As a forester, I assess silvicultural practices to restore and sustainably manage forests, woodlands, and savannas. Silviculture is the practice of establishing, growing, and managing the health and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values of society.
My love of being outdoors contributes to my research. I learn more by spending time in nature and observing life’s details play out around me than I do from any class or book. Classes and books help me appreciate and interpret what I experience when I hike in the forest.
How is the forest affected by fire?
Tools for silviculture are simple instruments used to measure and inventory forest vegetation. I use a compass, clinometer, measuring tape, maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) units, diameter tape, quadrat frame, and height pole. Harvesting, thinning, and preparing the forest for regrowth requires removing trees from the forest. To do this, tools include chain saws, logging skidders and trucks, prescribed fire, and herbicides.
My most exciting discovery was learning how to combine fire with harvesting and thinning of the overstory trees. This process improved regrowth of oak trees. I was also excited to learn how to restore quality ground vegetation for savannas and woodlands.
In high school, there was a lot of interest by young people in the environment and conservation. This interest was the beginning of the first Earth Day celebration ( in 1970). In high school, I took a 3-year program of study in conservation along with a lot of other science classes.
