Bankhead National Forest White Oak Partnership Project recognized by the USDA Southern Research Station Director

 Partnership Recognition - 

National Forests in Alabama employees were recognized by the USDA Southern Research Station Director for their outstanding collaboration to implement a white oak restoration project in the Bankhead National Forest. Recipients for the “Partnership Award” were Callie Schweitzer, Stacy Clark, Ryan Sisk, Pat Curtin, Jason Harris (AL - District Silviculturist), Andy Scott (AL -Bankhead NF District Ranger), Scott Schlarbaum, Alison Mains, John Johnson, Margaret Johnson, Janice Barrett, Jason Rodrigue, Marcus Warwell, and Eugene Brooks (NFs in Alabama Silviculturist). “Experts from the Southern Region, the Bankhead National Forest, the University of Tennessee, and Wild Alabama developed a long-term science-management partnership to implement a white oak restoration project for the first time in Alabama national forest history and delivered research results to key audiences.  We salute Bankhead District Ranger Andy Scott, District Silviculturist Jason Harris and Forest Silviculturist Eugene Brooks, our Alabama NF teammates, and others for this honor and historical moment.  --Tammy

 

White Oak Restoration Research Project - News Article - National Forests in Alabama - News & Events (usda.gov)

 

 

U.S. Forest Service Works to Upgrade a Mountain in the Bankhead National Forest

Release Date: Mar 17, 2023

Public Affairs Specialist: Dawn Suiter
(224)334-5336
dawn.suiter@usda.gov
www.fs.usda.gov/alabama

Forest Service News Release

(Double Springs, AL) March 17, 2023—An interdisciplinary team of foresters, researchers, and cooperators from the USDA Forest Service, Nature Conservancy, and University of Tennessee - Tree Improvement Program (UTTIP) convened on Balls Mountain in the Bankhead National Forest for an historical event. They planted white oak seedlings for the first time in Alabama's national forests. The collaboration promotes "the desired future condition" of oak in the forest.

According to Bankhead National Forest District Ranger Andy Scott, the project involves planting between 500 and 800 white oak seedlings. "The area was planted in loblolly pine, which we determined was at risk of Southern Pine Beetle infestation, so the district developed a project in which we would remove the pine, but before harvesting it, recognized that we did not have enough advanced regeneration in oaks and hickories," said Scott.

To remedy the lack of hardwoods in the area, the district team reached out to others. "The goal was to ensure we had the necessary well-informed science, groups, and partnerships to make the project whole, said Jason Harris, silviculturist for the Bankhead National Forest. “I contacted Callie Schweitzer and Stacy Clark at the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and local communities through Wild Alabama. With their assistance, and the help of local schools in the county, we collected several thousand acorns to use for the tree planting project.”

The project involves extensive research, planning, and patience to ensure success. "It is challenging to regenerate white oak back on the landscape. One of the ways we think we can get it back is through planting," said Dr. Clark, research forester at the Forest Service Southern Research Station in Knoxville, TN. "White oak is a species that's extremely important for several reasons. It provides staves for barrels and cooperages that help the distillery industry. It is also a great source for wildlife. The acorns are highly palatable by wildlife and provide them with nutrients and carbohydrates."

The team plans to revisit the one and two-year-old seedlings in a year to gather empirical data on factors affecting performance and development, such as seedling size and age after outplanting. White oak is considered to be an outstanding tree among all trees and is widespread across eastern North America.

We appreciate the collaboration of Wild Alabama, the University of Tennessee - Tree Improvement Program (UTTIP), Forest Service Southern Research Station, students, and volunteers with Citizen Science. For more information on the white oak tree planting project, please contact Andy Scott, District Ranger at the Bankhead National Forest.

Forest Service Photo: pictured from left to right is Dr. Callie Schweitzer, John Johnson, and Jason Harris