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RD Parks honored for silviculture work PETERSBURG, Alaska–Each year the Forest Service Alaska
Region presents the Silviculturist of the Year award to an outstanding Alaskan silviculturist. A Tongass National Forest silviculturist received the honor at the regional silviculture meeting in Petersburg last week. North Zone Planning Silviculturist, Renaker
D.(RD) Parks, earned the Alaska Region 2013 Silviculturist of the Year award. "I would like to congratulate R.D. on achieving this honor and for sustained effort in silviculture not only in 2013 but during his tenure on the Tongass
National Forest," said Regional Forester Beth Pendleton. She added, "the past few years have been extremely challenging for silviculturists in the Alaska Region.” The objective for transitioning the primary focus of timber management to young growth has presented a need for accelerating inventory of young stands,
prioritizing and scheduling pre-commercial thinning, and continuing to balance commercial treatments between old and young growth stands.
Pendleton explained, “This balance is critical to maintaining the existing infrastructure, jobs and support to local economies, while commercial young
growth markets continue to evolve." "Silvicultural practice consists of the various treatments that may be applied to forest stands to maintain and/or enhance their use for any purpose,"
said Tongass National Forest Silviculturist Sheila Spores. "Silviculturists take clearly defined objectives, be it wildlife, aesthetics, timber and design long or short term prescriptions to meet the objectives."
RD worked for the Ketchikan Pulp Company as a forester stationed at Rowan Bay, Alaska prior to his Forest Service career. RD started as a forester and
soils specialist at the Petersburg Ranger District in 1991. He completed his silvicultural certification in 2008. RD’s 2013 accomplishments included: leading and assisting interdisciplinary teams during environmental analysis, developing silviculture prescriptions
based upon land management objectives, managing the Tongass seed cache and seedling program, mentoring aspiring silviculturists/foresters, and providing excellent support to the community through volunteer efforts. -end- This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
