Dear Forest Makeover Participants and Guests:
1. Summary of the May 6th forestry program: A group of forest makeover participants met at the Matthews State Forest on Thursday May 6th for the Forest Ecology, Part II course offering. As something different, we requested that participants send a photo or two along with a forest ecology question. About 12 participants sent in photos, and it made for an interesting discussion. Based on the feedback we received, we'll probably do a program like this again sometime in the next couple of years. Thanks for all the feedback and good suggestions...and thanks for suggesting we try this type of format to begin with. Please keep the good ideas coming.
2. MAY 19th Guest lecture on fire, forests, and dendrochronology (the study of tree rings): This coming Wednesday, May 19th, Dr. Charles Lafon, a professor at Texas A&M university, will give a lecture on fire, forests, and dendrochronology. Dr. Lafon's research interests include vegetation dynamics, particularly the history and spatial pattern of disturbances such as major freezing rain events, fires, and insect outbreaks. He collects and studies tree cores and cross-sections to assess the influences of these events on vegetation. For more information about Dr. Lafon, please visit the following link: https://mail.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://geography.tamu.edu/people/featured-faculty/charles-lafon
PLEASE NOTE: Because we anticipate a full house on the 19th, we will not be serving a meal, but drinks and refreshments will be available.
3. Tree identification courses to be offered in June / July. The next couple of forestry courses will be offered in the field, rather than in the classroom. A Doodle poll has been set up to help us schedule the dates--https://mail.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.doodle.com/2wwny8a6gk64t5w2. These tree id hikes will be offered at the Matthews State Forest, and will be offered on three different evenings. Feel free to attend just one, or all three--each will probably be a bit different, depending on the experience level of the group. PLEASE NOTE: The start time for these programs will be moved up to 5:30pm to take full advantage of the daylight, and a light meal will be offered.
4. DOF foresters are working with many of you to develop your forest stewardship plans. Please be thinking of the 3 things you would like to in the next 3 years...and be ready to talk about these projects at our next meeting of all the participants to be held after the 4th of July holiday. If you have suggestions for this meeting, please let us know.
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday, May 19th.
David Richert, CF
RC&D Forester-Western Virginia
Virginia Department of Forestry
david.richert@dof.virginia.gov
(276) 228-2879 office
(276) 389-9072 cell
100 USDA Drive Suite F
Wytheville, Virginia 24382
Certified Forester # 3768
1. Summary of the May 6th forestry program: A group of forest makeover participants met at the Matthews State Forest on Thursday May 6th for the Forest Ecology, Part II course offering. As something different, we requested that participants send a photo or two along with a forest ecology question. About 12 participants sent in photos, and it made for an interesting discussion. Based on the feedback we received, we'll probably do a program like this again sometime in the next couple of years. Thanks for all the feedback and good suggestions...and thanks for suggesting we try this type of format to begin with. Please keep the good ideas coming.
2. MAY 19th Guest lecture on fire, forests, and dendrochronology (the study of tree rings): This coming Wednesday, May 19th, Dr. Charles Lafon, a professor at Texas A&M university, will give a lecture on fire, forests, and dendrochronology. Dr. Lafon's research interests include vegetation dynamics, particularly the history and spatial pattern of disturbances such as major freezing rain events, fires, and insect outbreaks. He collects and studies tree cores and cross-sections to assess the influences of these events on vegetation. For more information about Dr. Lafon, please visit the following link: https://mail.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://geography.tamu.edu/people/featured-faculty/charles-lafon
PLEASE NOTE: Because we anticipate a full house on the 19th, we will not be serving a meal, but drinks and refreshments will be available.
3. Tree identification courses to be offered in June / July. The next couple of forestry courses will be offered in the field, rather than in the classroom. A Doodle poll has been set up to help us schedule the dates--https://mail.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.doodle.com/2wwny8a6gk64t5w2. These tree id hikes will be offered at the Matthews State Forest, and will be offered on three different evenings. Feel free to attend just one, or all three--each will probably be a bit different, depending on the experience level of the group. PLEASE NOTE: The start time for these programs will be moved up to 5:30pm to take full advantage of the daylight, and a light meal will be offered.
4. DOF foresters are working with many of you to develop your forest stewardship plans. Please be thinking of the 3 things you would like to in the next 3 years...and be ready to talk about these projects at our next meeting of all the participants to be held after the 4th of July holiday. If you have suggestions for this meeting, please let us know.
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday, May 19th.
David Richert, CF
RC&D Forester-Western Virginia
Virginia Department of Forestry
david.richert@dof.virginia.gov
(276) 228-2879 office
(276) 389-9072 cell
100 USDA Drive Suite F
Wytheville, Virginia 24382
Certified Forester # 3768
