New Online Resource Connects Extension to Forest Health in the Southeast
A new website built in partnership with UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources provides Extension professionals with a centralized source for accurate and up-to-date information about forest health issues, such as diseases and invasive pests, in the Southeastern United States.
Athens, GA - April 2016
The Forest Health and Invasive Species Outreach and Education Program (FHIS), an initiative of the Southern Regional Extension Forestry office and the University of Georgia’s ’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is pleased to announce the launch of southernforesthealth.net, a centralized source of information on forest health in the southeastern US.
Southernforesthealth.net contains fact sheets, videos, and other materials for use by forestry and Extension professionals for professional development and for outreach and education on southern forest health. The site currently focuses on non-native plants, insects, and pathogens, and pine stand management for the mitigation of potential insect and disease issues in the 13 southeastern states. Website features include contact information for forest health professionals throughout the Southeast, a calendar of forest healthrelated events, and links to additional forest health resources, all of which can be shared among educators and specialists for use with the general public. In the future, the site’s scope will expand to include Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
As a companion to the website, FHIS hosts a live monthly webinar dedicated to relevant and essential forest health-related subjects and featuring experts in the field. The webinars are available to view live or on-demand and offer professional certification credits.
About the FHIS Outreach and Education Program
The FHIS program, 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. In the future, FHIS plans to offer inperson training sessions related to forest health and management.
Contacts
Dr. David Coyle
Extension Associate, Forest Health
Southern Regional Extension Forestry
706-542-3665
dcoyle@sref.info
