Combining education, networking, sightseeing and good food, the Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tours have provided the opportunity to learn about sustainable forestry and wildlife management for over 40 years.
This year’s tours, offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with Virginia’s natural resource agencies, companies and associations, will start on Oct. 5 in Pulaski County.
The tour will offer landowners, natural resource professionals and other interested individuals the opportunity to spend a day in the field visiting a variety of woodland properties that are actively managed. Participants will visit private, industry and public lands that center on multiple-use management opportunities and practices. At each tour stop, participants meet with landowners to hear their stories, learn from their experiences and even share a meal.
The Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tours promote wise resource management on private forestlands and focus on science-based forestry and wildlife management practices, public and private sources of technical and financial management assistance and networking among landowners and natural resource professionals. The experience provides an ideal setting for landowners to discuss their forest management issues with professionals in an informal setting, as well as to network with their peers.
The Pulaski County tour was organized with the help of Pulaski County Extension, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Department of Forestry, Turman Lumber Company, New River Highlands RC&D and other natural resource agencies.
The one-day tour will be held in Pulaski County on Oct. 5. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee of $35 per person, which covers lunch, refreshments and transportation, is due one week before the tour date. Please register on line at http://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/onlineregistration.html. For more information, contact Bill Worrell at 276-889-8056.
A limited number of scholarships are available for K-12 teachers. Please contact Jennifer Gagnon, 540-231-6391 for details.
- Submitted by Bill Worrell
