Summer Forest Health Extension Training Events with Dr. David Coyle

Summer Forest Health Extension Training Events with Dr. David Coyle

This summer, SREF Extension Associate Dr. David Coyle made great strides in fostering a cohesive understanding of forest health and invasive species issues among the public, Extension, and forestry professionals as he conducted a series of 3 trainings in as many states: GA, SC, and TX.

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Dr.  David Coyle lectures in Texas

The emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid, two insects originally from Asia, decimate ash and hemlock populations across the country. Native bark beetles leave dead and dying trees in their wake, reducing the profitability of private forestland in the Southeast and contributing fuels to the dire wildfire problems in the Western United States. Invasive plants like cogongrass proliferate to the detriment of native ecosystems, and native and exotic fungi threaten the health of both hardwood and pine trees. Now, more than ever, a concerted and informed effort to manage forest land for pests and invasive species is necessary.

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The need for a unified and cohesive understanding of forest health and invasive species issues in the Extension community and among other providers of forestry education in the Southeast is what motivated SREF Extension Associate Dr. David Coyle to conduct a series of training courses on forest health and invasive species for state and local forestry and natural resource professionals, Extension agents, and landowners this summer as part of his Forest Health and Invasive Species Education and Outreach Program(FHIS). Dr. Coyle brought a host of demonstration materials, educational pamphlets, and his own extensive knowledge with him to southern Georgia,  Texas, and  South Carolina to ensure that forestry and natural resource professionals, Extension agents, and the general public were up-to-date on forest health and invasive species issues in the southeastern United States.

Lynne lectures

The Talbot County Forest Health and Invasive Species Workshop, organized by Bobby Solomon, a University of Georgia Extension Agent working out of Fort Valley State University, was held on June 30 and focused primarily on an audience of local landowners. Dr. Coyle, along with Mr. Solomon and Georgia Forestry Commission's Lynne Womack, taught participants about different factors that impact forest health such as non-native insects, fungi, and plants,  pests of young and old pine trees, and how silviculture can help mitigate or prevent pest problems. 

At the two other training sessions, one held in Lufkin, Texas July 12-13 and the other in Columbia, South Carolina August 16-17, Dr. Coyle's audience comprised mainly forestry and natural resource professionals working with Texas A&M Forest Service and the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Both featured lectures and discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and field days in which participants were able to view the effects of forest pests and invasive species first hand.

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Shane Harrington, Forest Health Coordinator with Texas A&M Forest Service said of the training held in Lufkin, "We were extremely pleased with the training and information that Dave provided. The issues facing our forests today are not always specific to one area or state but cross boundaries. The information Dave provided on specific pests and diseases we face in the Western Gulf region will better position our staff to not only recognize what’s happening but better assist the landowners who may be affected." 

Of the South Carolina training,   Chisolm Beckham, Southern Pine Beetle Program Coordinator for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, said "I think the Forest Health training course from Dave is an excellent way of communicating forest health to multiple government agencies and individuals that otherwise would not have received it. Several attendees mentioned how much they liked it. Plus, it allowed the SC Forestry Commission employees to build camaraderie with fellow employees they rarely see."

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Also present at the South Carolina training was Katlin Mooneyham, a Forest Health Specialist for the Virginia Department of Forestry, who enthused, "The best part of the training is David’s relatability to the foresters, connecting with them in a way that keeps their attention and caters to all learning styles, visual, tactile, etc. The field component was a great way to take the foresters out and see and further discuss some of the things they learned in the classroom setting. Overall, I think that this training is an important addition to all of the southeastern forestry departments and everyone can get something out of it."

Further training sessions are planned for other Southeastern states. To keep abreast of current training sessions, visit the events section at southernforesthealth.net or e-mail Dr. Dave Coyle at dcoyle@sref.info. Dr. Coyle will also be happy to discuss organizing a forest health training session in your state. 

About the FHIS Outreach and Education Program

The FHIS program, created as a partnership between Southern Regional Extension Forestry and the US Forest Service under the direction of Dr. David Coyle, curates and creates forest health materials and curriculum focused on the southeastern US to ensure consistent education among state and local Extension agents, state and local forestry agency professionals, and others who are responsible for forest health education in the southeastern region.

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