David Ray, Tall Timbers new Forestry Research Scientist, joins the Research Staff

Tall Timbers is pleased to introduce David Ray, our new Forestry Research Scientist, who joined our research staff in July.

David has a longstanding interest in managing forests for the sustainable production of a variety of goods and services. His background is in the silviculture of natural forests of the Northeastern U.S. where multi-aged management of mixed species conifer forests is commonplace, providing a link to the approach he will be taking working at Tall Timbers. According to David, the philosophy behind the Forestry Program at Tall Timbers is well suited to carrying out the types of research and outreach that will help inform practice and transfer information on ecologically grounded and economically viable approaches to managing upland pine forests. Initially he will focus his efforts on topics such as plantation conversions, securing natural regeneration in the context of multi-aged management, and early development of newly established cohorts (of natural and planted origin). David states that, “the long history of managing forests for multiple objectives (e.g. wildlife, timber, aesthetics) that has defined land-use practices in the Red Hills Region suggests there is a ready audience for this type of information here, and I’m hopeful it will also be of interest within the broader region. These are exciting times to be involved in forest management, with emerging markets for ecosystem services like carbon storage and watershed protection, and developments in the areas of forest certification and conservation easements which offer landowners additional options. I look forward to helping assist the landowner members of Tall Timbers in meeting their forest management goals.” To learn more about David Ray and to contact him by phone or email, please click here.

Tall Timbers Launches New Electronic Newsletter

The TALL TIMBERS E-News is a new electronic newsletter, which will be available to those who have provided us with their email addresses. With this e-newsletter, we will transition to electronic communications to keep you informed about our research and conservation activities in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. To view the inaugural issue of Tall Timbers E-news, click here.

To receive this electronic publication, we must have your email address, and then an initial email notification will be sent inviting you to join our mailing list. The recipient must agree to subscribe, then a link will be provided to a web-based newsletter. A recipient can unsubscribe at any time. Each edition will be archived on our web server for easy access, from both future E-News editions and from our web site. Consolidated into the E-News will be the Research Notes, Quail and Conservation Report to Donors, Tall Timbers News, and the Planning Bulletin. If we do not have your email address on file, please send it to Lorene Garcia

Tall Timbers Celebrates 50 Years as Stewards
of Wildlife and Wildlands

Established on February 7, 1958, the upcoming year marks Tall Timbers’ 50th Anniversary and features yearlong activities to commemorate this historic milestone.

For a calendar of dates, events and locations of activities we have planned during the year, click here. Information about these activities will be posted on this Web site. Please visit the site regularly for updates as some dates may change or be determined. Click here to read more about Tall Timbers' 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Land Conservancy Reaches Milestone: Over 108,000 acres Protected Through Donated Conservation Easements

As Tall Timbers celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2008, its Land Conservancy reached a milestone exceeding over 108,000 acres of land protected in southwest Georgia and north Florida through donated conservation easements. 2007 was a banner year as Tall Timbers closed on twenty-three projects conserving more than 30,000 acres of land, tripling its typical year workload and results. Beyond its conservation efforts in the Red Hills region, TTLC expanded its service area in southwest Georgia and successfully completed easements in the Albany/Moultrie longleaf/wiregrass hunting plantation belt and along key watersheds, including the Flint, Ochlockonee, and Aucilla Rivers. The results have allowed TTLC to become one of the largest regional land trusts in Georgia and Florida (Learn more about the TTLC). With Congress approving the Farm Bill in May 2008, the expanded federal tax incentives for conservation easements will continue through December 2009. With this federal incentive and new state incentives, we expect more landowners to consider conservation an option for the future planning of their properties. These incentives are making a difference and allowing families to keep their land in rural uses. Finally, Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy is please to announce that it has applied for national accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. For an opportunity to comment on the work of the TTLC, click here.