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Three speakers at forestry forum outline challenges |
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Written by Publisher
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Friday, 23 October 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Ned Karger (right), chairman of the Steering Committee for the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum, presents black cherry “biltmore sticks” to the three keynote speakers at Thursday’s event at the Kane Country Club. The speakers include, left to right: Ken Kane, a consulting forester with Keith Horn, Inc. of Kane; Blaine Puller, who retired recently as the forest manager at Kane Hardwood; and Jeff Kochel, management forester for the Forest Investment Associates division based in Smethport.
Many challenges lie ahead for the management of Kane area hardwood forests.
This was one of the main points made Thursday by three veteran foresters, who were the keynote speakers for the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum at Kane Country Club.
The event marked the 25th anniversary of the twice-a-year forum that began in 1984.
The speakers included Ken Kane, a consulting forester with Keith Horn, Inc. of Kane; Jeff Kochel, management forester with the Forest Investment Associates division based in Smethport; and Blaine Puller, who retired recently as the forest manager for the Kane Hardwood Division of the Collins Pine Co.
Combined, the speakers have accumulated 100 years of experience in managing Allegheny hardwood forests.
Sitting side-by-side on stools in the front of the dining room, the three speakers took turns discussing three questions:
n What is worse in forest management?
n What is better in forest management?
n What are the challenges facing future forest management?
In the discussion, Kane said those involved in forest management need to “trust each other as professionals.” He said too often the forest managers are “straying from focusing on the resource” and have “lost touch with nature.”
Kane also believes forest managers have “failed to share our knowledge” with the public. Because of this oversight, those who manage area forests have failed to “gain the trust of the public.”
Kochel said he is concerned with “the apparent decline in forest health over the past 10 to 15 years.” He said the forest stands “seem less resilient and general symptoms of decline appear to be occurring over larger areas involving a greater variety of species.”
Kochel said there seems to be “fewer good seed years.” Even during so-called “good seed years,” the “seed crops appear less abundant,” Kochel said. “This includes key species such as black cherry,” he added.
Puller said “effective communications” is one of the challenges facing future forest management.
Puller said communication “should be easier” with cell phones, e-mails and fax machines.
“What is being missed, though, is the ability to timely tell those who need to be told what is really important,” Puller said. “Also, on the other end, it’s more important than ever before to listen to what is being said and ask the right question to the right person to get the right information. Only then can the right decisions be made.”
Puller said “we’re lucky to have the most valuable hardwood forest in the country to manage and use.” But he believes forest managers will need to “use all the tools available to sustain the resource.”
“It will take a significant amount of time, money and work to overcome the challenges and barriers that exist,” Puller said. “The new foresters will have new ideas. I hope they can learn from the past and move forward with an enthusiasm that carries the ball on down the field.”
Kane said “we have a great history” of managing and sustaining the local hardwood forests.
“Can we take this work and apply it to the future?” Kane wondered.
Ned Karger of Kane Hardwood is the chairman of the 18-member Steering Committee for the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum. He served as master-of-ceremonies for the event and presented the traditional black cherry “biltmore sticks” to the three speakers.
About 120 attended the forum, which was the 51st in the series that began in 1984 in Warren. It was the second largest crowd on record. Most of the forums have been held at the Kane Country Club.
Keith Horn of Kane donated one of his original outdoor paintings as a fund-raiser for the Bob Bauer Memorial Scholarship Fund at Penn State. Bob Kirchner of St. Marys won the prize painting. Kirchner is the senior risk control consultant for the PMA Insurance Group and is the president of the Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association.
The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has chosen the Roach-Bauer Forum for one of its three national awards, it was announced.
State Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway) provided a citation to the forum. Larry Persing of Scarnati’s Warren office presented the citation.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 October 2009 )
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