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Southern  Regional  Extension  Forester  Report  William  Hubbard,    (706)  340-­‐5070,  whubbard@sref.info  August  18,  2013    

     Background  and  Executive  Summary    

The  2011  Southern  Forest  Futures  Project  identified  several  key  natural  resource  issues  that  Extension  and  other  educators  should  take  heed  of.    Climate  change,  bioenergy,  changing  traditional   timber   markets,   fragmentation   and   parcelization   were   among   key   issues.   Other  issues  from  the  study  included:  

• Population  growth  will  bring  more  runoff  from  roads,  building,  and  parking  lots  as  well   as   increased   pollution,   impacting   supplies   of   clean   drinking   water   and   the  quality  of  aquatic  habitats.  

• More   numerous   and   severe   wildfires   are   forecasted   posing   challenges   for   fire  fighting,  restoration  and  mitigation  organizations.  

• The   spread   of   plant,   insect   and   disease   pests   could   severely   affect   native   species,  forest  health  and  productivity,  and  wildlife.  

• More   than   1,000   plant   and   wildlife   species   of   conservation   concern   could   be  threatened  by  urbanization,  climate  change  and  invasive  species.  

 The   Southern   Regional   Extension   Forestry   Office   addresses   these   concerns   in   concert  

with  the  Landgrant  University  System  and  other  partners  in  the  South.  The  office  continued  to  provide   leadership   on   several   fronts   including   Extension   coordination   of   NIFA   AFRI   CAP  projects,  eXtension,  mobile  application  production,  regional  peer  reviewed  publications,  several  regional   and  national-­‐level  websites,   and  a  webinar   series   for  natural   resource  professionals.  These  initiatives  are  designed  to  include  and/or  benefit  Extension  and  research  personnel  at  all  1862  and  1890  universities   in   the  Southern  Region  as  well  as  others  with  responsibilities   for  education,  technology  transfer  and  overall  forest  management.    

Several  efforts  in  particular  are  worthy  of  highlighting.    These  include  the  completion  of  a  10-­‐module,  34-­‐chapter  e-­‐learning  and  Moodle  course  on  Urban  Forestry  and  the  launch  of  an  eXtension  website  on  urban  forestry  and  energy  conservation.    The  course  and  eXtension  site  

Southern  Regional  Extension  Forester  Mission  and  Objectives:    The  Regional  Forester  position  was  created  in  1979  to  act  as  a  liaison  between  the  USDA  Forest  Service  and  the  13  ASRED  member  institutions.    This  position  was  created  in  response  to  the  recognition  that  the  southern  forest  resource  is  economically  and  environmentally  important;  and  that  regional  coordination  of  education,  technology  transfer,  and  other  Extension-­‐related  programs  increases  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  programs  at  the  state  and  county  level.      Over  the  years,  the  Southern  Regional  Extension  Forestry  office  has  grown  to  include  leadership  of  several  regional  and  national  initiatives  designed  to  meet  the  needs  of  state  Extension  and  land  grant  professionals,  USDA  Forest  Service  partners,  state  forestry  agency  personnel  and  others.  An  official  Memorandum  of  Understanding  between  ASRED  and  the  USDA  FS  guides  the  operation  and  evaluation  of  the  SREF  program.  

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are  designed  for  those  with  an  interest  in  learning  about  the  care  and  management  of  our  cities  trees,  parks  and  forests.          

Regional  NIFA  AFRI  CAP   leadership  also  continued   to  be  a  priority   for   the  Office.    The  Regional   Forester   is   a   co-­‐leader   along  with   Eric   Taylor   from  Texas  Agrilife   Extension   on   the  PINEMAP  Extension  Team.    He  is  also  the  E2O  Contact  on  the  Executive  Team  for  the  IBSS  AFRI  CAP   project   (Extension,   Education   and   Outreach).     Major   accomplishments   in   these   areas  include   the   completion   of   a   regional   survey   of   professional   foresters   (n=6,700),   a   regional  workshop   for   both   1862   and   1890   professionals,   and   several   regional   peer   reviewed  publications   on   climate   change   and   forest   health.     The   Office   also   maintains   both   project  websites  and  works   closely  with   scientists   to   communicate  efforts   through   the  production  of  newsletters  and  other  announcements.  

