GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Volume 10, Issue 3 May | June 2014
PUTTING TREE MULCHERS TO WORK for wildlife habitat
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May | June 2014
Georgia Forestry Today
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On the Cover:
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Printed in the USA PUBLISHER: A4 Inc. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alva Hopkins ahopkins@a4inc.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com
NR uses many different methods to manage wildlife habitat on the state’s wildlife management areas. Recently a new tool has gained popularity in improving areas for wildlife. at tool is the tree mulcher. See story on page 8
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EDITORIAL BOARD Wendy Burnett Alva Hopkins Jesse Johnson Stasia Kelly Sandi Martin Roland Petersen-Frey Brian Stone Steve McWilliams
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY is published bi-monthly by A4 Inc., 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115. Recipients include participants of the Forest Stewardship Program and the American Tree Farm System. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, A4 Inc., nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to A4 Inc. at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to A4 Inc. at the e-mail address: p.frey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to A4 Inc. or to Alva Hopkins. GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115
May | June 2014
Volume 10, Issue 3
May | June 2014
Georgia
FORESTRY TODAY P.08
P.11
Putting Tree Mulchers to Work for Wildlife Habitat Managing the Transition under OSHA’s Updated Hazard Communication Standard
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Message from the Georgia Forestry Commission Director
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GFC News
P.15
Service on Ice: How GFC Answered Georgia’s Winter Weather Call
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P.20
Landowner Liability for Dead or Decaying Trees GFA Advocacy Update
P.22
Tips for Hiring a Fishing Guide
P.26
Georgia Forestry Today News
P.28
UGA Professor Wins Highest Award from Arbor Day Foundation
Forestry Calendar June 3-6 2014 National Conference of Private Forest Landowners | Ritz-Carlton | New Orleans, Louisiana | Info and Registration: www.forestlandowners.com If you have a forestry event you’d like to see on our calendar, please contact Alva Hopkins at ahopkins@a4inc. com with the subject line ‘Calendar Event.’
June 5 Log A Load for Kids Golf Tournament Jekyll Island Golf Club | Jekyll Island, GA Info and Registration: www.gfagrow.org
June 16-20 Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Info and Registration: www.gfagrow.org
June 21-24 Association of Consulting Foresters National Conference | Savannah, Georgia | Info: www.acf-foresters.org
July 17-19 2014 National Tree Farmer Convention Pittsburg, Pennsylvania | Info: www.treefarmsystem.org
June 19-20 2014 GFA Annual Conference & Forestry Expo Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Info: www.gfagrow.org
September 16-18 2014 SFI Annual Conference Montreal, Canada Georgia Forestry Today
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May | June 2014
List of advertisers Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ..........................6
International Forest Company .......................................4
American Forest Management......................................30
LandMark Spatial Solutions ...........................................3
Beach Timber Company Inc. .......................................30
Lanigan & Associates ...................................................20
Blanton’s ........................................................................7 Bodenhamer Farms & Nursery ....................................25 Canal Wood LLC.........................................................30
Meeks’ Farms & Nursery ....................Inside Front Cover Morbark.......................................................................30 Outdoor Underwriters .................................................25
Cantrell Forest Products Inc.........................................30 Davis - Garvin .............................................................24 Farm Credit Associations ...............................................3 Flint Equipment Company ..........................................29
Plum Creek....................................................................5 Rivers Edge Forest Products .........................................30 SuperTree Seedlings .......................................................6
Forest Resource Services Inc.........................................30
UPC | Georgia 811 ........................................Back Cover
F&W Forestry Service..................................................12
Weyerhaeuser ...............................................................28
HEI .............................................................................30
Yancey Brothers ...................................Inside Back Cover
Georgia Forestry Today
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Putting Tree Mulchers to Work
dNr UsiNg two types of MUlcher attachMeNts oN wMas 8
May | June 2014
By Matt Payne | Department of Natural Resources
t the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, we use many different methods to manage wildlife habitat on the state’s wildlife management areas. Harvesting timber, prescribed fire, seasonal disking, and herbicide application are only a few those techniques. Yet, recently a new tool has gained popularity in improving areas for wildlife. That tool is the tree mulcher.
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Tree mulcher is a generic name describing a variety of different attachments for cutting and mulching brush and small trees. Other names you may hear are forestry cutter, tree mower, and brush mower. The DNR Forest Management Unit, part of the agency’s Wildlife Resources Division, has two different types of tree mulcher attachments, both of which are mounted to a skid steer. One attachment has a cylindrical rotary head with cutting and grinding
knives attached to the rotor. The distribution of the knives, in a chevron pattern, directs the debris to the center of the rotor for grinding. This cylindrical attachment is used in areas containing smaller woody stems, such as small and large bushes, and unwanted herbaceous plants. The second attachment relies on a cutting disk, much like you find on a feller buncher. The disk has been modified by adding grinding teeth on the top and bottom of the cutting disk. This disk attachment is
hed: deal honors companies as forestry for wildlife partners
Plum Creek, Georgia Power, and CatchMark Timber Trust were honored by Gov. Deal as 2013 partners in Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, a program administered by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Forestry for Wildlife Partnership is a voluntary program that promotes sustainable forest and wildlife conser-
vation in corporate forestry practices. Partners select and tailor guidelines to improve management for reforestation, harvesting techniques, recreation, sensitive sites, and outreach. According to DNR Commissioner Mark Williams, with more than 90 percent of Georgia forestland in private ownership, successful wildlife
management requires conservation leadership in the state’s private and corporate sector. “Our 2013 Forestry for Wildlife partners have shown such leadership, improving one million acres for wildlife in our state,” Williams said. Learn more at www.georgiawildlife. com/ FWP.
