilion, where we can hold activities and have bathroom facilities."

Norma Rainwater Interpretive Education Coordinator
14

Cathy Black Senior Forester
Georgia Forestry

Spring 2001

BARTRAM
Educational Forest
Baldwin & Wilkinson Counties - Milledgeville, GA Opened January 2000
2892 Hwy 441 South Milledgeville, GA 31061 Phone: 478-445-2119 Open: Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Located approximately 4 miles south of Milledgeville off Hwy 441. Turn on Carl Vinson Road next to Midway Elementary School. Look for Bartram Forest sign on right.

John Gormly (center) and other instructors help students with identification of leaves and other artifacts found at Bartram.

"The most interesting aspect of Bartram Forest is the seed-tree orchards. The trees in the orchards have been carefully selected to produce seeds which grow southern pines that have good form, rapid growth, and resistance to the fusiform rust disease. The orchards demonstrate the importance of genetics in the southern forest."
"The most interesting development in Bartram Forest will be to identify the major historical events and locations related to the property and mark them with historical markers. The historical sites which are part of the Forest include the Lower Creek Trail, the path of DeSoto, the path of William Bartram, the Civilian Conservation Corps plantings, the areas farmed by the patients from Central State Hospital."
John Gormly Interpretive Education Coordinator

Spring 2001

Georgia Forestry

All of the Forests offer a variety of programs (youth programs, adult programs, workshops, tours) which are taught by instructors knowledgeable about the Forest and Georgia's natural resources.
Students are guided in their investigation of the environment using grade specific hands-on activities correlated to Georgia's Department of Education Quality Core Curriculum.
These activities help the students understand their role in nature, their effect on it, and it's affect on our lifestyles. Classes are divided into different subject areas which include: forest growth, forest management, forest ecology, forest health, utilization, and fire protection.
Some of the Forests feature: public fishing areas ponds pavilions picnic tables "Talking Tree" trails outdoor classrooms wetland sites and trails forest management demonstration
sites outdoor amphitheaters air quality monitoring stations forest diorama exhibits self-guided trails arboretums soil investigation studies experimental wooden bridge agricultural crops prescribed burning demonstrations
Bob Lazenby, Deputy Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, says students of all ages have an important lesson to learn at these Forests. "We want people to see that a working forest can be used to grow timber, to have wildlife and all the other great things a forest has - and it can be done forever if we are good stewards."
Funds to help improve and complete an educational building at each Forest can be donated by contacting Conservation Education Coordinator Deborah Breedlove, at 1-800-GA TREES.
15

GOAL

A Unified and Effective Approach to Okefenokee Fire Protection

G OAL (Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners) is a unique and outstanding example of federal, multi-state, and private co-operation for fire protection.
The mission of GOAL is to serve as a unified team managing, protecting, and promoting forest resources in and around the Okefenokee Swamp through a stewardship ethic sustaining these resources for future generations.
The organization's mission is based on a number of vital factors including: The Okefenokee Swamp is classified as a "National Treasure" economically and biologically beneficial to local communities and the states of Georgia and Florida; major industries in the area are based on forest resources; the essential need to have a coordinating committee for fire protection of public and private resources in the area; and establishment of formal organization of landowners providing communications and effective methods of dealing with forestry-related issues.

cost effective manner was a primary motivation in developing GOAL.
Those involved in GOAL development, such as Skippy Reeves of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; Bill Oettmier, Jr. of Superior Pine Products Company; and Joe Hopkins of Toledo Manufacturing, envisioned a sort of formal unification of landowners capable of dealing with issues related to forest management and wildlife resources. In September 1994, a steering committee met at Toledo Manufacturing in Folkston, Georgia to determine if a formal organization of landowners would be supported. Key landowner representatives attended the meeting for various organizations, including the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Union Camp, Rayonier, Champion International, Superior Pine, Jefferson Smurfit, Toledo Manufacturing, Florida Division of Forestry, and the Georgia Forestry Commission.

INSTANT RECALL Etched in the collective memory of this forestry gathering was the 1989 Shorts Fire that stretched the firefighting resources of state agencies, federal agencies, private landowners, and industries. An even more recent memory was the severe 1993 Gnatcatcher Fire that prompted efforts to increase communications and coordinate all firefighting efforts. In the aftermath of the Gnatcatcher Fire, informal meetings occurred in attempt to develop some sort of organization.
In the 1994 meeting, it became apparent that a number of issues existed that could be effectively dealt with by a group, such as those attending; this was the real beginning of GOAL.
The vision of this group was to establish an organization of landowners to address land management and firefighting issues

SOLID DEVELOPMENT GOAL and its effectiveness in dealing with a variety of challenges was not an overnight phenomenon. The organization developed in stages through a unified effort.