The   Office   also  works   closely  with   the   research   community   to   identify  more   effective  communication   avenues   for   technology   transfer.     These   include  working  with   the   US   Forest  Services’   Southern   Research   Station   on   two   applied   research   projects   designed   to   bring  Extension  to  the  table  on  both  regional  water  issues  and  regional  fire  issues.    The  results  of  two  social  network  analyses  conducted  in  the  past  year  will  provide  insight  into  where  Extension  is  a  key  player,  and  where  we  might  enhance  our  capacity.    The  results  of  these  analyses  are  due  out  towards  the  end  of  the  2013  calendar  year.  

Websites   and   mobile   applications   are   another   area   of   emphasis   of   the   Office.     The  current   IT   and   mobile   applications   staff   have   provided   several   online   tools   and   resources  designed   to   serve   the   Extension   and   natural   resources   community.     Highlights   for   the   year  include  a  completely  redesigned  SREF  homepage  (sref.info)  and  a  working  model  of  the  Service  Forester’s  Handbook  application.    In  addition,  the  Office  worked  with  partners  to  improve  and  enhance  the  reforestation,  nurseries  and  genetics  site  (RNGR.net),  and  a  southern  forest  threats  assessment   site   (forestthreats.org   site).       A   website   utilizing   google   maps   was   developed   in  association   with   the   state   forestry   agencies   to   highlight   current   forest   products   company  locations  (forestproductslocator.net).    These  are  just  a  few  of  the  highlights  on  the  technology  side  of  the  Office.  

Personnel  assisting  with  this  effort  include  William  Hubbard  (Regional  Forester),  Adrian  Crabtree   (Business   Manager),   Leslie   Boby   (Extension   Associate   –   Climate   Science),   Sarah  Workman   (Public   Service   Associate   –   Forestry   &   Urban   Forestry),   Darryl   Outlaw   (Senior   IT  Associate),  Daniel  Drummond  (IT  Associate),  Benaiah  Morgan  (Mobile  Applications  Specialist),  Devin  O’Guinn  (Graphic  Artist),  and  Eulora  Skelton  (Student  Assistant).    The  SREF  office  wishes  to  thank  Sarah  Ashton  and  Raina  Sheridan  who  left  to  accept  private  sector  positions  in  2013.      

Activities/Accomplishments:    

USDA  NIFA  AFRI  CAP  Project  Updates    

 • Climate  Change  &  Southern  Pine  Plantation  “PINEMAP”  (University  of  Florida,  Lead)  ($20  million  

over  5  years,  12  institutions,  52  PI’s)  (http://www.pinemap.org)    • Status:  3rd  Year  Funded  out  of  5  (notification  received  February,  2012)  • Extension  Co-­‐Leaders  –  Hubbard  (SREF),  Taylor  (Texas  Agrilife  Extension)  

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o Six  institutions  leading  Extension  efforts  (Alcorn  State  University,  University  of  Florida,  TAMU,  NCSU,  NCAT  &  SREF)  

o Extension   received   $2.1   million   over   5   years   to   implement   various   programs   in   a   9   state  “loblolly  pine”  region  of  the  Southern  United  States.  

o Three  regional  Extension  Associates  hired  to  work  on  project  (Sean  Burns  -­‐  TAMU,  Leslie  Boby  -­‐  SREF-­‐UGA,  and  Heather  Dinon,  NCSU).  

• SREF  Products  to  date:  o Professional  Foresters  Climate  Change  Survey  (over  6,700  foresters  surveyed)  

§ Observations,  perceptions,  attitudes,  knowledge  levels  and  continuing  education  needs  § Survey  completed  in  May,  2013,  currently  cleaning  and  analyzing  data  for  use  at  state  level.  

