Page 20 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 2 - Spring 2024
P. 20

 “There is a huge need for us
to do education outreach for forestry people to be able to do their job and do the good job they know how to do. We need to get people to understand and support what we do
in terms of conservation, environmental issues, water quality, air quality, etc.”
— Heather Brasell
died, I knew nothing about silviculture, but there were all these planted pines that were ready for thinning and needed a lot of stuff done in a hurry.”
The need for rapid action on a forest requiring immediate thinning thrust Brasell into the world of forestry, launch- ing her on a journey that would redefine her life.
Navigating
Challenges
Brasell’s transition from a novice to a nationally renowned forest landowner contained many hurdles.
“When my husband died, there were a lot of expectations put on me. After all, I talk with a foreign accent even though I’ve been here 40 years,” said Brasell. “One of the first expectations was how soon I was going to go back to New Zealand, and the second was how fast I could spend all the money, and the third was, as a woman, I
couldn’t possibly do the work myself. I was going to have to hire somebody else to do all the thinking and the manual work for me. I joke and say if I had lived down to those expectations, I certainly wouldn’t be here now.”
Undeterred, Brasell delved into attend- ing field trips and symposiums, learning from forestry professionals and building a network of support.
During her journey, she encountered Jamie Kent, the regional forester who
Heather Brasell conducts a controlled burn in the understory of the pines on her property.
would introduce her to the Tree Farm system and the Georgia Forest Legacy Program. This pivotal moment shifted Brasell’s perspective from mere timber cultivation to becoming a steward of the land. In 2009, she enrolled the property in the Tree Farm Program, underscoring her commitment to responsible forestry practices.
“When Jamie came out, he kept stop- ping and looking at the understory. He stopped and took photos of a gopher
    18 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
BECOME A STEWARD OF THE LAND —
CONTACT THE GEORGIA TREE FARM PROGRAM!
A program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife and recreation.
www.treefarmsystem.org/georgia














































































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