Risks exist with every endeavor we face in life and this is certainly true with forest management. This three-week event will concentrate on the risks associated with forest management and allow landowners and natural resource professionals to consider how they can manage forests and forestland to plan for and minimize problems they may face.

FOREST RISKS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

WHEN:          September 9, 16 & 23rd, 2008

WHERE:       Locations around the South

WHO:            Contact your local county Extension office or the contacts listed at the bottom of this article for more information regarding viewing sites in the South.

September  9, 2008  - An Introduction to Managing Risk in Your Forest; Understanding and Managing Natural Disasters & Changing Climate

·         The changing landscape in the South –what it means for the private owner – John Greis – USDA Forest Service

·         Introduction to risk and risk management – Brooks Mendell, Forisk Consulting, Inc.

·         Risk and landowner objective – understanding the connection – Brooks Mendell, Forisk Consulting, Inc.

·         Wind, fire, drought and ice – examples and management/mitigation advice - TBA

·         Global climatic change and volatility – what this means to landowners – Steve McNulty, USDA Forest Service

September 16, 2008 – Managing and Mitigating Invasive Plant Species, Insects & Diseases

(This session will be taught by Dave Moorhead, University of Georgia, Keith Douce, University of Georgia & Jeff Stringer, University of Kentucky)

·         Invasive Plants

·         Insects & Diseases (Exotic and Native)

·         Control issues (cost-share, technical assistance, cooperative agreements, landowner-to-landowner agreements)

September 23, 2008 Taxes, Policy, Regulations, Law and Land Use Change

·         Trespass, timber theft and contracts, boundary marking, liability, etc. – Tom Kazee, Woodland Security, Inc.

·         Regulations and Right-to-Practice Forestry Laws – John Burke, private landowner

·         Federal and state taxes and risk – Debbie Gaddis, Mississippi State University

·         What are my next steps for managing risk on my forest – George Kessler, Clemson University & Joel Felder, South Carolina Forestry Commission

·         Making a difference – the importance of getting involved and active in the forestry community – Walt McPhail, forest landowner & Johney Haralson, forest landowner

This program is coordinated by Clemson University and the Southern Regional Extension Forester.  For more information contact your county or state Extension office, visit the Master Tree Farmer Website @ http://www.mastertreefarmer.net, or contact George Kessler (gksslr@clemson.edu, 864-656-4836, or Bill Hubbard, whubbard@uga.edu, 706-542-7813.  Sponsors to date include the American Tree Farm System, the USDA Forest Service and BASF.