Board of Forestry
Minutes
The Board of Forestry met on Friday, May 29, 2009, at the Virginia Department of Forestry Office in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Convene Meeting
The formal Board meeting began at 8:30 a.m. on May 29, 2009. Those present were: C. Harrell Turner, Anitra B. Webster, David Blount, R. Easton Loving, Marvin P. Wilson, III, David Wm. Smith, Judy Guse-Noritake, Hillary Little, Floyd Miles, Lee Showalter, and Carl Garrison, III and Donna Hoy with the Department of Forestry.
Call to Order
Chairman Turner called the meeting to order.
Ms. Hoy called roll.
Changes and Adoption of Agenda
Chairman Turner asked if there were any changes that needed to be made to the agenda. Mr. Garrison requested that ARMICS Survey be added to the agenda under State Forester’s report and Third Party Certification of DOF State Forests be added under New Business. The agenda was amended to include these two items.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Turner asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the January 15, 2009 minutes. Mr. Showalter made the motion for the minutes to be approved as written. Ms. Webster seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Recognition of Guests and Visitors
Chairman Turner welcomed Mr. Bud Watson, Virginia Forest Watch; Mr. Randy Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association; Mr. Kurt Christensen, Tree Farmer; Mr. Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau; Mr. Jim Mooney, Virginia Loggers Association; Mr. Ron Jenkins, Mr. John Carroll, Mr. Brad Williams, Mr. Jerre Creighton, Mr. Ed Zimmer, Mr. John Campbell, and Ms. Janet Muncy with the Department of Forestry.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations
None
Information Items
None
State Forester's Report
Mass Controlled Pollination Pilot Project
Mr. Creighton gave a presentation to the Board on the Department’s Mass Controlled Pollination (MCP) Pilot Project being conducted at New Kent Forestry Center. Mass controlled pollination is a tree breeding technique that increases genetic gains compared to traditional wind-pollination. Mr. Creighton stated the production of third generation loblolly pine seed would provide landowners with a lower-risk, lower-cost alternative to varietals that still provides significant growth and quality gains. Offering MCP seedlings would retain the Department’s seedling sales that might otherwise go to competitors offering single-family or MCP lots.
Recommendations for Board of Forestry Member Replacement
Mr. Garrison stated that Board of Forestry member terms run in conjunction with the Governor’s term and DOF will be making recommendations for replacement Board members in 2010. In addition, the Farm Bureau, Agri-Business Council, Virginia Forestry Association, Virginia Forest Products Association, and Virginia Loggers Association will also make recommendations for appointments to the Board of Forestry. Mr. Garrison asked eligible Board members to let him know if they are willing to serve another term and for all Board members to provide name(s) of individuals from their Congressional District that would be good replacements. Two names from each Congressional District will be submitted to the Governor’s office for consideration. He asked that Board members e-mail their recommendations to him with a copy to all Board members. Current members from Congressional District 4, 5, 6, 7 will be replaced in 2010.
Gubernatorial Transition Letter
The Department of Forestry will draft a letter to Governor canidates listing issues they should consider during their four year term. The Board spent time brain-storming ideas/issues to be included in the letter. Mr. Garrison will draft the letter and send out to all Board members for review/comment prior to sending. This letter will be sent to candidates in early July.
Guests in attendance at the Board meeting will also get a copy of the draft letter.
Mr. Garrison will prepare talking points as back up to the letter for Board members to use when speaking with the candidates. This will help all to be knowledgeable of the issues.
Biomass Definition Discussion
Mr. Garrison shared several bio-mass definition papers with the Board members. Bio-mass is getting a lot of attention on Capitol Hill. He stated he was not asking the Board to take a specific stance on this issue, but wanted them to be aware of what was going on.
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has been asked to develop a definition and Mr. Garrison will be involved with creating that definition as they move forward. The issue is on hold at the current moment. NASF will stay heavily involved with developing a definition.
The Southern Group of State Foresters has submitted a letter of support to the Governors in the South. Mr. Garrison reported that Governor Kaine has taken a neutral position and has not signed his support of the letter.
