Historic Seedling to become South Carolina’s Official 5 Billionth Planted Tree

Posted on December 3, 2010 by

NEWS RELEASE: SC Forestry Commission
December 3, 2010
For More Information: Scott Hawkins 803-360-2231 www.trees.sc.gov

NC State Researcher to Speak at Planting Ceremony Planned for Statehouse Grounds on Arbor Day

(Columbia) Leaders from forest industry and government will gather at the SC Statehouse on Arbor Day, December 3, to plant South Carolina’s 5 billionth tree. This milestone in the history of the state’s leading manufacturing industry calls for celebration. Forest-related businesses impact the state’s economy by $17 billion dollars every year, according to the latest available data.

The seedling is to be planted in a specially-designated spot off the SW corner of the Statehouse. It will serve for decades to come as a living monument to the state’s forest resource, as well as the industry and SC families it sustains. The planting is scheduled for 1:00 pm following a few words from State Forester Gene Kodama, Bob Scott with the SC Forestry Association, Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, and Dr. Steve McKeand, a leading forest geneticist from NC State University.

The 5 billionth tree is the result of extensive tree breeding research and was donated for the purpose of today’s planting.

“It is a descendant of an all-American tree named “7-56,” which was discovered in Williamsburg County, SC in 1957,” said Steve McKeand, Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State.

Professor McKeand says the seedling is a variety of loblolly pine known for producing wood of resilience, volume, and strength. Progeny from 7-56 are the most widely planted forest trees anywhere in the world.

How do you know which is actually the 5 billionth tree?

The SC Forestry Commission has surveyed forest tree seedling providers annually since 1928. Around 50 million seedlings have been planted annually in South Carolina in recent years. The largest nursery providers for South Carolina landowners are participating with the planting of the 5 billionth tree. Representatives from ArborGen, Cellfor, the SC Forestry Commission, and Weyerhaeuser will be available for media interviews.

20/15 Initiative

SC State Forester Gene Kodama sees the Arbor Day planting as the perfect opportunity to highlight the on-going 2015 initiative. 20/15’s aim is to grow forestry’s impact on the SC economy to $20 billion annually by the year 2015.

“It’s a realistic goal when you consider the role forestry already plays as the number-one manufacturing sector of the state’s economy. Our state’s forest resource is robust, the business climate is good, and we’re growing a renewable resource in this state at record levels. Our wall of wood has forest industry poised to grow in the coming years,” Kodama says.

The loblolly seedling to be planted Friday joins the many ornamental shrubs and trees on the beautiful Statehouse grounds. But unlike them, the 5 billionth seedling’s value is not limited to its aesthetic appeal. There are jobs and livelihoods in its roots. And it will be the only southern pine on Statehouse grounds.

“People give value to trees, whether it’s social, economic or environmental. As we celebrate the planting of the 5 billionth tree we remember the many benefits forests provide which ultimately improve the quality of life for all citizens of South Carolina,” the Forestry Association’s Bob Scott added.

Who: Forest industry, SC Forestry Commission, state officials
What: Planting of the state’s 5 billionth forest seedling
When: Arbor Day, Dec. 3, 2010 at 1:00pm
Where: Near the SW corner of the Statehouse
Why: To recognize the impact of forestry on South Carolina’s economy, its landscape and its citizens’ quality of life

For every $1.00 invested by SC in the Commission, the industry produces about $1,800.00 of economic impact.

Honored Alumnus’ Memory Lives On

Posted on November 30, 2010 by

Adapted from an article which appeared in the November 2010 issue of TreeLine – the newsletter of the North Carolina Forestry Association.

Stan Adams

In October, the N.C. Division of Forest Resources honored former state forester and NC State University Forestry and Environmental Resources alumnus Stan Adams by dedicating a training center in his memory at Jordan Lake Educational State Forest.

“It is an honor and privilege to celebrate and recognize Stan for his wonderful leadership and accomplishments within the N.C. Forest Service,” said Wib Owen, the current state forester.

Adams served as the state forester and director of the N.C. Division of Forest Resources from 1991-2006. He died Dec. 10, 2009 after a lengthy illness.

