Page 15 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Second Quarter 2020

contributions. Partnering with groups such as the NCFA, local 4-H clubs, the North Carolina Vegetation Management Association, North Carolina State University and various forest industry partners, The Biltmore Company has a noticeable impact on multiple aspects at the local, regional and state level.
First in Forestry
During the interview, we discussed the NCFA’s 2020 Annual Meeting, which will be hosted at the Biltmore Estate in early October, with the theme of this year’s meeting being “First in Forestry.” We asked Horn to share his perspective of how that theme relates to The Biltmore Company and its story.
“The Biltmore Estate was instrumental in introducing modern forest management to western North Carolina, and to the United States,” he said. “With the practice of using forests on the estate in a manner that provides value both for the present and future, The Biltmore Company is continuing the legacy of sustainable forest management established over a century ago. The benefit of sustainable forestry can range
from aesthetics and wildlife habitat to profitable timber harvests and ecological advantages. It is vital to demonstrate the value forests provide in an increasingly urban landscape. The Biltmore Estate
is actually an island surrounded by the urban area of Asheville and other surrounding communities.”
Horn also noted that The Biltmore Company’s history includes:
George Vanderbilt and Gifford Pinchot practicing science-based forest manage- ment, and Dr. Carl Schenck starting the first school of forestry at Biltmore Estate.
A track record of regeneration of worn- out, abused land that was converted back into healthy, productive forests through sustainable forest management techniques.
Contributing to the origin of the Pisgah National Forest.
“The Biltmore Company has demonstrat- ed the importance of not only being ‘first in forestry,’ but putting forestry first for the betterment of human life,” he said.
Horn also provided his thoughts on being a member of the NCFA: “A great value of the NCFA is the connection
between forest landowners. We can learn various management techniques from others regardless of the size of their own forest. Even being in the industry for over 40 years, I still see the value of continual learning. This provides an avenue to make progress and not become stagnant by only utilizing methods of the past.”
As the interview concluded, Horn offered some final thoughts on what the future for forest landowners in western North Carolina might look like: “A big part of modern forestry is the use of technol- ogy in assessing a forest and preparing a management plan. Using GPS, GIS and other technologies, we can provide a better plan to provide sustainable management for future generations.
“Aside from urbanization, one of
our biggest challenges for the future is
the continual preservation of our forest resources. It takes a forester, a logger and a landowner, or Grounds Director in my case, working together to manage forest assets. The Biltmore Company has been fortunate to have forestry professionals that have been flexible and understanding in helping us to accomplish our forest management goals.”
THE BILTMORE ESTATE: A HISTORY
Curt Horn provided the NCFA with an overview of the Biltmore Estate’s rich history, and how it has been tied to forestry in North Carolina for more than 100 years.
“The Biltmore Estate began in the late 1880s, as George W. Vanderbilt began acquiring property in western North Carolina, eventually purchasing 125,000 acres,” Horn said. “His plans were to create a large country estate, with the help of Frederick Law Olmsted, a preeminent landscape architect of the period. To promote forestry, Olmsted began planting white pine trees to help the worn-out farmland recover and create a forest of economic importance and extensive scale. Olmsted recommended that Vanderbilt hire Gifford Pinchot to serve
as forester for the estate. Pinchot began his work in 1892 and stayed for three years. Following Pinchot, Dr. Carl Alwin Schenck was hired as the new forester for the estate;
Dr. Schenck’s tenure at the Biltmore lasted until 1909.
“During his time at the Biltmore Estate, Dr. Schenck founded the Biltmore Forest School, which operated from 1898 to 1913. The location where Dr. Schenck operated the Biltmore Forest School was later designated as the ‘Cradle of Forestry,’ and is now open to the public. Following Dr. Schenck’s departure, the
B
B
P
e
s
s
.
i
i
l
h
o
t
l
t
t
m
m
o
o
g
r
o
r
r
e
e
,
,
N
ap
h
r
N
.
.
C
C
.
.
[
e
t
[
r
B
B
e
i
e
v
e
t
t
w
e
d
f
w
e
e
e
e
n
r
n
1
o
m
t
1
8
8
9
9
5
h
e
L
h
e
L
5
a
an
i
i
n
d
b
r
b
r
d
1
a
a
1
r
y
o
f
C
o
n
g
r
r
y
o
f
C
o
n
g
r
9
9
1
1
0
0
]
]
P
h
o
t
o
g
r
a
p
h
r
e
t
r
i
e
v
e
d
f
r
o
m
t
Biltmore Estate did not employ another staff forester, although some of the pine plantations planted on the estate by Dr. Schenck still thrive today.
“After the death of George Vanderbilt, Mrs. Vanderbilt concluded the sale of a large portion of the estate, about 86,000 acres of the 125,000 acres, to the federal government in 1914. This land eventually became the Pisgah National Forest.
“Today, the Biltmore Estate has approximately 8,000 acres that are situated on the French Broad River. The property is surrounded by the metropolitan area of Asheville and other communities.
A major tourist attraction in western North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate welcomes about 1.7 million guests annually.”
e
s
s
.
ncforestry.org / SECOND QUARTER 2020 13