Forest products is a legacy industry and biomass a rapidly growing one for North Carolina. That’s why our Extension Forestry group took a recent field trip to the Port of Wilmington for a firsthand look at the vital role the Ports Authority plays in the export of these products.
Groups Tour Port of Wilmington Facility
Reprinted from Stem to Stern – May 2001 – the newsletter of the NC Ports Authority
Representatives of NC State University Extension Forestry, NC Division of Forest Resources, NC Association of Professional Loggers, Inc., and Eastern Wood Products visited the Port of Wilmington on May 11, 2011. Karen Fox in the Business & Economic Development Department served as their tour guide.
“The visitors are working to increase forest products and biomass exports out of North Carolina ports, especially wood pellets and logs,” said Fox. “They were especially interested in the logging operation at Wilmington,” Fox concluded.
Karen Fox, far right, gives a tour of the Port of Wilmington on May 11 to representatives of NC State University Extension Forestry, NC Division of Forest Resources, NC Association of Professional Loggers, Inc., and Eastern Wood Products. Front Row (left to right): Matt Sharpe, Bob Bardon, Helene Cser, Dennis Hazel and Karen Fox; back row (left to right): Duane Truslow, Les Hunter, Clay Altizer, and Doug Duncan. Photo by Susan N. Pridgen
“It’s great to see a fantastic partnership between the North Carolina Ports and the forest products industry since both are major contributors to North Carolina’s economy,” said Clay Altizer, Utilization Forester with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources Forest Resources Division. “Hopefully, we can work together to strengthen this vital relationship.”
“I also want to thank Mrs. Fox for the outstanding tour and appreciate her taking the time out of her schedule to educate us on the logistics of North Carolina’s Ports and for sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience with our group,” said Altizer.
“I think Karen did an excellent job and it was very informative. I’m glad I went,” said Matt Sharpe of Eastern Wood Products.
“Ms. Fox appeared to be very enthusiastic about helping the forest industry and the potential benefits both for the port and North Carolina citizens. The tour was very informative and I enjoyed learning the functionality of our state port,’ added Helene Cser, Extension Associate for North Carolina State University Extension Forestry.
“I wish that all the citizens of North Carolina had a better appreciation of the economic importance of our State Ports to the state and my hope is that our state will steadily and significantly support expanded capacity of our state ports. We all benefit!”
Dennis Hazel, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor
NC State University – Extension Forestry
“We now have a much better appreciation of North Carolina’s Ports and the many economic benefits they provide to our state,” Altizer concluded.
Learn more about Extension Forestry at NC State University