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Southern Appalachian

Congratulations to Sara Cerv, RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Director, on receiving the North Carolina Society of American Foresters’ Young Forester Leadership Award!

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This prestigious recognition – reserved for forestry professionals under 40 – highlights “outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in the development and promotion of an individual program or project or for a sustained leadership role benefiting the practice of forestry and the Society.” Sara has served as the APSAF Membership Chair for the past two years, earning this honor through innovative initiatives that strengthen connections between academic, public, and private sectors, advance sustainable forest management and directly support the APSAF’s mission. Her sustained leadership and hands‑on dedication exemplify the future of forestry – and we’re proud to see her...

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A Nuanced Approach to Habitat Management for Ruffed Grouse and Other Wildlife

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Laurel Bed Lake at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Virginia

by Sean Barry | RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Coordinator, Southern Appalachians Laurel Bed Lake at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Virginia The faint change of leaves glistened along Laurel Bed Lake’s shore as early fall made itself vaguely known. One of those mornings that begins brisk and then warms up – a start in a jacket, end in a t-shirt type of day. The plan was to mark boundaries for a crop tree release at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in southwest Virginia. This work is part of our project with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and made...

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New Hires Strengthen Habitat Work Across Southern Appalachians Region

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RGS & AWS is expanding its team in the Southern Appalachians with the addition of two Forest Wildlife Specialists: Justin Ireland in Tennessee and Pan Tankersley in South Carolina. Justin Ireland Ireland is a Tennessee native and life-long hunter with a bachelor’s in wildlife from Tennessee Tech and master’s of science in forestry from the University of Tennessee. After serving five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Ireland worked as a field forester and consultant in Tennessee, and a wildlife research technician in Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi. Ireland’s role spans both private and public lands. On private lands, preparing Natural Resources...

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RGS & AWS Foresters Respond to Hurricane Helene – Grassroots action and federal and local partners bring relief to Southern Appalachia

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by Kristen A. Schmitt On Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, hours after making landfall at peak intensity along the Big Bend region of Florida, Hurricane Helene roared across the southeastern U.S., triggering catastrophic flooding in western North Carolina, East Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. The Category 4 storm took the area by surprise, coupling the onslaught of rain with gale force winds that snapped oaks and hickories like twigs, leaving a decimated landscape in its wake. For Sean Barry, a resident of Marshall, North Carolina, no one believed it would be as bad as it was. “It caught us off guard,” said Barry, RGS &...

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A Collaboration for a Healthier Appalachian Forest

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by Matthew L. Miller Working together, forest restoration in the Appalachians carries so many benefits. Yes, a healthy and resilient forest benefits grouse and woodcock. It also benefits a wide variety of other species from cerulean warblers to ovenbirds to bats. It benefits outdoor recreation and local communities. A common purpose in restoring healthy forest is why The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and RGS & AWS have partnered in the southern Appalachians, recently formalized with a strategic document outlining how the groups will work together. This partnership is particularly inspiring for me. I’ve worked as a writer and communicator for TNC for 23 years,...

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RGS & AWS Hires Spencer Marshall as Forest Wildlife Specialist

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RGS & AWS welcomes Spencer Marshall as a forest wildlife specialist for state lands in western Virginia. Marshall is originally from Galax, Virginia, and earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation with a minor in forestry from Virginia Tech. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee where his graduate research was focused on white-tailed deer response to prescribed fire. Marshall’s professional interests include applied management to enhance habitat quality for various game species. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Marshall is excited to return to southwest Virginia to work on the state lands...

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