Fire has always been an influence and threat in the Okefenokee Swamp area. Every year, wildfires burn countless acres of valuable commercial timberland; these same type fires, however, create significant benefits for the Okefenokee Swamp. Balancing this paradox in an efficient and

Aerial photo of fire in Okefenokee Swamp interior shows devastating potential. GOAL sends firefighters into such areas to prevent fire from reaching swamp edges.

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Saint George Okefenokee Fire (1998) caused this extensive damage when the blaze escaped swamp area. GOAL is designed to prevent such damage.

of special concern to Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida. A steering committee was formed for organization purposes and to set priorities. Gary Howell of Champion International was selected chairman of the steering committee; Jim Kaufman with Jefferson Smurfit was named as co-chair.
General meetings for all landowners were set for spring and fall of each year. Steering Committee meetings were held between landowner meetings to plan agendas. During this stage of development, the organization adopted the name GOAL.
There are currently more than 30 individuals representing the following landowners and land managers for more than two million acres in South Georgia and North Florida: the Langdale Company, International Paper, Stone/Container Corporation, Georgia Pacific, Little

Suwannee Lumber Company, Osceola National Forest, DuPont, F & W Forestry, Toledo Manufacturing Company, Superior Pine Products Company, Champion International Corporation, Rayonier, Florida Division of Forestry, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Natural Resource Planning Services, Georgia Forestry Commission, and numerous private landowners.
GROWTH AND INTERESTS As GOAL has grown in membership, so has the agenda of interest. Topics of Goal meetings included: wildfire preparedness presentations, fire related issues (such as swamp's edge break), presentations by directors of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Florida Division of Forestry, resource list of equipment and personnel, communications (such as radio frequencies coordinated between states), conservation fund, helicopter dip sites,

perimeter road, wild hog concerns, Okefenokee sill, and black bear studies.
Selected as priorities among the variety of GOAL topics, a number of objectives have been accomplished by the organization. These include: Development of helicopter dip-sites throughout the area, GPA/GIS mappings, and installation of signs on roads leading to the swamp-edge firebreak. The development and maintenance of the 200-mile swamp firebreak surrounding the area is one of GOAL's most impressive accomplishments.
GOAL continues to offer an increasing and excellent opportunity for landowners to share concerns and solve problems. The vital impact of daily decisions provided by this organization is expected to establish and sustain a valuable forestry future for the Okefenokee area.

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Traditional Industries Program Focuses on Pulp and Paper

The International Paper Augusta Mill operates three paper-board machines producing primarily SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) manufactured at speeds up to 1,750 feet per minute. The mill is a vital part of Georgia's pulp and paper industry that benefits from the TIP (Traditional Industries Program) research and development.

Worldwide Demand Increasing Rapidly

As worldwide demand for paper and paper products is projected to increase more than 50 percent in the next 15 years, Georgia's Traditional Industries Program (TIP) researchers are developing genetic engineering strategies to produce faster growing trees with superior wood quality. TIP is also conducting a variety of related pulp and paper research projects, including efforts to eliminate the need for pesticides that harm the environment.
TIP is a partnership of state government, Georgia's University System, and the state's traditional industries pulp and paper, food processing, and textiles/carpet. The program conducts research to improve competitive qualities of the three indus-

tries that collectively employ almost half of Georgia's manufacturing workers.
Research benefits for the pulp and paper industry are especially significant due to the rapidly increasing demands for products. TIP leads Georgia's research in this area with representatives from more than 30 pulp and paper mills and suppliers in the state. The organizational structure includes a Coordinating Committee and two Technical Committees (Manufacturing Processes and Fiber Supply).
The Coordinating Committee determines the program's strategic direction, oversees project selection processes and makes

recommendations to the Governor for project funding.
TIP's industry leaders, including key representatives of pulp and paper, meet regularly to determine priorities and monitor progress of various projects. Projects are required to address issues of competitiveness that impact a significant number of Georgia Industries. Projects are funded from one year to three years maximum (July 1 through June 30).
GEORGIA SERVES GLOBAL MARKET Georgia is home to 27 pulp and/or paper mills producing more pulp and paperboard than any state except Alabama. A number of corporate and divisional headquarters of pulp and