Gov. Nathan Deal recently recognized three corporate forest landowners for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting Georgia’s wildlife. Georgia Forestry Today
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more effective on tree-sized woody stems and large woody bushes. There are numerous situations conducive to tree mulchers. Removing exotic and invasive trees and plants, ‘daylighting’ and establishing wildlife openings along roads, and setting back succession are just three examples where the DNR has used tree mulchers to benefit wildlife. At Walton Public Dove Field WMA near Social Circle, the tree mulcher has been used to remove Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). The privet has been growing in the understory of both hardwood and pine stands across the WMA, and very little sunlight is reaching the forest floor. That means few plants beneficial to wildlife are found in these stands. Staff used the tree mulcher last fall to remove the unwanted privet. As new growth emerges from the cut stumps and root suckers this spring, herbicide will be sprayed to kill the privet. Walton Public Dove Field WMA allows deer hunting only by archery. The privet, which is semi-evergreen to evergreen, was so thick and tall in many spots that hunters avoided these areas because of reduced visibility through the woods. Bow hunters should now have a better chance of harvesting a deer on the WMA thanks to the increase in the number of huntable acres. The tree mulcher is also being used to help more daylight reach WMA roads and establish wildlife plantings. The encroachment of trees along roadsides extends the amount of time required for the road to dry. Wet roads are usually gated to restrict public access due to the monetary cost of
repairing the road if driven on while wet. Trees along the roadside are felled, then mulched with the tree mulcher. The mulch also helps stabilize the newly exposed soil. Approximately a year to 18 months after the area has been mulched and sprayed with herbicide, a harrow can be used in the new linear opening. To maintain these openings, DNR staff will rotationally mow or disc them every two to three years. Mowing or disking will increase plant diversity, which should increase the attractiveness of the area to different species of wildlife. Maintaining native plants in these liner openings will provide an additional source of food, nesting area, and cover for many species of wildlife, including songbirds. Another common use for tree mulchers is to set succession back to a desirable stage. There are areas within the WMA system that DNR wishes to maintain in an early successional stage. Prescribed fire is the most common tool used. But in some cases, prescribed fire alone does not fully accomplish the goal because of the understory of dense thickets of undesirable plant species within the stand. These thickets do not carry fire well, so the plant species within them are not killed back by the fire. The tree mulcher is deployed to
these areas to accomplish what the fire couldn’t. The unwanted plant species within the thickets are cut and mulched. These newly mulched areas are more capable of carrying a fire; thus, future use of prescribed fires should better control the unwanted plant species. Another positive aspect is that desirable trees surrounding the thickets are not negatively impacted by the mulching. This is very importance because damage to the overstory trees could increase the likelihood of an insect or disease infestation within the stand. Using the tree mulcher in these type situations has helped species such as Bachman’s sparrow and other early successional species. Tried and true wildlife management techniques will always be the standard for habitat managers. Yet, the search to find new, effective ways to aid in enhancing habitat is an ongoing endeavor. Using a tree mulcher, attached to a skid steer, is one of those newer tools, and one that has proven helpful to many wildlife species on Georgia WMAs. Matt Payne is program manager of the DNR Wildlife Resources Division Forest Management Unit. v
A tree mulcher clears swaths of underbrush at Richmond Hill WMA in southeastern Georgia. The DNR is using the mulcher here to help with a tree harvest and remove unwanted vegetation. (Credit: Ga. DNR) 10
May | June 2014
Managing the transition under osHa’s Updated Hazard Communication standard By Christopher J. Bowers | Stephen E. O’Day | Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
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orkers in the forestry industry often handle or work in proximity to fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle maintenance, and cleaning products, all of which may present a potential hazard due to human exposure to chemicals. Since the early 1980s, OSHA, the agency charged with enforcement of worker health and safety laws, has utilized ‘Material Safety Data Sheets’ as a principal means of satisfying employees’ ‘right to know’ about the hazards faced in the workplace under the Hazard Communication (‘HazCom’) Standard. Other elements of the HazCom standard include requirements that employers provide basic information concerning the various hazards, treatment, and mitigation measures, as well as proper handling and storage of chemicals in the workplace. Seeking to incorporate a more understandable and effective means of conveying hazard warnings for the benefit of employees, in 2012, OSHA announced substantial revisions to the HazCom standard, adopting the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (‘GHS’) within the amended HazCom standard. The new HazCom standard is commonly referred to as ‘OSHA 2012.’ By OSHA’s estimate, over 5 million workplaces and 43 million employees in the United States will be impacted by the newly revised OSHA 2012 standard by the summer of 2016, when it is fully implemented. features of the New warnings OSHA 2012 impacts chemical manufacturers and importers, as well as employers who use those chemicals in the workplace. In this regard, the revised standard features three major changes. First, the hazard defGeorgia Forestry Today
inition is amended to provide specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, in addition to classification of chemical mixtures, which is intended to improve consistency and accuracy across manufacturers and importers. Second, manufacturers and importers must employ warning labels utilizing a unified signal word, pictogram, hazard statement, and precautionary statement corresponding to each hazard class and category presented by the exposure risk at issue. Third, the new standard dispenses with the old ‘Material Safety Data Sheet’ (‘MSDS’) rubric in favor of a ‘Safety Data Sheet’ (‘SDS’) format. The revised SDS format features 16 sections harmonized with the international norms adopted by many other countries under the GHS, with particular emphasis on information of greatest concern to workers situated near the beginning of the warnings identification sections. relevance to the forestry industry The majority of the new obligations imposed under the revised HazCom standard falls on chemical manufacturers and im-
porters, who may be required to substantially revise the labels and SDS warnings accompanying products they produce and distribute in many instances, to comply with OSHA’s adoption of the GHS. For employers in the forestry industry, compliance obligations will largely entail identification of the new HazCom-compliant SDS warnings and labels as they are received from producers and distributors, and appropriate worker training so that employees are aware of and understand the potential hazards to which they may be exposed in the workplace. employer responsibilities Employers were required to train employees on the new label elements and SDS format by December 2013, with full compliance with the final rule due by June 1, 2016. The training requirement is featured early in the transition process, so that workers receive the benefit of appreciating and understanding the new warnings as soon as possible, since new SDSs and labels have already begun to ship from some producers and distributors. By June 1, 2016, employers should be fully compliant 11
2. Notify employees to stay on the lookout for new SDSs and labels when they come in and alert the lead transition point person as appropriate. 3. Implement a standard procedure for review of new SDSs and labels against prior MSDSs and labels for each product, to identify and catalogue any new hazards or changes. 4. Periodically monitor, document, and execute employee training. 5. Periodically update your HazCom program to account for issues identified in the steps above. 6. Update the SDS library for each product at the workplace. 7. Archive superseded MSDSs and labels as updated SDSs and labels come in, in accordance with your document retention policy and document retention requirements of applicable laws.
with the updated HazCom standard. This means that the employer’s HazCom program must be updated to account for the revised standard; employees must be trained on any revised or new hazards identified on the revised labels and SDSs; and the SDS libraries and secondary labels must be updated and organized for ease of use and accessibility. As new SDSs and revised labels come in, there will oftentimes be an overlap between the old MSDSs and the revised SDSs as well as labels for the same product. Bearing in mind that employers are required to update their HazCom program and ensure that employees are fully trained on the new label elements and warnings, a suggested approach to handle the overlap during the transition period is to put in place a process whereby new SDSs and labels are checked against the prior product warnings, in order to identify and catalogue any new or revised hazard warnings 12
that did not previously exist. Once identified, these new hazards can then be included in the updated HazCom program and employee training. Because compliance with the new training requirements was due last December, revisions to employers’ training programs should already be in place, and should be updated as new SDSs are received and utilized. If not managed efficiently, the transition to the new HazCom standard can present frustrating logistical challenges in dealing with the new SDSs and labels, as well as compliance uncertainties. The following is a suggested approach for employers to manage the transition to the new HazCom standard: 1. Designate a single point person to manage and administer the transition process. This will ensure uniformity of implementation and administration, as well as accountability.