 

 • Integrated   Biomass   Supply   Systems   “IBSS”   (University   of   Tennessee,   Lead),   $15   million   over   5  

years,  6  institutions,  20+  PI’s.  (Status:  Funded  first  two  years  to  date)  • SREF  is  on  5-­‐person  Executive  Team  led  by  Dr.  Tim  Rials,  UT-­‐Knoxville.  • Four   institutions   leading  Extension  efforts  (University  of  Tennessee,  Auburn  University,  NCSU,  &  

UGA-­‐SREF)  • Extension  receives  $1.5  million  over  5  years  to  implement  various  programs  in  an  8  state  region  of  

the  Southern  United  States)  • Model   will   involve   more   community   development   and   working   with   current   and   emerging  

biomass  industry  (industrial  Extension).    

Regional  Webinar  Series    

   o Three  “portals”  

§ Forestrywebinars.net  § Conservationwebinars.net  § Bioenergywebinars.net  

o Dozens  of  webinars  held  in  2012  and  2013.    Users  gain  professional  development  credits,  can  view  the  webinars  in  archived  format,  and  receive  a  certificate  of  completion.  

o New   RREA   project   led   by   NCSU   to   grow   the   webinar   portal   nationally,   reaching   more  professionals  and  landowners.    A  national  team  has  been  organized  and  working  together.  

 eXtension  Initiatives  § Urban  Forestry  &  Energy  Conservation  –  Rolled  out  in  Apil  2013.  § Administrative  Advisor  for  CoP  on  “Forest  Farming  –  Rolled  out  in  2012.  § Wood  to  Energy  CoP  (SREF  incorporating  IBSS  Bioenergy  results  into  the  site).  § Climate,  Forests  and  Woodlands  CoP  (SREF  office  assisting  with  necessary  updates).  

 Forest  Restoration  Efforts  Continue  § Shortleaf   Pine   Ecosystem   Restoration   Effort   –   Several   institutions   are   still   interested   in   this  

effort,  but  little  movement  on  a  formal  organization  to  date.  

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§ Longleaf   Pine   Ecosystem   Restoration   Effort   –   SREF   providing   leadership   to   develop   online  continuing  education  programs  for  natural  resource  professionals.  

§  Other  activities  § Service   Forester’s   Handbook:   –   SREF   coordinating   with   states   to   update   field   manual   for  

foresters  and  natural  resource  experts.  

   

Assistance  with  organizing  regional  &  national  conferences  and  training  events  continues:  § Southern  Forestry  GIS    2013  in  Athens,  GA  § Southern  Extension  Forestry  Unit  Leader’s  Meeting  (Athens,  GA  February  2013)  § National  Natural  Resources  Extension  Conference  (Sacramento,  CA,  May2014    

Website  Oversight:  • http://www.forestproductslocator.net  (Primary  Forest  Products  Network  website)  • http://www.sref.info  (SREF  Homepage)  • http://www.rngr.net  (Reforestation,  Nurseries  &  Genetics)  • http://www.forestbioenergy.net  (Forest  Bioenergy  Website)  • http://www.urbanforestrysouth.net  (Urban  Forestry  South  Expo)  • http://www.4hforestryinvitational.org  (The  National  4-­‐H  Forestry  Invitational  Homepage)  • http://www.interfacesouth.org  (Urban-­‐Wildland  Interface  Website)  • http://www.forestrywebinars.net  (Full  Service  Webinars  site)  • http://www.conservationwebinars.net  (NRCS  Webinars  site)  • http://www.bioenergywebinars.net  (Bioenergy  Webinars  site)  • http://www.forestryvideos.net  (Forestry  Videos  Website)  • http://forestthreats.org  (Eastern  Forest  Threats  Assessment  Center  website)  • http://www.timbertax.org  (National  Timber  Tax  Website)  • http://www.anrep.org  (Association  of  Natural  Resource  Extension  Professionals  website)  • http://www.southernforests.org  (Southern  Group  of  State  Foresters)  • http://forestencyclopedia.net  (The  Forest  Encyclopedia  Network)    

Regional  Peer  Reviewed  Extension  Publication  Series  Continues:  § Located  at  http://sref.info/publications  • Discounted   Cash   Flow  Methods   for   Urban   Forestry:   Standard   and   Specialized   Formulas  