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paper companies are located in Georgia. The state's pulp and paper mills ship $9 billion in pulp and paperboard products worldwide, and employ 34,000 Georgians on an annual payroll of $2 billion.
With 24 million acres of commercial forests, Georgia leads the nation in total commercial forest acreage. Increasing market demand for pulp and paper products emphasizes the importance of strategic forest management to meet global product demands while maintaining the state's forest acreage.
Considering the massive output and worldwide demand related to Georgia's pulp and paper industry, it is not difficult to understand the need for research in a variety of areas to increase the competitive edge. Improving and sustaining optimum industry qualities through research is a vital factor in Georgia's economy and ecology. In relation to one TIP long-range research project, the Georgia Forestry Commission estimates that reducing tree harvest time by just one year will benefit the state's pulp and paper industry $500 million a year.
Research comes in many forms to meet the needs of the pulp and paper industry. Benefits are numerous and varied.
COMPOSTING WASTE Georgia's massive pulp and paper operations generate nearly 300,000 tons of solid waste every year with 70 percent of this waste sent to landfills around the state. TIP researchers developed a composting "recipe" that converts mixed paper mill waste into a "horticultural soil amendment, something good for the soil." Payback period for the initial equipment is less than two years. One Georgia county uses TIP's results to compost pulp waste and chicken manure at a landfill. The county hopes to create a consistent horticultural product from this waste.
ELIMINATING PINE DISEASES Since pine trees are the foundation of Georgia's pulp and paper
Spring 2001

industry, a primary TIP concern is pine disease eradication and control. Georgia's forestry industry is confronted with increasing competition from other parts of the world where trees can be grown faster and more efficiently.
To improve the competitive edge of Georgia's forests, TIP is developing forest biotechnology to increase productivity, improve wood quality, and reduce tree loss caused by disease. This is the first known attempt to create disease-resistant trees. The impressive TIP team involved with this project has already isolated 22 clones that are likely suspects in playing a role in fusform rust.
COUNTERACTING ODOR The odor that can be produced by pulp operations is well known, but there is hope. Case in point: odor reduction is becoming increasingly important to communities in the vicinity of kraft pulp mills. This problem, however, can get complicated; current technology to eliminate the odor generates another waste stream that requires additional treatment.
TIP researchers at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) looked into this and found a low cost way to use a kraft mill by-product to reduce odorous emissions. What makes this technology especially attractive to Georgia's kraft mills is its use of an existing mill by-product, green liquor dregs.
Reducing water usage, especially at pulp and paper mills in urban and coastal locations, continues to be a Georgia priority for industry. TIP research evaluated a number of recycling technologies to conserve freshwater. In one project, TIP researchers worked with three different mills to reduce and reuse freshwater in the industrial processes.
The TIP team from IPST and Valdosta State identified ways for all three mills to save up to $42,000 a year in freshwater costs - and $27,000 in wastewater treatment costs.
Georgia Forestry

Disposal of solid waste from the papermaking process is the second highest waste treatment cost for Georgia's $19+ billion pulp and paper industry. TIP researchers came up with a process that minimized landfill costs by converting sludge to energy that can be used in the papermaking process. Industry partners have conducted several successful pilot tests, with an estimated annual savings of $250,000 per mill.
TIP IN ACADEMIA TIP's world-class pulp and paper research supports several collaborative systems by the University System of Georgia and IPST. The largest academic center for pulp and paper research in the United States, IPST conducts studies for its 52 member companies as well as state and federal governments; ten IPST member companies have operations in Georgia. IPST had a faculty of 32 and an annual research and development budget of over $12 million. In 1989, IPST moved its operations from Appleton, Wisconsin to Atlanta, Georgia.
State funds from TIP support the $800,000 Center for Printability at Georgia Southern University. Since 1994, more than 100 students have graduated from the University Printing Management Program. Students complete Center courses, then serve internships with printing companies throughout Georgia. Every year, Georgia Southern students find employment with the state's pulp, paper, and printing industries.
TIP FUTURE TIP is a unique organization recognizing fiber supply concerns of Georgia's wood-using industries. Through meaningful research addressing real-world problems, TIP is expected to become an increasingly positive influence in Georgia's forestry industry. Ultimately, TIP translates into sustaining a global market for Georgia's forest products and wood fiber within an ecologically responsible context.
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strap, that he used for turkey hunting. In the background, Charlie is shown in camouflage with some printed advice on turkey hunting.