Big changes are coming. However, with the right plan in place ahead of time, employers can help ensure that the transition to the new OSHA 2012 HazCom standard is a smooth and orderly one. v
May | June 2014
Georgia Forestry Commission
robert farris
Message from the Director Dear GFT Reader,
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wo words that are on our minds and mouths a lot here at the Georgia Forestry Commission are ‘customer service.’ In this day and age, those words get tossed around a good bit, and sadly, there are many instances out in the marketplace where customer service has become a meaningless slogan and not a true commitment. Not here. Despite challenging economic times during which we are all required to do more with less, it remains extremely gratifying to hear from Georgia landowners about the high level of customer service being delivered by our GFC professionals. Not a week goes by that I don’t receive email and letters thanking me for the professional service provided by our team members as they help with fire breaks, prescribed burns, field days, school programs, and forest management decisions, just to name a few. Another great moment happens when I pass those compliments along to the particular staff member named. I often hear them return the gratitude right back to the landowner! Our folks get to work with customers who are genuinely interested in the best way to enhance their forest land. The respect and professionalism that are delivered by all parties makes for successful outcomes, and that is what we’re all after, right? Even if you’re not in a position to take advantage of a GFC service at the moment, there are ways you can give back to the forestry community that will benefit our industry. Here are a few tangible steps
Georgia Forestry Today
you can take to support our sustainable forests, which we all count on to provide clean air, clean water, and a multitude of products for future generations. • BMP implementation – The most recent survey of Best Management Practices implementation on Georgia forestland showed modest declines in certain forestry practices. Those included Streamside Management Zones, Stream Crossings and Forest Roads. The eyes of every logger, landowner, forester and equipment operator are needed to reverse this occurrence. The GFC is increasing education opportunities to address this need. Classes are being scheduled around the state and online training is available as well. Take advantage of that and visit GaTrees.org to find out how. •
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Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) – The invasive insect discovered in metro Atlanta has necessitated restrictions on the movement of ash wood in certain areas. While DeKalb and Fulton Counties are the only areas currently under quarantine, everyone associated with the production of hardwood trees and wood should stay abreast of the situation. Visit GaTrees.org/Forest Health to read the regulations governing the movement of ash and to find out more about the EAB. Reforestation – The Georgia Forest Sustainability Report presented to the 2014 Georgia legislature confirms that forest growth currently exceeds removals by 41 percent
annually. With urbanization, divestitures, and positive agricultural crop returns continuing to impact ownership decisions, it is important that landowners keep a strong commitment to reforestation. By continuing to plant more than is harvested, Georgia can retain its position as a national forestry leader. Share your knowledge about how landowners can grow some green with trees. •
Education – Georgians of all ages need to hear our forestry story. With the growing demand for qualified applicants for forestry-related positions, it is our responsibility to do what we can to encourage young people to consider forestry careers. Are you involved with your local schools or Project Learning Tree? Are you able to make a presentation to a local service club or civic group? Are you sponsoring and promoting the forestry4Rfuture contest and program? The GFC has promotion materials to help you with that kind of outreach.
Those are just a few ideas to get you started; I’m sure you can think of many more! Thanks for your involvement, and please let us know how our customer service commitment can help you spread the good news about Georgia’s vibrant forestry industry! Sincerely, Robert Farris GFC Commissioner v 13
GFC News The Georgia Forestry Commission is planning increased opportunities for landowners to learn about Best Management Practices in Georgia. The recently released 2013 BMP Implementation Survey shows modest declines in certain categories, including Streamside Management Zones (SMZs), Stream Crossings and Forest Roads. The survey showed overall BMP implementation (across ten categories) in the state was 89.9 percent in 2013, compared to 95 percent in 2011. To learn more about upcoming education opportunities, including online tutorials, and a copy of the latest BMP Implementation Survey, visit gatrees.org and ‘Forest Management.’ e New rules that regulate the movement of ash wood from DeKalb and Fulton Counties have gone into effect. The regulations were implemented following the discovery of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in those counties last year. The pest has now been captured in 21 states. Limiting its human-caused movement is the only way to slow its spread because no effective suppression treatments for EAB are known. Regulated articles include ash logs, firewood, nursery stock, non-heat treated ash lumber, and any parts of ash trees. Movement of some of these articles is permissible with proper documentation and receiving authority, while others must stay within the quarantined zone. The US Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) classifies EAB as an ‘actionable pest,’ and is working with the GFC and Georgia Department of Agriculture to arrest its sweep through rural and urban forests. Visit GaTrees.org/forest-management/forest-health for a detailed explanation of the new regulations. e Jeff Fields has been named reforestation chief for the Georgia Forestry Commission. Fields has served as the Flint River nursery coordinator since joining GFC in 1999. Among other positions, Fields has worked for the USDA Forest Service as a forestry technician and in tree improvement for the NC Division of Forest Resources. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia and lives in Cordele. e Are you prescribed fire-certified? Prescribed fire training delivers valuable information related to weather, wildland fuels, and topography, and how they interact when using various firing techniques. To learn more about the predictability of fire behavior and to meet prescribed fire certification requirements in Georgia, sign up for a class offered throughout the year by the GFC. The schedule can be found at GaTrees.org under the ‘Forest Fire’ tab.e 14
May | June 2014
By stasia Kelly GFC Urban Forestry Strike Team members plot removal of Waynesboro’s ice-damaged trees. Pictured L to R: Mark McClellan, Joe Burgess, Ben Tucker, and Joan Scales.
service on ice: How GfC answered Georgia’s Winter Weather Call aturday, February 8th wasn’t the beginning of just an ordinary weekend at the Upson County home of Kay and Neal Edmondson. e Weather Channel was hinting that the makings of an ice storm were targeting Georgia, and Edmondson’s cell phone began to buzz. Another trip away from home was in the offing. “Kay’s pretty used to it,” said Neal Edmondson, Prescribed Burn Coordinator for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “In 20 years of marriage, with jobs in the National Guard and the GFC— fighting fires and handling emergencies—she’s gotten pretty used to it.” Officials at the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) began organizing resources that would be ready to assist people impacted by whatever weather Mother Nature concocted. Aer all, it had only been a couple of weeks since a different storm whacked the state with a winter wallop that had the entire nation talking about how the South deals with frozen precipitation. “E-mail alerts were coming in, saying the forecasts were being Georgia Forestry Today
closely monitored, and that would determine whether we were activated or not,” said Edmondson. “By Sunday I was headed to Atlanta.” Edmondson served as an Agency Representative at GEMA’s State Operations Center (SOC) and over the next few days was joined by GFC colleagues Mark Millirons, Jeff Sibley, James Johnson, Kelly Towe, Eric Mosley, and Trey Spivey. Other GFC personnel served remotely, including Frank Sorrells, Incident Commander, Brian Clavier, Deputy, and Greg Strenkowski, Planning Chief. How did Georgia Forestry Commission professionals known for their prowess in managing forestland and fighting fires get involved in the battle with winter weather? According to Edmondson, GFC earned its way onto the field. “I think the first time GEMA recognized our abilities was during the wildfires of 2007,” said Edmondson. “ey saw how quickly and efficiently our Incident Management System worked when we organized responders from all over the country. Now we’re one of the first agencies activated during emergencies, alongside the state patrol and Department of Transportation,” Edmondson said. 15
e National Incident Management System is a standardized approach to incident management developed by the Department of Homeland Security. e program, established in 2004, facilitates coordination between all responders from all levels of government with public, private, and nongovernmental organizations. Also earning recognition of GFC by GEMA, according to Edmondson, was training by GFC’s financial team, which helped county officials understand the many forms and requirements of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in the wake of a series of central Georgia tornadoes. at training covered the necessary forms for tracking personnel, resources, incidents, and costs associated with the disaster, all of which paved the way for smoother handling of subsequent emergencies. storm’s a-brewin’!