(SREF-­‐UF-­‐002)  • Economic  Components  of  Urban  Tree  Value  (SREF-­‐UF-­‐003)  

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 Representation  on  Several  Regional  and  National  Committees  Continues:  § American  Forest  Foundation’s  Woodlands  Committee  (Information  &  Education  Chairman)  § External  Review  Panel  Member  –  Sustainable  Forestry  Initiative  Board  ®  § Southern  Wildland  Urban  Interface  Council  Executive  Committee  Member  § Shortleaf  Ecosystem  Restoration  Leadership  Council  Member  § SREF  Annual  Recognition  Awards  Program  Committee  Member  § Association  of  Natural  Resources  Extension  Professionals  (ANREP)  § National   Urban   &   Community   Forestry   Advisory   Council   (NUCFAC)   –   Secretary   of   Agriculture’s  

Advisory  Council  on  Urban  Forestry  § National  Forestry  4-­‐H  Invitational  Committee  Member  § RNGR  Technical  Review  Committee,  Washington,  DC  

 Travel  and  Presentations  Continue:  § SREF   traveled   to   several   Southern   states   in   2013   to   give   updates,   presentations   and   work   on  

regional  and  national  programs  and  projects.    Serve  on  graduate  committees  (Hatchett,  Timber  Tax  Website  2012,  Sparks,  Timber  Tax  Website  2013)                  

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Plan  of  Work  Highlights  for  2013-­‐2014    

• Continue   discussion   concerning   the   creation   of   a   Center   for   Sustaining   Southern   Family  Woodlands,  a  joint  center  between  Extension  and  the  US  Forest  Service  

• Work  with  partners   to   encourage   continued   inclusion  of  Extension   in   the  new  climate   science  hubs  to  be  located  in  North  Carolina  and  Texas.  

• Work  with  and  provide  oversight  to  several  new  and  continuing  staff  members  (Administrative  Specialist,  Extension  Associates  and  IT  Specialists)  

§ Implement   state  assignment  project  whereby  Extension  Associates  will  help  communicate  and  work  more  closely  with  assigned  states:  

o Leslie  Boby  (Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia  and  South  Carolina)  o Sarah  Workman  (North  Carolina,  Virginia,  Tennessee  &  Kentucky)  o Bill  Hubbard  (Mississippi,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Oklahoma  &  Texas)  

§ Develop   a   survey   to   send   to   state   Extension   Specialists   to   gauge   their   knowledge   of   SREF  programs  and  their  interest  in  working  on  regional  programs  and  projects.  

§ Use  these  results  and  the  new  infrastructure  to  work  more  closely  with  state  and  local  Extension  specialists,   agents   and   other   natural   resource   professionals   to   identify   critical  education/Extension  needs  and  opportunities.  

• Continue  to  provide  leadership  on  two  major  NIFA  regional  AFRI  CAP  projects:  o PINEMAP  o IBSS  

• Represent   the   Land   Grant   Extension   forestry   &   natural   resources   system   and   SREF   at  conferences,  workshops,  meetings  and  trade  shows.  

• Participate  in  key  state,  regional  and  national  initiatives.  • Provide  Leadership  for  the  Outreach  &  Education  Committee  of  the  Woodlands  Committee  of  the  

American  Tree  Farm  System.  • Continue  to  serve  as  editor  of  the  Southern  Extension  Forestry  Peer  Review  Publication  Series.  • Continue  leadership  and  grow  the  forestrywebinars.net  effort  to  include  the  PINEMAP  and  IBSS  

research  and  Extension  professionals.  • Travel   to   states   to  work  with   Extension   specialists,   agents,   state   forestry   personnel,   USDA   FS  

personnel  and  others.  • Committee  work  as  necessary.  • Publish  peer  and  other  reports,  articles,  etc.  • Provide  oversight   for  several  grants  and  projects  (Service  Forester’s  Handbook,  urban  forestry  

eXtension  effort,  online  urban  forestry  manual,  etc.)  • Offer  SREF  Awards  Program  • Assist  with  biannual  ANREP  conference  to  be  held  in  May  in  Sacremento,  CA  in  2014.