Celebrating National Arbor Day April 28th

Posted on Friday, April 28, 2023

Why we should celebrate the positive impact of working forests this Arbor Day

Billy Geier, Southwest Resource Unit Director of Operations, Rayonier- April 28, 2023

My interest in forestry began when I was a young boy always spending time outdoors. Over time, I began to notice the clearing of land, and the trees not being utilized. I wanted to be involved in the proper management and utilization of this great renewable resource.

You might be aware of the essential benefits trees provide, but what you might not know is that healthy trees and working forests require active management. https://dev.texasforestry.org/images/uploads/RYN_BillyGeier.jpgThey are carefully managed by a group of foresters like myself, to supply sustainable timber for homes, paper, energy, and thousands of products we use in our everyday life. In addition, these working forests sequester carbon, protect water quality, and offer a habitat for many wildlife species.

At Rayonier, we plant 39 million seedlings each year. In the state of Texas, we plant 2.3 million trees on nearly 300,000 acres of managed forest land each year. It’s exciting to see the trees I was once responsible for planting, be harvested. But our work doesn’t start and stop at planting and harvesting. Our team of foresters manages the land, implements advanced silviculture practices including fertilization, and manages any pest or disease issues. As stewards of the land, it is crucial that our management practices are focused on conservation and sustainability. At Rayonier, the sustainability of our working forests is a passion, and something that we are all proud of.

If you are planting a tree this Arbor Day, reach out to Rayonier to coordinate a visit from one of our team members. We have hands-on educational lessons for groups of all ages and would love to share more about our forests.

I also urge you to you look beyond the planting of trees, and gain a deeper understanding of the impact sustainable working forests bring to the environment. Working forests contribute to our great state of Texas by:

Providing jobs to the community - From field foresters to loggers to truck drivers, working forests provide employment opportunities to the local community. The latest economic study by Texas A&M Forest Service shows that the Texas forest sector supported more than 172,000 jobs with $10.5 billion in labor income (Texas A&M Forest Service, 2021).
Creating economic growth - Local economies benefit from the sale of forestry products, such as lumber, pulp, and paper products. The revenue generated from our working forests supports local businesses, creating local economic growth. Texas A&M Forest Service reports a “total economic impact of $41.6 billion in total industry output,” for the Texas forest sector in 2021.

Protecting the local ecosystem - Managed forests support the biodiversity of not only the forest lands but the surrounding communities. With sustainable management practices at work, our forests help protect important natural resources that people and wildlife depend on. Wildlife habitats, water, and soil quality are all at the forefront of our minds.

As a forester, my career is centered around managing trees and protecting the environment. At the heart of it, we are environmentalists, making every day Arbor Day for a forester. We know and understand the stewardship and management of the forest. We hold a deep appreciation for the ecological, environmental, and social values the forest has and provides. Because of this, foresters commit to responsible and sustainable forestry practices. So, join me and the forestry industry in celebrating the contributions the foresters and the working forests provide to local communities, wildlife, and the environment.

For more information about forestry in Texas, visit www.texasforestry.org.

Billy Geier, Southwest Resource Unit Director of Operations, Rayonier