“Sunday the 9th we were hearing from GEMA that they anticipated needing 4x4 pickup trucks from us to help stranded motorists and to deliver supplies,” said Frank Sorrells, Chief of Protection for the Georgia Forestry Commission and Incident Commander for the storm. “Bottled water, blankets, food, and other emergency items were needed, plus we were asked to assemble chain saw strike teams to be ready once ice formed on power lines and trees. Tuesday morning was when we got the official re-
quests from GEMA to start moving folks and the 4x4s to locations throughout north Georgia.” Sorrells said the focus areas included Atlanta north to Ellijay and south to Forsyth and Macon; also east toward Augusta. GFC was asked to have everything in place by 4p.m. on Tuesday the 11th. As milk and bread began disappearing from grocery store shelves and local weather forecasters’ excitement levels cranked up a few notches, GFC resources began being mobilized: tractors, trucks, plows, chainsaws, and personnel were pulled together from GFC districts across the northern two thirds of the state. “Georgia Forestry is an unsung hero in the SOC,” said Clint Perkins, Director State Operations Center, Georgia Emergency Management Agency. “ere is no task too large or small that Forestry does not jump all over. We could not do our jobs assisting the local jurisdictions and citizens of Georgia without the GFC.” A light rain began to fall on Monday, amid forecasts of freezing temperatures to follow, and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a weather-related state of emergency for 45 counties in the state. A presidential declaration of emergency was issued as the storm hit the state. Most north Georgia schools elected to close on the 11th and 12th, when the storm began pushing through, delivering a snowy-rainy mix,
GFC personnel worked with the Georgia State Patrol, delivering blankets, bottled water and other supplies to motorists stranded on icy roads. 16
which blended into sleet and freezing rain, topped by another layer of snow. Northern tier counties recorded snowfalls of up to 13 inches. Layers of ice between a tenth of an inch and full inch-thick covered trees, power lines, automobiles, and everything in between. Areas east of metro Atlanta received the heaviest ice accumulations. In all, more than 90 Georgia counties were impacted. ‘Incident Action Plans’ (IAPs) “were created and filled each day between the 13th and the 25th,” said Greg Strenkowski, the planning chief who coordinated with Edmondson and GFC field personnel to provide supplies needed by GEMA. “Our mission was to provide four-wheel drive vehicles for critical medical response and logistical transportation and deploy chainsaw teams for public road debris removal – doing it all in a way that protected the safety of all incident personnel,” Strenkowski said. Each day’s IAP contained detailed documentation of those missions. Role assignments, safety protocols, maps, radio communication plans, and specific weather forecasts were all spelled out in orders that le no room for doubt about who was doing what, where, and when. “We had four-wheel drive crews all along the 515 corridor and I-75,” said Tommy Hawkins, Assistant District Manager for GFC’s Coosa District. “ey patrolled Ellijay, Jasper, Calhoun, Cartersville with blankets and chainsaws, working 24hour shis.” Georgia Forestry Commission Coosa District Chief Ranger Denise Croker’s crew was tasked with assisting stranded motorists in Bartow County. It also transported medical staff to the Cartersville Medical Center and essential personnel to the Bartow County Emergency Management Agency. “In Acworth, we cleared trees out of a road so the fire department could pick up someone,” said Croker. “We were also able to help by delivering meals to people who were staying at the Suggs Shelter.” Richard Stokes, Logistics Program Manager/EMAC Coordinator, State Operations Center, for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, said GFC personnel’s service as logistics chiefs made May | June 2014
for smooth and efficient operations across the hard hit region. “ey operated a make-shi warehouse and distribution system here at GEMA to provide food and water for stranded motorists on interstates, and cots and blankets for established warming shelters around the state,” Stokes said. “Loss of power shut down many water systems around the state and GFC personnel coordinated generators to get water systems back on line. When systems didn’t come back online immediately, they coordinated the procurement and delivery of bottled water to support the local population.” Stokes said his favorite story of GFC personnel going ‘above the call of duty’ is about a ranger loading cases of water from pallets into his truck and delivering them to a small community whose system had failed, and no material-handling equipment was available to handle the pallets. “Regardless of the situation encountered, forestry personnel find a way to achieve the desired results necessary to support the recovery of the state to normal operating conditions,” Stokes said. To the hard-hit east, GFC Oconee Assistant District Manager Doug Josey said road-assists were his team’s major task. Fortunately, most drivers heeded the warnings and stayed off the highways. “e DOT had I-20 down to one lane in each direction,” said Josey. “We did work with them to push some motorists out of ditches and also to cut trees that had fallen across roads,” he said. State roads in the area were heavily littered with snapped trees and fallen branches, Josey said, especially in Burke, Jefferson, Johnson, and Washington Counties. Downed power lines contributed to widespread blackouts across the Augusta area, affecting more than 80 percent of its residents. “It was a mass array of broken power lines and trees and blocked roadways,” said Josey. “ere was a lot of clean-up needed and our chain-saw crews provided a lot of help with that.” e cut-and-clear scenario was repeated scores of times across the state, with GFC, at GEMA’s direction, planning and Georgia Forestry Today
tracking all debris cleanup and removal resources from all agencies. In addition, GFC tracked and recovered all Red Cross-issued cots, blankets, and other supplies. “It was a major effort,” said Sorrells, who is now serving on the governor’s Severe Weather Warning Task Force, which includes local and state officials, as well as meteorologists from the National Weather Service and regional media. “Long hours in harsh winter weather conditions. In all, GFC supplied 215 resource orders for personnel. at’s almost half of our agency’s work force. And as usual, they rose to the occasion.” assessing the Mess
By Valentine’s Day weekend, temperatures were climbing and Georgia homeowners were tackling their clean-up chores. A team of GFC foresters began assessing damage to trees and estimated more than 70,000 acres of forestland had been impacted. e associated price tag was $65 million, which was calculated based on debris removal costs and salvage estimates for trees with timber harvest expectations at 30+ years. “About half of Georgia experienced some sort of winter precipitation during the storm,” said James Johnson, Forest Management Chief for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “rough field observations, national weather service ice reports, and geospatial analysis, 20 east-central counties were identified as hardest hit.” ose areas, according to Johnson, have been undergoing salvage operations and management decisions that will determine productivity and tree survival. Most of the permanently affected trees are pine species. Hardwood damage consisted mainly of limb and top breakage. One town that was especially hard hit was Waynesboro, Georgia, famous for its picturesque trees that enhance streets, public complexes, and historic cemeteries. City Manager Jerry Coalson said 530 dump truck loads of debris had already been removed when GFC’s Sustainable Community Forestry Program (SCFP) deployed its Urban Forestry Strike Team (UFST) in early March to map and help calculate the
