Jeff Icard, Assistant County Ranger with the North Carolina Forest Service, spoke to the club to today about NC Forest Service efforts to manage the area’s timber and forest lands. Jeff was born and raised in Burke County, graduated from East Burke High School in 2003 and from Haywood Community College in 2005 with an Associate’s degree in forest management. He started working for the North Carolina Forest Service in December 2005
In addition to forest management, The N.C Division of Forest Resources (NCDFR) exists to help landowners ensure North Carolina’s forests stay healthy, productive and beautiful for future generations. Some of the services offered are:
- Providing financial assistance to help landowners interested in starting a new forest or improving an existing one.
- Forest management helps landowner’s determine how to best meet the landowner’s objectives and developing a forest management plan that seeks to properly maintain the land so that it will be productive for future generations.
- Forest fire protection – work with local fire departments to prevent, detect and suppress forest and woodland fires. When conditions warrant prescribed burns may help prevent larger fires.
- Seedling sales to landowners – NCDFR nurseries grow many species of commercial forest trees native to North Carolina. Landowners may purchase seedlings at a nominal cost.
- The Urban and Community Forestry program offers assistance to cities, towns and counties with planning, species selection, planting techniques, insect and disease control and tree maintenance.
- Insect and Disease Protection – NCDFR maintains statewide pest surveillance and takes corrective action when significant forest resources are threatened.
If you’d like to know more about these and other NC Division of Forest Resources programs, contact Jeff at 828-465-8443, jeff.icard@ncagr.gov or one of your local rangers or foresters. Learn more at www.ncforestservice.gov.
