Forestry Notes

In November 2021, the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District (ASWCD) in Alaska was re-established with a renewed focus on addressing local environmental challenges. The district has swiftly expanded its team, with four experienced employees specializing in natural resource management. Current initiatives include the Invasive Species Program, Urban Agriculture Program, and Native Plants Program, along…… Continue reading →

Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) may be putting the town of Southport, Indiana back on the map through conservation efforts that include replanting acres of bottomland. “This is great for forest management and forest restoration education,” Owen County SWCD Executive Director Devin Brown said. “There are several different types of plantings to…… Continue reading →

With Nebraska Forest Service reporting an 18 percent average loss in tree canopy across communities in the state, the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (NRD) is reaching out to landowners and partnering with other agencies to replant its lost trees. “It’s hard to identify a single cause. I’d call it a chronic problem,” Upper…… Continue reading →

Beattra Wilson is Assistant Director for Cooperative Forestry within the U.S. Forest Service. As national lead for the agency’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, Wilson oversees program policy, budget, partnership development and strategic and equitable delivery of federal and state urban forestry programs. She has built a career administering conservation cooperative assistance programs at regional…… Continue reading →

The Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is sharing the world of conservation and urban agriculture with at-risk students in Ohio through a $44,000 NACD Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) grant. Initially, the grant was secured with the plans to conduct monthly hands-on educational visits to seven Head Start classes this spring, as well as…… Continue reading →

Terry Baker joined the Society of American Foresters (SAF) as chief executive officer in September of 2018. Hailing from Marianna, Fla., he has worked in seven states for the U.S. Forest Service. Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Florida in 2004 and a master of forestry degree at Yale University…… Continue reading →

The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is working with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and the U.S. Forest Service to manage invasive species through Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). The district has five shovel-ready projects identified and hopes to begin prioritizing efforts in May, Madison County SWCD Director…… Continue reading →

Forester Nia Becker (pictured below) with the Clare Conservation District (CD) in Harrison, Mich., is using her expertise in cultivating mushrooms to increase landowner interest in land management and district programs in Michigan. Earlier this year, Becker presented “The Magic of Mushrooms: Engaging Landowners with Their Passions” at the American Forest Foundation (AFF) National Leadership…… Continue reading →

G. Michael Zupko is the executive director of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC), an intergovernmental committee of federal, state, tribal and local officials convened by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense and Homeland Security dedicated to consistent implementation of wildland fire policies, goals and management activities. Prior to this position, he advised the Southern…… Continue reading →

Maine’s Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is working with Universities of Maine in Presque Isle and Fort Kent to combat neonectria and repopulate forest beech trees. “Beech trees play such an important part in Maine's forest ecosystem,” Central Aroostook SWCD Executive Director Randy Martin said. “Aside from the fact that it is a…… Continue reading →