remaining damage. e team assessed tree damage, and estimated the amount of limbs and debris that still needed to be removed from public property to mitigate safety hazards. e UFST’s reports can expedite a city’s process of getting reimbursed by FEMA for cleanup costs. In March, debris amount estimates for Waynesboro were already at 48,000 cubic yards, with hundreds of trees still showing damage. “Most citizens don’t know how dangerous ‘hangers’ can be,” said Coalson. “One gust of wind and a falling limb can crush a car. Assistance by the GFC has been fantastic. e state doesn’t always throw help our way when we need it, but they sure did this time.” Weeks later, Coalson sent a follow-up e-mail regarding his meetings with the FEMA representative to Gary White, Sustainable Community Forestry Program Manager and Associate Chief, Forest Management for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “He was blown away by the data that you collected,” wrote Coalson. “Since the work has been identified on the front end by such a reliable source at the state level, he said we did not need to hire a monitor to watch the contractor. is is an outstanding service that you have provided.” onward Neal Edmondson finally returned home two Sundays later, on February 22. “Each one of these events gives our team such valuable experience,” Edmondson said. “Our reputation has grown as ‘the agency that gets the job done.’ In fact, a reporter for Channel 2 TV who was at the SOC said, ‘ey seem to turn to your agency when no one else can handle it.’ at was a big compliment coming from a member of the media.” And though one might expect Edmondson to settle into his Lazy Boy for a well-deserved rest, he actually ended up repacking his bags the very same day. “I le that aernoon for a week of logistics training with the Florida Forestry Service in Brooksville,” he said. e warm sunshine was a fitting thank 17
landowner liability for dead or decaying trees By Will Horkan | Associate Attourney | James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP
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ost landowners and timber professionals know to watch out for ‘widow makers.’ ese dead or decaying trees and limbs are significant hazards which are dangerous to ignore. Failing to recognize the liability posed by dead and decaying trees near roadways is a recipe for disaster. Many myths surround the question of the liability that landowners face for trees which fall and injure people or property. is article will dispel those myths and give you a better idea of how to protect yourself or your company from liability. One myth is that rural and urban
georgia law recognizes that it is simply impossible to expect an owner of hundreds or thousands of acres of trees to know the condition of each tree on his property. landowners are subject to the same legal responsibility for hazardous trees. On the other end of the spectrum is the myth that rural landowners cannot be liable for the damages caused by trees falling from their property. e final myth is that landowners can be liable for any tree which falls from their property. But, these are just myths. Georgia law has been clear for over thirty-five years that liability for injuries from a fallen tree depends on whether the property at issue is located in a rural or urban area. An owner of rural land is not required to inspect the land to be sure every tree is safe. With rural land, the owner is only required to take affirmative steps if there is actual knowledge that a tree is dangerous. Actual knowledge means that the landowner knows, as a result of personal knowledge or being informed of the hazard, that a tree actually poses a threat to passing motorists or neighboring landowners. 18
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Georgia law applies a heightened standard to urban landowners. e owner of urban property has a duty of reasonable care, including the duty to inspect to make sure a tree is safe. Even still, urban landowners are only charged with notice of visible, apparent, and patent decay in their trees. Specifically, Georgia law states that, in relation to urban land, there is no duty to consistently and constantly check all trees for non-visible rot as the manifestation of decay must be visible, apparent, and specifically, georgia law states that, in relation to urban land, there is no duty to consistently and constantly check all trees for non-visible rot as the manifestation of decay must be visible, apparent, and patent such that one could be aware that high winds might combine with visible rot and cause damage.
patent such that one could be aware that high winds might combine with visible rot and cause damage. Thus, even urban landowners cannot be charged with knowledge of imperceptible, hidden, or concealed decay, and the law does not require an urban landowner to consistently or constantly inspect their trees. The principle that landowners in rural areas are held to an actual knowledge standard and have no duty to inspect is based upon the realities that rural tracts of land are much larger than those in urban areas and rural areas are less populated. Georgia law recognizes that it is simply impossible to expect an owner of hundreds or thousands of acres of trees to know the condition of each tree on his property. In rural areas, the chances of harm occurring as a result of a dead or decaying tree are less due to low population numbers, low population densities, and low traffic counts than in urban areas with larger population numbers, larger population densities, and higher traffic counts. While Georgia law is favorable to land owners, the damages which can result from a tree falling on a home or roadway can be tremendous. Therefore, landowners Georgia Forestry Today
should take a few practical steps to ensure they do not endanger homeowners or motorists and take full advantage of the protections afforded by law. First, make sure property boundaries are clearly marked. Defined boundaries allow landowners and municipal governments to quickly and easily determine responsibility for a dangerous dead or decaying tree. e state, county, or city government will generally remove any hazardous tree which is clearly in their right-of-way. However, the state, county, or city governments are generally not going to go out of their way to cut down a hazardous tree that is not clearly in their right-of-way. us, marking the property line can prevent landowners from being sued for damage caused by a tree which they do not own. Conversely, marking the boundary line will also make landowners’ responsibility for a dead or decaying tree clear. Landowners can then respond to the situation quickly, preventing harm and protecting themselves from liability. Unmarked boundary lines oen lead to finger pointing between the holder of a right-of-way and a landowner once someone is injured. However, at this point, merely marking the boundaries will not make the claim go away, and a landowner will incur legal bills and survey expenses. Identification of property lines is also important for urban landowners. Granted, tagging trees with paint or tape is not practical for the urban landowner, but maintaining an accurate mental map of one’s property lines is not difficult on smaller properties. While such a mental map can still give rise to a lawsuit, creating the map can mean that a landowner recognizes personal responsibility for a dangerous situation instead of erroneously attributing a dangerous tree to a neighbor—a costly mistake. Second, landowners need to take reports of dead or decaying trees seriously. Landowners occasionally receive reports from neighbors, lease holders, or foresters regarding the existence of hazardous trees. These reports can give a landowner actual knowledge of a hazardous tree. As a result,
one myth is that rural and urban landowners are subject to the same legal responsibility for hazardous trees. on the other end of the spectrum is the myth that rural landowners cannot be liable for the damages caused by trees falling from their property landowners must investigate the report, determine its veracity, and be prepared to remove the tree if necessary. Do not allow the tree to remain standing any longer than absolutely necessary if the report is accurate. In conclusion, landowners must be observant and prepared to act when their trees pose a hazard to neighboring landowners or passing motorists. Georgia law is favorable to landowners when landowners act responsibly to protect themselves and their neighbors. v
Will Horkan is an associate attorney in the Macon, Georgia office of JamesBates-Brannan-Groover-LLP. Will joined the firm in 2009 aer graduating om the University of Georgia with a degree in Agribusiness and Mercer University’s Law School. is article is written for informative purposes and is not legal advice. Consult your attorney with any questions or concerns you have.
