GFC eUpdate, 2017 September 21

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GFC eUpdate

Contents
GFC Director Passes the Baton
Forest Management Acorns
Forest Protection Updates
Forest Utilization Updates
Reforestation Matters
Upcoming Events
Successful Approaches to Recycling Urban Wood Waste for Municipalities
09/25/17 Tucker, GA
Prescribed Fire Certification Class
10/04 - 10/05/17 Rome, GA
Walk in the Forest for Girl and Boy Scouts
10/21/17 Stone Mountain, GA
Issues and Threats in Tree and Forest Health Care 11/07 - 11/08/17 Athens, GA
Georgia Urban Forest Council Annual Conference 11/08 - 11/09/17
Pine Mountain, GA
Prescribed Fire Certification Class
12/05 -12/0/17 Waycross, GA
GA Arborist Association Winter
Workshop 12/14/17
Lawrenceville, GA

Williams Appointed GFC Director
Governor Nathan Deal has named Chuck Williams as director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, succeeding Robert Farris, who retired in May. Williams took the helm on September 1, and will relinquish his role as Representative for the 119th District in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he's served since 2011. Williams is a forest landowner who has held numerous leadership positions, including legislative committees for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and Natural Resources and Environment. Williams has served on the GFC Board of Directors and been instrumental in the work of the Georgia Forestry Association, UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. He was named Tree Farmer of the Year in 2005 in recognition of his passion for forestry and stewardship of the land. He has experience in banking and financial services and earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from UGA. Williams and his wife, Beth, live in Oconee County.
Forest Management Acorns
GFC's Water Quality team has completed about 80 percent of the field work for the biennial Forestry BMP Survey, with a final report expected by year's end. This "report card" shows how the forestry community is doing with following Forestry BMPs to protect water resources during forestry operations of all types, from site prep and planting to firebreaks, burning, and harvesting in all ownership categories. Our early hunch is there's been some improvement since the 2015 survey. In addition, we've been presenting education sessions about BMP's, working on rehabilitation plans for forestland damaged in the West Mims fires, and creating an outreach campaign with several partners to communicate the vital connection between forestland and clean water. Much of this will be shared with our neighboring colleagues when GFC hosts the Southern Group of State Foresters Water Resources Committee at a meeting in January 2018.
Georgia's forestland and urban tree canopy were left in reasonably good condition following Hurricane and Tropical Storm Irma. Surveys by GFC Forest Health specialists show damage in the light to moderate range, statewide. With light damage, additional management activities are not necessary to ensure good health of the stand, while the advice of a professional forester is recommended for stands with any damage. (See http://bit.ly/2xbRfM1 to learn more about the evaluation of stands impacted by strong winds.) Georgia's urban tree canopy fared well also. Damage from downed trees and branches was scattered, though some of those issues were compounded when power poles and lines were impacted by falling debris. St. Simons Island and Brunswick were particularly hard hit. Along the coastline, urban foresters will be watching for possible damaging effects of "salt crusting," left behind by salt water spray, in addition to flooding caused by the storm surge.

A research project between GFC and the University of Georgia which promises to yield significant results is coming to a close. "Development of Landowner Recommendations Based on Monitoring of Existing Stands and Management Techniques" was made possible by a 2013 grant from the US Forest Service. Its goal has been to collect data from across the state, so that guidelines for longleaf management could be established. During this study, old- field sites planted in longleaf prior to 2002 were sampled by GFC Forest Inventory Analysis Foresters and assessed for tree form, quality, stocking, and understory. Management files and landowner interviews were also used to determine tree spacing, site preparation and mid-management activities in order to draw parallels between what was observed in the field and its previous management. The need to examine longleaf quality in old fields was predicated by massive conversions from old fields to longleaf, using the Conservation Reserve Program as a vehicle for funding. Programs such as these are instrumental in protecting water and soil quality as well as creating viable and diverse wildlife habitat. GFC Forestry Inventory Analysis foresters visited and sampled more than 200 stands on 700+ plots to gather data, county foresters provided past management data, and landowners were gracious in cooperating with the work. We deeply appreciate everyone's commitment to this project, and over the next year will share results through public workshops, publications and internal GFC training.

Forest Protection Updates
GFC personnel have been busy the last few months assisting with hurricane damage and wildfire suppression. GFC provided numerous support vehicles and 120 personnel for Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irma response, including chainsaw crews, food and supply deliveries, Atlanta State Operations Center staffing and FEMA/GEMA Logistics staging in Forsyth. A total of 77 personnel were deployed to western fire assignments in 10 states. In anticipation of high winds and to allow for emergency response in Georgia, burn permits were briefly suspended from Sept. 9-14, though some coastal and metro Atlanta counties with power outages and ongoing emergency operations remain under the ban. The patience and understanding of all Georgians is appreciated as we weather Irma's fallout together.
Forest Markets and Utilization
How much do you know about Mass Timber? It's a very hot topic in the Pacific Northwest and other parts of the world, and now it's coming to Georgia. Join the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Foundation and WoodWorks for the Southeast Mass Timber Symposium on Tues., Sept. 26 from 8:30am-4:40pm at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center. You'll learn about the design and construction of mass timber structures, its fire design, and how progressive designers are looking to timber as a low-carbon alternative to traditional construction materials. In addition, the potential impact of mass timber on the southeast economy will be examined. A number of industry leaders will make presentations throughout the day and a special panel discussion will cover the implications of this emerging industry on forest landowners in Georgia. Registration information can be found here: http://bit.ly/2iC1dQJ.
Reforestation Matters
It's time to order seedlings for the 2017-2018 planting season! A wide variety of GFC pine and hardwood seedlings are being offered, including a new variety of slash pine. Premium Plus Slash is an improvement over its combined predecessors and provides superior pitch canker resistance and 32% more volume gain per acre. Prices for other pine varieties remain unchanged from last year. To order, visit GaTrees.org, call the Flint River Nursery at 478-5080056, or stop by your local GFC county unit were you can set up free delivery to the unit and get questions answered by a GFC professional.
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