Growing Pines in Changing Times Workshop in Tifton, GA
The Growing Pines in Changing Times Workshop, held in Tifton, GA on April 21st, 2015, had multiple goals centered around providing essential information about ways to reduce risks and increase profits for pine plantations under uncertain future conditions and to equip them with the latest developments in science and technology. About 80 foresters, forest landowners, and managers attended. Top researchers from the region delivered lectures on topics such as climate science, seedling selections, risk management, and insect and disease control. The event was organized by Southern Region Extension Forestry (SREF) in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission, University of Georgia, International Forest Company, University of Florida and the PINEMAP project.
managers, consultants, and other forestry professionals. The event, organized by SREF in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission, the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, the International Forest Company, and the PINEMAP project, was an important opportunity for pine plantation managers and growers to learn the latest information about climate science, seedling selection, risk management, and insect and disease control from top researchers in the fields of climate and forest science as well as to acquire familiarity with recent advances in science and technology relevant to their needs.
After a short introduction from the Southern Regional Extension Forester, Bill Hubbard, Pam Knox, Applied
Agriculture Climatologist at UGA, set the principal topic and tone for the workshop with her talk on Climate Variability and Implications for Forestry, which was an invaluable introduction to the ways forest management may be affected by a unstable climate in the coming years. Dr. Phil Dougherty, Senior Researcher at the Center for Forestry Research and Applied Management, followed with a lecture on how pine plantation managers can assess and manage risks.
Dr Gary Peter, Professor of Forest Genomics at the University of Florida, was the first in a group of distinguished researchers from the University of Florida to deliver his lecture, which highlighted the latest technology available to those in pine plantation management. Other researchers from Florida were Dr. Tim Martin, a Professor of Tree Physiology, who discussed site quality, fertilization productivity strategies for pine
plantation managers in a changing south, Dr. Jason Smith, Professor of Forest Pathology, who issued a sobering warning on the necessity of researching and controlling potentially invasive species, and Dr. Damian Adams, Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Economics and Policy at the University of Florida, whose lecture described the economic concerns that climate change might bring for pine growers and managers.
Unaffiliated with Florida, but equally distinguished and fascinating, Dr. 
Wayne Bell, CEO of the International Forest Company, spoke about the necessity of choosing seedlings of appropriate quality for a plantation site and recommended planting strategies from his research and years of experience, and Dr. Jeremy Stovell, Assistant Professor of Silviculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, explained his research-based prescriptions for stand density management.
Wayne Bell, CEO of the International Forest Company, spoke about the necessity of choosing seedlings of appropriate quality for a plantation site and recommended planting strategies from his research and years of experience, and Dr. Jeremy Stovell, Assistant Professor of Silviculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, explained his research-based prescriptions for stand density management. In addition to this buffet of knowledge, all attendees were provided with literal buffets of biscuit sandwiches for breakfast and Georgia-style BBQ for lunch. The mood throughout the day was genial and conducive to
friendly discussions about the topics discussed and created many important networking opportunities for forestry professionals and landowners.
friendly discussions about the topics discussed and created many important networking opportunities for forestry professionals and landowners. To benefit the landowners and forestry professionals who couldn't attend, but still need the valuable information from this event, SREF will be offering online access videos of all of the lectures given at the Growing Pines in Changing Times in the coming weeks. Check back at this site and our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts often if you're interested.
For more information on this workshop and potential workshops on climate science and pine plantation management in the future, please contact Leslie Boby at lboby@sref.info or Dan Geller at dgeller@uga.edu, or click here for the agenda for from the meeting.
