Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment hosted a roundtable luncheon and discussion on May 1 with the Office of U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers focusing on the university’s partnership with the U.S. Army through the Center for Natural Resources Management on Military Lands and other federal research initiatives being pursued within the college.
Faculty and staff participating in the round table included George Matusick, director of the Center for Natural Resources Management on Military Lands, who provided an overview of the scope of the partnership to provide natural resource management services to eleven U.S. Army garrisons located in the south and southeast regions of across the country.
Regions Professor Tom Gallagher presented the college’s downed timber research and Assistant Professor Lana Narine presented information on the college’s forest health initiatives. Alumni and George Peake Professor Daowei Zhang, who is also the college’s associate dean of research, discussed forest resiliency, carbon and markets and William R & Fay Ireland Distinguished Professor Steve Ditchkoff provided an overview of the college’s wild pig damage control research and extension initiatives.
During his concluding remarks, Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki Alavalapati said, “The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment is committed to advancing our understanding of the complex challenges facing our natural resources. We are proud of our partnership with the U.S. Army and grateful for the opportunity to share our research initiatives with Congressman Rogers’ congressional staff.”
Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment is a leader in natural resource management and conservation research. Through its innovative research and partnerships with industry and government, the college is working to ensure a sustainable future for our natural resources. This visit from Congressman Mike Rogers’ congressional staff highlights the importance of collaboration between government agencies and academic institutions to address pressing issues facing our natural resources.
(Written by Allison Killingsworth)