Adams is best known for helping institute a thorough training regimen and emphasizing classroom and practical training as the most efficient way to learn the skills needed to be a good forester and firefighter. Adams’ vision and leadership in 15 years as the state forester helped the division earn recognition as one of the nation’s top wildfire fighting agencies.

Honoree Stan Adams' family represent him with pride at the dedication of the building named in his honor

A portion of the Adams family was able to attend the dedication ceremony. Ellen poses with her grandson Parker, followed by son, David, grandson Jack and daughter-in-law, Jenny.

“Stan would be so proud, and yet humbled,” stated wife Ellen during the ceremony. “He believed that he had the best people in the world working with him. And, any credit or accolades for the achievements of the Division were the direct result of hard work and dedication of his staff.”

Prior to leading the state forestry agency, Adams spent 34 years with the U.S. Forest Service and served as a forester, district ranger and forest supervisor during that span. In total, his career lasted more than 49 years. In addition, Adams served in the Navy and retired from military service in 1988 as a captain.

The training center named for Adams was completed earlier this year. The center is the division’s first centrally located facility in North Carolina and can handle up to 100 employees in four separate classrooms. The 3,200 square-foot center is also being used to teach school groups that visit the forest about environmental education. The center was paid for using receipts from the N.C. Division of Forest Resources’ sale of timber at Jordan Lake Educational State Forest.

The training center was packed during the dedication with friends, family and co-workers from the private, public and university sectors.

Austin Heine, the first recipient of the Stan Adams Scholarship at NC State University

Austin Heine, the first recipient of the Stan Adams Scholarship was on hand for the event

One special guest in attendance was Austin Heine, who is a sophomore majoring in forest management at N.C. State University. Heine is the first recipient of the Stan Adams Scholarship Award. The scholarship is a partnership between the North Carolina Division of SAF, the Division of Forest Resources and N.C. State University. The scholarship provides a paid SAF Student Membership and tuition support to an undergraduate student in forest management.

If you would like to contribute to the Stan Adams Scholarship, please contact Jennifer Viets-Catalano at N.C. State University either by phone at (919) 513-7734 or by e-mail at jennifer_catalano@ncsu.edu.

Environmental Technology and Management Major Selected for White House Internship

Posted on November 30, 2010 by

From Technicianonline.com – NC State Student Newspaper
November 23, 2010
By Nasir Khatri

Anup Engineer, a double major in business administration and environmental technology and management in NC State University’s colleges of Management and Natural Resources respectively, was just recently chosen for the prestigious White House Internship Program.

Engineer, who has previously interned at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and NASA, says he is very excited to have been chosen for the program and is ready to start his duties at his new White House position with the Office of Presidential Correspondence in an attempt to have a positive impact on the United States population.

Engineer said the White House Internship Program is fantastic and shared some advice with freshmen considering majors at NC State University.

Read the entire article in The Technician.
Read the related article in The Daily Tarheel

Fall Foliage Prediction for 2010

Posted on November 29, 2010 by

From WRAL.COM Weather Extra: Fall Foliage
Oct 21 – 9:53am

Recently Robert Bardon, assistant dean for extension and engagement at North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources, spoke with WRAL.Com’s Nate Johnson about when the leaves should change to those nice autumn colors in North Carolina.

(direct link to video)

Learn more about forestry at the NC State Extension Forestry program website.

2011 InsideWood Calendars Now Available!

Posted on November 17, 2010 by

Fossil woods from Yellowstone National Park, Big Bend National Park, Florissant Fossil Beds and John Day Fossil Beds National Monuments, Ginkgo Petrified Forest, and the Denver Basin all have stories to tell about ancient forests.

See for yourself with “Plants With A Past. Inside Fossel Woods.” This 2011 calendar features photomicrographs of the distinctive anatomy of these ancient trees, which range in age from 70 million years old to 15.5 million years old.

Crafted by NC State Forest Biomaterials emeritus professor E.A. Wheeler, this beautiful calendar includes facinating images from the NCSU Libraries’ InsideWood Database. Dates for Arbor Days around the world, ensure you never miss an opportunity to celebrate trees and secondary xylem!

Priced at $15.75, profits from the sale of this calendar go to support fossil wood research and maintain the InsideWood Database and Website at the NCSU Libraries.

Get yours just in time for the Holidays!