News - August 2023


Warnell advisor receives campus-wide recognition for his role

Matt Head’s ‘student-focused’ approach, use of technology cited in Outstanding Advising Administrator award   He might not be a superhero, but to faculty and students at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Matt Head’s advising skills certainly seem to raise the bar to a lofty level. Sure, accolades from his co-workers express gratitude for his expertise and knowledge, but other words used to describe Head, who advises…


Improving water through the land

Study helps municipalities take a proactive approach to improving drinking water   If a community wants to improve its drinking water, one option is to spend money on upgrading equipment. But another option is to focus on how land upstream is managed, improving the water running off it and into connecting streams and rivers. Depending on the location, improvements in upstream land management can be a proactive way for municipalities to…


Project examines role of forest certification in water quality, species success

Every day, Americans touch fibers that came from trees, whether it’s in the cardboard box holding our breakfast cereal or the contents of our mailbox picked up at the end of the day. The trees used in the pulp-making process are constantly being replanted, making these products inherently sustainable. But, when fibers are sourced from forests that follow specific standards for water quality and species management, the impact can be even greater…


Hidden in plain sight: Student tracks paths of lesser-known migrating butterflies

Every fall, visitors flock to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. But these aren’t families looking for a sandy spot on the beach; rather, these visitors are butterflies on their annual migration. The orange and black wings of monarch butterflies get the most attention, and rightfully so: They are famous for their 8-month journey from Mexico to Canada. But many other species migrate through the area, says University of Georgia master’s…

man at computer
Remote control: Graduate student is 1st of Warnell’s Class of 2020 to complete fully online presentation

  Cody Tisdale’s recent presentation for his master’s thesis was groundbreaking—but maybe not in the way you might expect. Yes, his work examining the levels of contaminants in wild turkeys opened up new avenues of research, but it was his method of presenting his work—via a virtual Zoom meeting—that was completely new. Tisdale is one of many graduate students at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources now…


New professorship focuses on forest economics, taxation

Earlier this year, the Georgia Board of Regents approved a new professorship at Warnell that will provide a clear benefit for both the forestry program as well as Georgia taxpayers. The Stuckey Professorship in Forest Economics and Taxation, established with support from W.S. Stuckey Jr. (BBA ’56, LLB ’59), provides dependable funding for research and travel into this critical area of forest landownership. The professorship has been awarded to…


Working smarter through automation: Wood and fiber quality research team develops new way to analyze wood

The smartest woodworking tool at the University of Georgia lives in a brick building at the edge of Whitehall Forest. Here, amid machines that test wood for its stiffness and strength, sits a router that automatically determines the size and depth of a wood disk, and then adjust its cuts to match the disk dimensions. Place a wood disk on its deck and the machine knows what to do, as it hovers, calculates, whirrs and cuts sleek, smooth lines…


Environment, education connect in service-learning project

UGA class connects with local school to assist in expanding science curriculum   As the group worked its way down the forested pathway, a few members stopped, mulling over some logs rolled off to the side. Kris Irwin knelt down and rolled one toward him—exposing the underside away from his feet, which is key, he noted—and also highlighted a teaching moment right at their fingertips. “Look at that root system for fungi,” he said, then pulled…


Swimming with the storm: Wet spring, high rivers are a boon to fish

Swelling waterways are part of a healthy ecosystem, experts say   When rivers swell after a rainfall, the fish take notice. As the current increases, it takes more energy to swim through their regular haunts. So, fish find refuge in parts of the river where it’s quieter—typically, out of the main current and off to the edges, moving into flooded areas that were, until recently, the forest floor. Moving to this new location has its benefits…


Forestry for the people: A new degree program meets a growing need for community and urban tree professionals

Bob White knew he wanted to work in the field of urban forestry, and he knew he wanted to attend Warnell. Still, when he received his degree in forest resources, there were some gaps he had to fill in on his own. “It’s night and day between what a forester will do,” and working in a community setting, says White (BSFR ’10, MS ’12). And so, when it came time for his master’s, White assembled a committee that included community forestry expert Kim…

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