Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Welcome to the Virginia Department Of Forestry

Board of Forestry
Minutes
August 20, 2007

The Board of Forestry met on August 20, 2007, at the Department of Forestry, Central Office, in Charlottesville.

Convene Meeting:

The formal Board meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on August 20, 2007. Those present were: C. Harrell Turner, Anitra B. Webster, David Blount, Judy Guse-Noritake, R. Easton Loving, Marvin P. Wilson, III, E. Lee Showalter, David Wm. Smith, Hillary F. Little, Frank Brooks, Floyd H. Miles, Sr. and Carl E. 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 asked that Mr. Joe Lehnen be added to the agenda for a special recognition/presentation to Mr. Blount as a Certified Forest Stewardship Landowner. The agenda was changed to reflect that addition. Mr. Lehnen gave the Board an overview of the work Mr. Blount has done on his property and presented Mr. Blount with a plaque.

Approval of Minutes:

Chairman Turner asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the April 10, 2007 minutes. Mr. Showalter made the motion for the minutes to be approved as written. Mr. Blount seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Recognition of Guests and Visitors:

Chairman Turner welcomed Mr. Randy Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association; Mr. James Garner, Foundation for Virginia’s Natural Resources Board; Mr. Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association; Mr. Rob Farrell, Mr. Brad Williams, Mr. Buck Kline, Mr. Charlie Becker, and Mr. Ron Jenkins with the Department of Forestry.

Hearing of Citizens and Delegations:

Mr. Garner gave the Board a brief overview of the Foundation for Virginia’s Natural Resources. The Foundation was established by the 2005 General Assembly to establish and sustain a cooperative, non-regulatory philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through the conservation of our natural resources. The Foundation is assigned to the Department of Forestry for administrative support, etc. The Foundation has completed its Business Plan, which they will review in the fall for updates. They have also completed a Strategic Plan and have developed a “Code of Ethics” that each member will sign.

The Department of Forestry approved an operating grant for the Foundation to provide them with start-up money. The Foundation has received donations from businesses/private individuals. This money will be used to help the Foundation achieve their goals. For next year, they have set a goal of having one new outdoor classroom in each river basin. They have also set a goal of adequate funding to send 100 teachers to an international conservation education conference. All donors for the Foundation will be publicly recognized for their contribution.

Mr. Garner also serves on the State Fair Committee for Meadow Farm located in Caroline County. Meadow Farm will house the State Fair and the park will be designed as a year round event park, focusing on conservation and natural resources. He stated Mr. Curry Roberts, Chair of the State Fair Committee, extended an invitation to the Board of Forestry to hold their spring meeting at Meadow Farm where they can be briefed on the plans for the State Fair and see the location and progress that has been done. The fair grounds are scheduled to be operational in the fall of 2009. The Board is interested in holding a future meeting at Meadow Farm. When meeting dates are scheduled for 2008, the Board will consider Mr. Curry’s request.

Information Items:

Land Conservation Update:

Mr. Rob Farrell shared a draft paper on Criteria for Consideration of Donated Easements and an outline of the conservation easement donation process. At the April meeting, the State Forester had requested that the Board review and provide feedback/comments on these draft papers to Mr. Farrell.

Mr. Farrell also gave Board members draft language for a conservation easement for their review/comments. Mr. Farrell will send electronic copies of these draft documents to Board members. The Department is in the process of accepting four conservation easements. Mr. Farrell stated the Department receives one or two calls a week from landowners wanting the Department to hold an easement on their property.

Mr. Farrell stated that forest legacy funding is getting harder and harder to obtain. This year DOF submitted three projects for funding. DOF is working to secure land acquisitions for the following pieces of property: Brumley Mountain in Southwest Virginia; Dragon Run, in the Tidewater area; Big Woods, Southampton County.

DOF has hired three Conservation Specialists (Portsmouth, Richmond, and Charlottesville). Existing positions were utilized for these hires. These Specialists will focus on implementation of the Department’s conservation efforts.

Ecosystem Services

Mr. Kline made a presentation on Ecosystem Services and gave the Board an update on the Department’s role in this initiative. If Board members would like a copy of the presentation, please contact Donna Hoy.

Update on Land Conservation Meeting Schedule

At least one Board member will attend each meeting. Board members are to contact Donna Hoy and let her know which meeting they will attend. Invitations will be sent out by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to localities. The exact location for each of these meetings will be sent to all Board members.

Biomass Energy

Mr. Becker gave each Board member a handout on what is happening in Virginia pertaining to biomass and what role the Department of Forestry is playing in this effort.

State Forester's Report:

Mr. Garrison reported that the fire situation nationwide was extremely high. With above normal temperatures and low humidity, the fire situation is expected to worsen. Virginia is seeing an increase in fires and acres from last year. Volunteers are being asked to take fire assignments out West. There is a shortage of critical need positions. The Department has sent two 20-man crews for assignments. These crews have completed their assignment and returned home.

There will be a projected $400 million shortfall within the state revenue this fiscal year. Agencies were asked to make recommendations for a 5 percent reduction in the budget for Fiscal Year 2008. Not all agencies will be required to take a 5 percent cut. The Department had some carry over funding from last year’s budget, which can go toward the 5 percent cut this year. Mr. Garrison reported there will be additional cuts during the next biennium budget.

Hiring, out-of-state travel, regular travel, sponsorships, etc. are areas that will be scrutinized during the next fiscal year budget. At this time, there are no plans to cut personnel; however, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry will review requests for hiring and approve before positions are filled.

Legislative proposals for the 2008 legislative session were due in the Secretary’s office on August 24. The Department will submit the following for consideration:

Items approved by the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry will be submitted to the Governor for consideration in the 2008 General Assembly session.

Action Items:

None

Committee Liaison Report:

Ms. Webster attended the Virginia Forestry Association Annual meeting. This group is currently working on bi-laws and organizational restructure. She encouraged anyone who is not currently a member to join. She had handouts available for members to take and review.

Mr. Wilson attended the Northern Virginia Urban Forestry roundtable meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for September 14 at Purcellville.

Dr. Smith reported he had met with Mr. John Campbell, Public Relations Manager with the Department of Forestry, and his staff to discuss the possibility of an internal training program designed to prepare Foresters for the Certified Forester exam. Dr. Smith thought having Certified Foresters on the Department’s staff would enhance its professional status, as well as have some monetary advantages to Foresters who are certified. Dr. Smith made a formal request of the Board of Forestry to support the establishment of this program. The Board was in favor of pursuing such a program for the Department and the Board’s Education Committee will continue to work with Mr. Campbell and other Department staff on this issue and will keep the Board updated.

Other Business:

None

Scheduling of Next Meetings:

The next Board of Forestry meeting is set for Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 1:00 p.m., at New Kent Conference Center in Providence Forge. The Board members will tour the Garland Gray Forestry Center the following day.

Mr. Little extended an invitation for the Board to hold a meeting on the Eastern Shore. The Board will consider meeting there when meetings for 2008 are scheduled.

Adjournment:

There being no further business, Chairman Turner accepted a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was officially adjourned at 5:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary

c: Board Members
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. Charles F. Finley, Jr., Forest Landowners Association
Mr. Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau

NOTE: Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Office of the State Forester.

Last modified: Friday, 07-Mar-2008 19:13:30 UTC