The Society of American Foresters has written the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking that they revise its biomass definition throughout the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
Mr. Mooney shared a Senate Resolution from South Carolina on biomass with Board members.
Mr. Garrison stated the Department of Forestry will remain neutral on this issue and he will continue to filter information to Secretary Bloxom and the Governor’s Policy Office.
ARMICS Survey
Mr. Garrison shared a summary of the results of the Department’s second annual ARMICS survey. The summary results were also shared with all Department employees. He stated there were two issues that stood out in the results: communications and DOF’s IFRIS system. Mr. Garrison is working on a response to these specific issues of concern.
The Department plans to compare each survey with the previous year results to develop any trends of improvement, reoccuring issues, etc. He stated there were no demographics built into the survey and the Department will work toward establishing some demographics to know where the comments are coming from and the service years from those responding.
Third Party Certification
Dr. Smith suggested that the Board look into Third Party Certification of the Department of Forestry State Forests, and look at the role the Department should play in forest landowner education that deals with informing landowners about Forest Certification, the several pathways for getting forest land certified, the implications of Certification to potential marketing of forest products from Virginia’s forest landowners, and how the LEED/USGBC impacts the potential marketing of Virginia’s Forest Products.
This issue will be added to the next meeting agenda of the Board of Forestry.
Action Items
Mr. Loving and Mr. Blount will serve on the Nominating Committee for Chair and Vice-Chair for the new Board. Names will be brought to the October meeting for the Board members vote.
Committee Liaison Report
Ms. Webster gave an update on the Virginia Urban Forest Councils meeting. She reported that this group had offered $389,000 in grants for 2010; they have helped other states with tree damage assessment from natural disasters; working on Green Infrastructure for Lynchburg; had given $10,000 for the upcoming Waynesboro Workshop. Ms. Webster felt this committee is a very viable group and is extremely helpful for the Department. She recommended the Department put links on the webpage to upload some of the information provided by this group.
Mr. Blount reported on his participation with the Virginia Forest Products Roundtable meeting. This group was formed at the request of Secretary Bloxom as a follow-up to the results from the recent Weldon Cooper Study. Mr. Blount reported the number one issue was certification and the second was the impact on the loggers of the current economic conditions. There will be follow-up meetings this summer (4-8 people) to review issues, concerns, ideas generated at the roundtable meeting to determine what needs to be done to enhance Virginia’s forest products. Mr. Blount felt this was a good meeting.
Mr. Turner reported meeting with Virginia Outdoors Foundation and Mr. Garrison concerning conservation easements. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is concerned about adequate staff to complete the necessary work for the number of applications they have to process. The Governor’s goal of conserving 400,000 acres will be met.
Mr. Wilson attended the April 16th Northern Virginia Roundtable meeting, which focused on invasive species. Representatives from the Nursery and Landscaping Association were invited to speak and they were strongly opposed to any legislation preventing the sale of invasive species in nurseries.
Other Business
None
Scheduling of Next Meetings
The next meeting of the Board will be October 23, 2009 on the Eastern Shore, with a field tour for the Board on October 22. Specifics for the October meeting will be sent to all Board members once it is determined.
The following meeting will be in conjunction with the General Assembly Session in January. Specifics for this meeting will be sent once they are determined.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairman Turner accepted a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was officially adjourned at 11:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary
c: Board Members
The Honorable Robert S. Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Dr. J. Michael Kelly, Dean, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech
Mr. J. R. Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association
Mr. Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association
Mr. David E. Anderton, Jr., Association of Consulting Foresters
Ms. Tammi Belinsky, WildWood
Mr. Steve Brooks, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Ann Duff, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Mr. Jim Mooney, Virginia Loggers Association
Mr. Gerald Gray, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Donna Pugh-Johnson, Virginia Agribusiness Council
Ms. Martha Moore, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Mr. Roger Sherman, MeadWestvaco Corporation
Ms. Staci Henshaw, Auditor of Public Accounts
Mr. Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau
Mr. Jason Woodfin, Virginia Forest Watch
Mr. Bud Watson, Virginia Forest Watch
Mr. Charles F. Finley, Jr.
NOTE: Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Office of the State Forester.
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