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GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY UPDATE INITIATIVES FOR FOREST OWNERS GET ‘THUMBS UP’ FROM GEORGIA LAWMAKERS When the Georgia General Assembly adjourned its 2014 session on March 20, the Georgia Forestry Association’s (GFA) three major objectives had been passed by the House and the Senate. At this writing, those bills await the Governor’s signature to become law. GFA sought to address a number of challenges for forest owners and forestbased businesses during the legislative session including the elimination of a ban on the use of ordinary wood construction in public schools; an absence of a central investigative body to assist landowners who are victims of timber theft; and an unfair tax appeal system for non-homestead property owners. “We are very pleased with the success of this session and the measures that were passed to benefit the forest landowner community,” GFA President Steve McWilliams said. “We are also very grateful to the help of our organizational partners such as the Georgia Paper & Forest Products Association, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agribusiness Council, and others who supported forestry on specific issues.” wood in school construction The Georgia Department of Education’s (DOE) Guideline for Educational Facility Construction currently bans the use of light wood framing (or wood stud partitioning) and ordinary wood construction in public school facilities—a option that is contradictory to the International Building Code. Senate Bill 301, sponsored by Senator Fran Millar, R-Atlanta, and passed by both the House and the Senate, removes the ban from the DOE guidelines, allowing the use of wood in school as an alternative to steel and concrete materials. The change, ac20
cording to McWilliams, is one that will help Georgia’s forests remain sustainable. “Removing any barrier to the use of wood grown by Georgia landowners and milled by Georgia manufacturers is good for the forest economy and the continued sustainability of Georgia’s 24.4 million acres of timberland,” McWilliams said.
help timberland owners during the harvesting process by: 1. Increasing the recovery available to victims of the unauthorized taking of timber from single to treble (or threetimes) damages; 2. Providing landowners with a shield
timber security laws Before this year’s legislative session, Georgia landowners had little to no recourse for assistance in cases of timber theft and timber trespass. Unfortunately, timber theft cases often go unsolved due to the lack of manpower and knowledge of the timber industry within local law enforcement agencies. House Bill 790, sponsored by Representative Chuck Williams, R-Watkinsville, aims to improve the resources available to timberland owners who are victims of timber theft, giving the Georgia Forestry Commission the law enforcement authority to investigate, serve warrants, and make arrests in cases of timber theft. In addition, the bill includes several provisions that May | June 2014
from liability when conducting harvests; 3. Requiring that mill scale tickets be returned to the seller within 20 days; 4
And, establishing a four year statute of limitations for filing complaints related to the unauthorized taking of timber “Landowners often experience less than satisfactory responses from local law enforcement,” McWilliams said. “This bill gives Georgia timberland owners a far better chance of recovery and prosecution.” property tax appeal equity The Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA), passed in 2008, provides a lower property value assessment for forest owners who are willing to place their property in a 15-year covenant. In providing this benefit to landowners, the act also requires that the state reimburse counties for a portion of the revenue lost when property is enrolled in FLPA.
Georgia Forestry Today
Unfortunately, some counties have used inflated property tax values to increase the reimbursement from the state beyond what they were due. Additionally, there have been instances where taxes have been paid on a current year tax bill, and when it is later found that the current bill was too high during the appeals process, the county has not had the funds available to reimburse the overpayment to the taxpayer. “While the majority of counties do a great job of valuing properties, the laws that currently govern property tax valuations leave it wide open for counties to game the system and hold taxpayer money that they are not entitled to for years at a time,” McWilliams said. House Bill 755, sponsored by Representative Jay Powell, R-Camilla, makes a number of changes that support the integrity of the FLPA program and provide fairness in tax appeals by: 1. Providing a system wherein counties will reimburse the state when they have received a higher reimbursement
from the State than they should; 2. Placing ‘non-homestead’ property, which includes manufacturers, commercial businesses, agricultural, and other properties, on a more equal footing with homestead taxpayers when they appeal their property taxes; 3. And, most notably, requiring that the difference between a disputed tax bill and the previously paid tax bill be put in an escrow account to ensure that it is available for the party that prevails in the appeal. what’s Next? The GFA Government Affairs Committee has already begun building its legislative priorities for the 2015 session. To stay up to date on forestry news and issues in Georgia, visit www.gfagrow.org. To inquire about membership in the Georgia Forestry Association, e-mail Director of Membership, Marilou Myers at marilou@gfagrow.org. v
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Tips for Hiring A Fishing Guide
by John trussell
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hinking about hiring a fishing guide this year? You won't be alone because more and more occasional fishermen are discovering the advantages of hiring a fishing guide. A sign at Jack Wingate’s Lunker Lodge at Lake Seminole says, “They wuz biting yesterday,” and this often describes the tough fishing luck experienced by the typical fisherman. Some days you catch some good fish, but sometimes the live well is empty at the end of the day. My bass fishing friend Charles Sloan of Warner Robins, who has probably caught more bass over ten pounds than anyone I know, says that “it’s the bad fishing days that makes the good days great!” It’s hard for the occasional bass fisherman, which accounts for at least fifty percent of all bass fishermen who only go out a few trips a year, to consistently put fish in the boat. The reasons why are not so simple, but fishermen are famous for their excuses. They range from “it’s too cold,” “it’s too hot,” “the wind was blowing from the east,” “poor quality bait,” or “the fish are just plain waterlogged!” But fishing guides are not paid to provide excuses. The average money-paying, bass-fishing customer not only expects to have a great time, he expects to catch fish when he hires a guide. This puts the pressure on the guide to know where the
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On your next vacation trip to Callaway Gardens, sign up to fish with a guide on one of their many stocked lakes. Georgia Forestry Today
fish will be located and how to catch them. Most successful guides I know accomplish this by fishing nearly every day during prime angling months, which are early March through the end of July. Their experience on the water is invaluable in keeping up with fish movements and patterns as well as knowing what the fish are biting. The guide is usually also in close contact with other guides, bait and tackle shops, and marinas, so he’s in frequent contact with others who monitor the fishing pulse of the lake. Many of the best guides also compete in bass fishing clubs or tournaments, which further hones their fishing skill. Many anglers hire guides just so they can catch some fish, but the guide can often teach you in one trip information that could take you years to learn on your own. They can show you fishing hot spots, help you learn the lake and demonstrate effective fishing techniques, as well as teach you how to use fishing equipment like depth finders. Another reason to hire a fishing guide is that it may save you money in the long run. For many fishermen, just the money spent on the tag, insurance, and county real property taxes on a bass boat would cover the expenses of a guide for at least a couple of great trips to the lake each year, not counting the cost of the boat itself! Also consider the gas and travel expenses you incur while going fishing. The average fisherman probably spends a minimum of $25 to $100 a day to fish on a major lake. But like anything else, recreation costs money, whether it’s fishing, hunting, or playing golf; if you're an avid angler you don’t mind the expense of the fishing sport. But, if you‘re just an occasional fisherman, be aware that there is some truth in a joke about boat ownership. The joke goes, “Do you know the two happiest days of a boat owners life? - One is the day he buys his boat; the other is when he sells it!” This is one reason you can often find good buys in a used boat but with demand reaching the peak in the spring, now’s not the time to buy. So, how does someone go about selecting a fishing guide? The best way is to decide the species of fish you want to fish for on which lake, then ask lots of questions to different guides. Most anglers who hire a guide want to bass fish, but there is fast growing interest in hybrid, striper, and crappie fishing. For the best results from the guide, only pick one species to fish for due to the limited time of a trip. Other good questions to ask a potential fishing guide are as follows: 1) Price - Daily fees for fishing guides run in a general range of $200 to $500 per day, with half day trips a little less for fishing on a major central Georgia reservoir. 2) What’s Included - Always inquire about what's included in your trip. Does the guide provide all the fishing equipment, or do you bring your own? Who provides lunch, drinks, etc.? The client always is expected to have to have his own fishing license, hat, sunglasses, and other personal items. 23
they don’t want your money unless you catch fish. But you need to get an explanation as to what ‘Guaranteed Fish’ is. Does that mean you got a bite, one fish, or ten fish?
