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President's Message

President’s Message – Summer 2022

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Covers Magazine The term “disturbance dependent” is well understood in our circles. We recognize that habitat diversity is essential, and in a healthy forest, disturbance delivers that diversity. Of course, that’s why we advocate for active forest management. But have you ever thought about the natural processes we’re trying to emulate with forest management? Ruffed grouse have been around for some 25,000 years; what forces maintained habitat diversity during the first 99.5% of their existence in our woodlands before sawsand skidders? As this issue arrives in mailboxes, habitat managers will be working hard to reinstate one of the most important –...

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President’s Message: Summer 2022

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by Benjamin C. Jones | RGS & AWS President & CEO The term “disturbance dependent” is well understood in our circles. We recognize that habitat diversity is essential, and in a healthy forest, disturbance delivers that diversity. Of course, that is why we advocate for active forest management. However, have you ever thought about the natural processes we are trying to emulate with forest management? Ruffed grouse have been around for some 25,000 years; what forces maintained habitat diversity during the first 99.5% of their existence in our woodlands before saws and skidders? As this issue arrives in mailboxes, habitat managers...

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President’s Message – Covers Magazine, Spring 2022

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View of prescribed burn on George Washington-Jefferson National Forest. The fire resulted in 7% of the area becoming early successional habitat and 2% becoming open forest after one burn. U.S. Forest Service, Research Paper NRS-31. Photo by Sam Lindblom, The Nature Conservancy The term “disturbance dependent” is well understood in our circles. We recognize that habitat diversity is essential, and in a healthy forest, disturbance delivers that diversity. Of course, that’s why we advocate for active forest management. But have you ever thought about the natural processes we’re trying to emulate with forest management? Ruffed grouse have been around for some 25,000 years; what forces maintained...

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Presidents Message: Winter 2021

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Winter Magazine 2021 – Dynamic Forest Restoration, by Benjamin C. Jones, RGS & AWS President & CEO A “sea of sameness” is how one RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Director, Ben Larson, described many of the landscapes where we are working. You know the view – a vast expanse of trees, all the same age, same height, canopies touching. Although hidden from our view when overlooking forested scenic vistas, the shaded understory below lacks plant diversity and isn’t meeting wildlife habitat needs. Healthy, wildlife-supportive forests are age-diverse, like a family with multiple generations of young and old. Yet, it’s not enough to create...

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Put Me In – Summer 2021 President’s Message

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chainsaw cutting a tree

President’s message from Ben Jones, RGS & AWS President & CEO – originally printed in Summer 2021 issue of Covers Magazine As I write this, it’s mid-April, the sun is out, but it’s damp and chilly. That has me reminiscing about heading to the Pittsburgh Pirates opener at Three Rivers Stadium every year with my dad: The emerald green field as we emerged from the concourse, the smack of the ball hitting gloves during warmups and the cutting chill posed by the spring air and all that concrete in the old stadium. I still love baseball, although my own playing time...

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President’s Message: Put Me In, Coach

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by Benjamin C. Jones | RGS & AWS President & CEO As I write this, it’s mid-April, the sun is out, but it’s damp and chilly. That has me reminiscing about heading to the Pittsburgh Pirates opener at Three Rivers Stadium every year with my dad: The emerald green field as we emerged from the concourse, the smack of the ball hitting gloves during warmups and the cutting chill posed by the spring air and all that concrete in the old stadium. I still love baseball, although my own playing time was cut short with the realization that it impeded on...

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