VFA Members
Gather at
The Hotel Roanoke for
Fellowship, Fun and Learning
by Anne Beals, Magazine Editorial Committee
On April 18, 2008, the Virginia Forestry Association
convened its annual convention at the Roanoke Hotel and
Conference Center. The group met to exchange ideas, learn of
developments in forestry science and industry, and socialize
with friends and colleagues from far-flung corners of the
Commonwealth. The theme of this year’s convention was
“Keeping Virginia Forest Lands Profitable.”
Friday’s seminars included a Project Learning Tree K-8
Educators Workshop, a Landowner and Forester Workshop, and a
Logger and Forester Workshop. The Board of Directors met in
the afternoon, and the day was capped with a casual,
family-style dinner.
The Saturday morning session was conducted by
President-Elect Easton Loving. He entitled this particular
part of the weekend’s discussion “Keeping It Real.”
Nikki Rovner, Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Natural
Resources, reported that the State was within 160,000 acres
of Governor Kaine’s stated goal of protecting 400,000 acres,
with Virginia Outdoors Foundation holding 80 percent of
these conservation easements.
Dr. Leon Geyer, Professor of Agriculture and Applied
Economics at Virginia Tech, spoke about landowners’ concerns
over conservation easements. He cautioned landowners to
carefully consider and plan before entering into this
commitment.
Dr. Laura Geise, Principal Environmental Scientist for
Wetlands Studies and Solutions, Inc., presented detailed
information about the rules, regulations and management of
wetland mitigation areas. These mitigations are strongly
market-driven and can be a useful tool in the preservation
of woodland habitat and working forests.
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VFA Executive Director Paul Howe, presented special
commendations to two VFA members during the Annual
Convention, Priscilla Woll, left, was recognized for
25 years of service, 20 as chair, of the VFA
Magazine Editorial Committee resulting in 80 issues
of Virginia Forest magazine for the reading
enjoyment of Virginia's forestry community.
Robert M. Shaffer, right was noted for his
contributions as past author of the Logroll column
in Virginia Forests magazine.
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Buck Kline, Regional
Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry, spoke of emerging
ecosystem markets, how credit units are measured, and how
they can be used to benefit landowners. Since forest
landowners and managers live with long-term rotation,
possible climate change and its effects on forest markets
was also addressed.
Joann Meyer Cox of Meyer-Cox Forestry Consultants LLC,
presented ideas about the relevance of forest certification
from the perspective of the value of forest products to the
producer and the landowner.
Afternoon activities included a round of golf at nearby
Ashley Plantation Golf Club and a football game at Virginia
Tech along with a tour of Latham Hall, the College of
Natural Resources’ new Agriculture and Forestry building.
For those who wished to, time was also provided to visit the
memorial to those lost in last year’s senseless tragedy.
That evening at the President’s reception and dinner, the
VFA Board of Directors and Officers were installed and
awards were presented.
With forest markets and management techniques changing, this
year’s convention gave everyone plenty of information and
good tools for developing and protecting their forest
interests. |