Author John Trussell caught this nice four pound brown trout in the Hiawasee River, near Helen.
6) Cancellations & Refunds - You book a trip and drive two hours to the lake. You haven't fished but one hour, and it begins to rain, so you call it quits. Do you get a refund or a partial refund? Every guide who hangs out a business shingle makes his own rules. With the weather unpredictable as it is, make sure you question the guide on his cancellation policy. Also question whether or not a deposit is refundable if you change your mind prior to the trip.
Joey Mines, West Point Fishing Guide, takes his granddaughter Molly Kate Mines on her first fishing trip with son Will Mines.
3) Trolling, Casting, Live Bait or Artificials - the fisherman should always have a clear idea of what he wants to fish for, how he wants to fish, and the type of bait he wants to use. Some guides use only artificial baits, while others primarily live bait fish, but most will work hard to meet your desires. When the fish are actively feeding, they’ll hit both artificial and natural baits well, but artificial baits require a higher skill level on the part of the fisherman. Live bait fishing is great for chartered business outings, family fishing, and children. 4) Catch & Release, or Keepers - Some guides require that all fishing is catch and release, unless the customer wants to mount a large specimen. Others allow the customer to keep anything within the legal limits. It's very important to reach an understanding with the guide on this point before you book a trip. 5) Guaranteed Fish - Few guides will guarantee a client that he’ll catch fish, and on some tough days the bites will be far between, even with a guide. I do know of a few guides that advertise ‘No Fish - No Pay,’ and 24
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7) Length of Trip - Most guides offer both half-day and full-day trips. If your time is limited and you want to just catch the fishing at it's prime in the early morning, then maybe a half-day trip is for you. However, the full day trip is the norm, and it's only slightly more expensive and well worth the effort in most cases. Make sure you inquire as to what constitutes a half-day or full-day trip. For example, a full day may mean from sunrise to sunset, or it could be from sunrise to 4 p.m., so check it out.
to begin the trip. This way, he can better tell what the fish are doing and what they're hitting for you. I’ve also found that a guide that fishes with the client is usually a happier and more productive guide. 9) Ask for References - Don’t be afraid to ask a guide for the phone numbers of a few of his recent customers; he should have lots of them. Also, talk with your fishing friends and inquire about a guide’s
reputation, etc. To find a guide on a specific lake, just google ‘fishing guide, lake Sinclair,’ etc, and you’ll get a lot of leads. Once you decide on all the above, book your trip early, as most good guides stay very busy. For best results, always choose a weekday, if possible. Fishing is better during the week and the lake will be less crowded. Remember the best time to fish is anytime you can. v
8) Does the Guide Fish or Not? - On a guided fishing trip, the customer may want the guide’s full attention on his fishing effort, or he may want the guide to fish also. A good guide will always position the client in the best position to catch a fish and allow him to make the first cast, if he even fishes at all. Some guides won't fish unless you invite them to, while others fish to show you proper fishing technique. This part of a trip is negotiable, but I recommend that the guide fishes, at least Trent Trussell pulls in a nice Jekyll Island shark with the help of guide Billy McGee.
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NEWS Georgia Forestry Association awards academic scholarship e Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) recently presented University of Georgia forestry student Dewey Sherrer with the 2014 GFA Scholarship for his academic performance. e scholarship was presented at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource’s 83rd Annual Spring Awards Banquet on April 3 in Athens, Georgia. Each year, GFA donates scholarship funds to Warnell in order to recognize a student who consistently performs at a high level of academic rigor and professionalism. In order to
be considered for the scholarship, a student must be enrolled as a professional student at Warnell and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. is year, Marietta, Georgia native and junior forestry major Dewey Sherrer, son of George Sherrer and Traci Drummond, was awarded the scholarship based on his outstanding academic performance and consistent professionalism. With Dewey’s strong passion for forestry and the outdoors, he said choosing Warnell to pursue his undergraduate degree
was an easy one. “I wanted to get my degree in something that I knew I could enjoy doing for the rest of my life,” he said. “I really enjoy the freedom of being outdoors and seeing all of what nature has to offer.” Dewey is currently interviewing for a summer internship with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as a field forester. Aer graduation in May, 2015, he would like to pursue a career as a forestry technician on a wildlife refuge or national park in the Southeast.v
UGA Researchers Awarded $1.4 Million to Study Critical Earth Zone in Sumter National Forest Looking back now, it’s easy to see where farmers in the 1800s went wrong. Attempting to grow profits from a lush environment, landowners cleared entire forests in the South to make room for agricultural farmland. But using primitive agricultural techniques scarred the landscape, and when the profits dried up, they abandoned the barren land. Now, University of Georgia researchers want to understand the ongoing repercussions from a bygone era. Five UGA researchers from a number of diverse colleges and departments are joining up with the U.S. Forest Service on the project, to calculate how past land use has influenced the present environment—and how it will impact the future. 26
ey have been awarded around $1.4 million from an overall $5 million National Science Foundation grant led by Duke University to set up one of ten national observatories focused on the layer of Earth most important for human life, the ‘Critical Zone’ which includes everything from the deep bedrock up to the tops of the trees. Other universities participating are Georgia Tech, the University of Kansas, Mississippi State, and Roanoke College. UGA’s researchers will help establish a new Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) located at the Calhoun Experimental Forest, a unit of the Sumter National Forest in South Carolina. Sumter National Forest is a 200,000-acre forest created in the 1930s May | June 2014
on abandoned farmland and heavily logged forestland in the Southern Piedmont. Suffering from soil erosion and overall land degradation, the U.S. Forest Service spent decades developing management practices to restore the land by setting up experimental watersheds, planting trees, and launching a number of long-term studies to monitor progress on what was called at the time a representation of the ‘poorest Piedmont conditions.’ Each UGA researcher brings unique strengths to this interdisciplinary Critical Zone Observatory: • Alexander Cherkinsky, a senior research scientist with the Center for Applied Isotope Study, will analyze the soil’s carbon turnover rates as a result of anthropogenic and climate changes by studying its isotopic composition, including radiocarbon analyses. •
Daniel Markewitz, a professor with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, will be studying the forest’s soils to determine spatial patterns from historical erosion as well as linking soil attributes with forest stand conditions;
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Don Nelson, assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Science department of anthropology, will study historic and current human interactions with the land and will develop in partnership with land managers and forest users ways to effectively communicate CZO science;
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Paul Schroeder, a professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of geology, will be studying long-term climate changes as recorded in the rocks and soils of the area to determine how fast shis in the landscape took place;
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And Aaron ompson, an assistant professor in the crop and soil science department in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, will focus on examining the chemistry of soils at the molecular level. He will study how human activities influence