The museum also includes an exact replica of Charlie's den with books, bearskin rugs, and hunting trophies on the wall. A few steps away, birdwatching binocular stands are available.

The Charlie Elliot Visitor Center is conveniently located on the 6,400 acre tract located within an hour's drive of 39 percent of Georgia's population.

In developing the museum, Curator Alesia Rast spent so much time interviewing Elliot that he told her: "You probably know me better than I know myself." During this time, she accumulated six filing cabinets of material, which she is cataloging. Development of the museum will be a continuing project for a long, long time.

continued from page 11
MUSEUM Even considering all outdoor attractions, the Charlie Elliot Museum will be considered by many to be the highlight of the Center. Located in the Visitor Center, the museum allows the visitor to enter a time warp and experience Elliot's life and times through a collection of books, photographs, hunting displays, fishing exhibits, and other memorabilia.
Alesia Rast, Museum Curator, has done an impressive job in coordinating historical accuracy with atmospheric appeal. The lighting and arrangement of interactive exhibits create a fascinating display that emphasizes more than half a century of Elliot's life when he advocated education as the first step of conservation and environmental responsibility.

Regardless of the quality of museum displays, Elliot had his own ideas about trying to bring the great outdoors indoors. Charlie Elliot, the old forester himself, said it like this: "We try in many ways to capture the miracles of existence and bring them inside four walls, but no shred of it can be manacled and chained and put in slavery to gratify our whims. The miracle of the outdoors remains boundless and free."
For further information on the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center call (707) 784-3059.

Exhibits are varied with rare photos of Elliot during various stages of his life. One exhibit even includes Charlie's old Winchester (model 12) pump shotgun, complete with carrying

The Charlie Elliot Shooting Range is another of the Elliot
Center's many attractions.

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How do you tell the difference between a venomous (poisonous) snake and a non-venomous one? Snakes with fangs are poisonous and should be avoided. If you are bitten by one, remember to stay calm and get to the nearest hospital quickly. The probability of dying in a car accident far exceeds the chance of ever being bitten by a venomous snake, and out of the several thousand people who are bitten each year in the U.S., fewer than 10 actually result in death. Below are the most common venomous and non-venomous snakes found in Georgia according to J. Whitfield Gibbons (Senior Research Scientist and Head of Environmental Outreach Program) at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.

VENOMOUS
DANGER
(Poisonous)

NON-VENOMOUS
(Harmless)

#1. Copperhead

#1. Rat Snake

DANGER

Copperheads have dark "hourglass" shaped bands (wide on side and narrow in middle).
#2. Canebrake/Timber Rattlesnake

Shown above: The Coastal form of the "Rat Snake," Northern: "Black Snake," and Southern: "Gray Snake"
#2. Ringneck Snake

DANGER

Coastal form

Mountain form

Canebrake and Timber rattlesnakes have dark V-shaped crossbands.

Often with rust-colored stripe down back.

#3. Pigmy Rattler

Black or slate gray back with yellow or golden collar and yellow belly, often with large black half-moon spots.
#3. Racer

DANGER

Adult Pigmy Rattlesnakes Newborn Pigmy Rattlesnakes Pigmy snakes have dark blotches on sides and top, often with stripe down center of back and very small rattlers.

The Racer is long and slender with black also on belly, often with white chin.

This information is from the brochure "Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina" by the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Ordering information can be found on the SREL website at: www.uga.edu/srel/snakeorder.htm. (Photos by: David E. Scott, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory)

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CANOPY

Levels of a Forest
Just as an apartment is made of many floors, the forest is made of many different levels or layers. The bottom layer is called the "Forest Floor." The next layer is the "Mid-Story," and the top layer
is called the "Canopy." A forest has different animals and plants that live on each level in the same way different people live on the various floors of an apartment building.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS CAN YOU FIND IN THIS PICTURE?
{ {------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MID-STORY

FLOOR

Answer: 24 animals! 4 squirrels, 2 deer, 1 fox, 1 rabbit, 2 ants, 1 grasshopper, 1 bumble bee, 1 butterfly, 1 eagle, 4 hawks (1 adult + 3 babies in eggs), 1 woodpecker, 1 owl, 2 songbirds, and 1 bird catching 1 worm.

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Book Review
MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE TREES by Thomas Parkenham, 192 pages, illustrations, gazeteer, map, bibliography, index. Random House, Inc., New York, NY 10022. Paperback $24.95. ISBN 0-75268-4

M EETINGS WITH REMARKABLE TREES is a remarkable book even though it will not help you identify trees or cultivate them. However, limited to only 60 individual or groups of trees, it can give the reader a new perspective of appreciation for this collection of mostly large and ancient specimens that author Thomas Parkenham has bestowed with historical personalities.
How did Parkenham select his Big 60 Specimens? The process relates very little to conventional forestry or botany. "I found these sixty trees remarkable in age, size, form, historical interest, or the use to which they were put," Parkenham says. "I have chosen them as an anthologist would cull his literary flowers or an architectural writer would choose his thousand best buildings. I set myself only two rules. All trees have to be alive or dead on their feet in Britain or Ireland."
Although the book concerns tree specimens abroad, the text could serve as a role model for future books concerning the continental United States, regions, states, counties, cities, etc. Selection and classification would be limited only by the author's imagination.
In addition to Parkenham's basic two rules of selection, the trees also had to be photogenic. Being a coffee table book of the highest quality, this requirement was essential. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words, and these photos are prime examples; they have to be seen to be appreciated.
Parkenham's tree pilgrimage transported him on a winding journey throughout Britain and Ireland. The trees became editorially grouped according to their personalities: Native, Travellers, Shrines, Fantasies, and Survivors. A detailed map is included to show the exact locations of the "personalities." The elite selection ranges from the cavernous Bowthorpe Oak in Linconshire, to three ancient Scots pines in Rothiemurchus (remnants of the Caledonian Forest).

In the Travellers section, among the exotics, trees from North America are dominant. These are the new champions of British and Irish woodlands, replacing those that were brought from Europe hundreds of years ago. The tallest Douglas fir, a 212 foot tall specimen at the Hermitage, Dunkeld, is the tallest tree recorded in these islands; given time and good fortune, it may exceed 300 feet the height it has reached in its Oregon homeland.
Parkenham's tree selections are often preceded by quotes such as: " By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon willows in the midst thereof." (Psalm 137). This quote appropriately introduces the "Willow Pattern At Hyde Park" section that unfolds a characteristically tangled history of the modern weeping willow. This is a good example of Parkenham's meticulous research, which makes the copy in this book as interesting as the pictures.
Others in the gallery include a 600-year-old king oak that looms over Charleville Ireland; another is the yew tree that in a poet's words was identified as the "pride of Lorton's vale." There's even a good-old U.S. sequoia, transported from the United States in 1851 and planted in the Herfordshire grove where it still remains in good health.
Some of the trees are flourishing examples of ecological vitality, while others are corpse-like remnants of an ancient past defying nature by stubbornly refusing to topple over. All, however, have that certain presence that Parkenham sought and translated into individual personalities.
Thomas Parkenham has already been critically acclaimed for previous books such as The Scramble for Africa, which won the W.H. Smith Award and the Alan Paton Award. He is also the author of the Boer War and The Year of Liberty. He lives in County Westmeath Ireland, and is chairman of the Irish Tree Society. He plants trees for both profit and ornament.

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1988 - Bruce Lyndon Cunningham Nacogdoches, TX - USA

N AT I V E T R E E S O F G E O R G I A

Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides Walt.)

DESCRIPTION: Leaves deciduous in autumn, 4 to 12 inches long, heartshaped, with smooth margins; light green and smooth on the upper surface, pale and hairy below. Fruit a slender, cylindrical pod, 10 to 12 inches long, containing a number of small, winged seeds. Bark light brown tinged with red and separating on the surface into large, thin, irregular scales. A tree rarely 50 feet high with a short trunk 1 to 2 feet in diameter, terminating in a broad head.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: Leaves large (4 to 12 inches long) heartshaped; fruit a slender, cylindrical pod, 10 to 12 inches long.
WOOD: Not strong, coarse-grained, in contact with the soil, light brown. Heartwood durable.
USES: Highly valued for fence posts; the leaves are attacked by a large, black caterpillar, which is a favorite bait of fishermen.
DISTRIBUTION: Found along streams and gullies throughout the state, but originally native only to the southwestern part.

J. Frederick Allen Director

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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