Georgia Forestry Today
the way soil minerals and carbon interact to form either stabile soil organic matter or generate carbon dioxide gases. In addition to the UGA researchers, Mac Callaham, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Research Station on UGA’s south campus and adjunct professor at the Odum School of Ecology, will be studying the organisms in the soil, such as ants and earthworms. He is interested in determining how the different organisms affect the soil and how water moves through the system. “is project is a very exciting opportunity for the Forest Service to join forces with our UGA colleagues and to leverage our investment in long-term studies for the development of cutting edge research like the CZO project,” Callaham said. e researchers have a wealth of archived Forest Service data from the 1940s through the 1960s to compare modern results to, Markewitz said. In fact, some of the original monitoring equipment from the 1940s is still in place in the forest. What we learn from studying this forest in South Carolina, he explained, can give us a better idea of how we should manage our ecosystems in a sustainable way. “Forests, soils, and landscapes change on annual, decadal, and longer timescales,” Markewitz said. “e only way to understand these changes and how we can better manage for those changes is through long-term, interdisciplinary science like this CZO.” ompson said “recent advances in earth system science allow us to collect much more sophisticated data than was available to the Forest Service in the 1940s. But, the value of the historical data cannot be overstated. It is the combination of new advanced techniques and robust historical data that will allow us to design more accurate models of how land use influences ecosystem function and ecosystem-human relationships.” Cherkinsky, who works in the state-ofthe-art isotope laboratory, noted that “isotope data from soil organic matter provides a powerful constraint for determining carbon changes in response to human and cli-
mate impacts. Interestingly, the period of study at the Calhoun CZO overlaps with aboveground nuclear testing in the 1960s that dramatically increased the radiocarbon concentration in the atmosphere. is isotopic spike or label allows us to trace carbon through the soil on the time scale of years and decades.” is five-year study is part of an effort by the NSF to study what geologists have dubbed Earth’s ‘critical zone,’ the thin outer layer of the planet that supports most life. e NSF and the European Commission fund ‘Critical Zone Observatories’ for interdisciplinary research of the planet’s surface to better understand how human interactions and land use affects the vital ecological services this critical zone provides. ese services include air, water, food, energy, mineral resources, natural habitats, and other environmental conditions that support our basic needs. ere are ten Critical Zone Observatories in the U.S. and more developing around the world (see http://criticalzone.org). “It is a wonderful opportunity for UGA to have a CZO located in the Southeast and so close to campus,” said ompson. “Across the world, the CZO’s are becoming regional centers for cutting-edge earth-system science. ere are substantial long-term benefits for UGA students, researchers, and the public.” Schroeder said that some of the public have the perception that their environment isn’t affected by what we do or by natural changes, including changes beyond their backyard. “ey think the stream they played in as a kid will always be there and stay the same, but that’s simply not true,” Schroeder said. “With or without the influence of humans, the landscape does not sit still forever.” Nelson said this project is a great opportunity for working with the public, as well as land and forest managers to learn about how past and present land use leaves an indelible imprint on the environment. “e results of this type of research can help guide long-term management decisions that account for the ways in which people value and understand their forest.” v 27
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA PROFESSOR WINS HIGHEST AWARD FROM ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION By Sandi Martin | Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of Georgia professor Kim Coder has been awarded a national award from the Arbor Day Foundation, winning the organization’s highest award for dedicating his career to arboriculture, tree health education, and conservation. Coder is an internationally renowned tree health expert and recognized as one of the ‘founding fathers’ of best practices key to the field of arboriculture. He will receive the Morton Award, the Arbor Day Foundation’s highest honor that recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to planting trees and conservation at both the national and international level. Previous winners of this award include the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. Coder, who has lectured about the importance of tree health everywhere from rural Georgia communities to international conferences in Europe, said the award was a “wonderful surprise.” The Arbor Day Foundation said Coder’s “unique ability to effectively engage audiences with his knowledge, passion, and visionary leadership” was one of the reasons he was chosen for the Morton Award.
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“This is a great honor, and represents a continuing responsibility to provide the best tree science education to individuals and communities,” Coder said. Coder, who has been with UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources since 1985, has a long career focusing on tree health and biology, community forestry, arboriculture, urban forest ecology, and cultural and psychological connection to trees. In the past three decades, he has received numerous state-wide, national, and international awards and recognitions for his career-long dedication to promoting tree health and conservation, including three of the highest competitive, peer-selected world awards from the International Society of Arboriculture, the largest professional group of urban and community foresters in the world. He has served at many levels of state, national, and world leadership in arboriculture and community forestry, including on the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Committee which advises the USDA Secretary of Agriculture. Coder has been elected world president of
the International Society of Arboriculture and is one of the founding members of the Georgia Urban Forest Council. He has published more than 500 papers on applied tree biology, tree health care and community forestry, and is a noted international speaker because of his ability to translate research findings into applied tree health care models, trainings, and assessments. Coder will receive the award at the annual Arbor Day Awards. The 2014 ceremony is scheduled for April 26 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The Foundation plans to recognize 12 other individuals, organizations, and companies at the ceremony for different award categories.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization whose mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.v
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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Georgia Forestry Today
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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
FOREST RESOURCE SERVICES INC.
BEACH TIMBER COMPANY INC. 128 Beach Timber Road Alma, Ga 31510 Office: (912) 632-2800 Gary Strickland Owner We Buy Wood! Foresters bchtimco@accessatc.net Available
Specializing in Land and
Buyers of Land and Timber in Georgia and the South Canal Wood LLC 601 North Belair Square, Suite 21 Evans, Georgia 30809 Phone: (800) 833-8178 E-mail: dollars4trees@canalwood.com
Timber Management & Sales
BOBBY D. BROWN Registered Forester GA Number: 2164 Licensed Realtor GA Number: 165520 20364 GA Hwy #3 Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 221-3016 brown@ftrealty.com
Helping Grow Your Future LAMAR CANTRELL
CANTRELL FOREST PRODUCTS INC.
We buy all types of timber. In Woods Chipping cantrellforest@earthlink.net 1433 Galilee Church Road Jefferson, GA 30549 Office: (706) 367-4813 Mobile: (706) 498-6243 Home: (706) 367-1521
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www.hippenterprises.com Todd Hipp
(803) 924-0978
todd@hippenterprises.com
Eric Hipp
(803) 924-4131
eric@hippenterprises.com-
Chad Hipp
(803) 924-5940
chad@hippenterprises.com May | June 2014
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Georgia Forestry Today
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