Public Education and Outreach Campaign Amy Potts and Dr. Martin Cipollini

1. Public Education and Outreach Campaign Amy Potts and Dr. Martin Cipollini Berry College, Mt. Berry, Georgia

2. Goals: Educating the Public About… • Current forest health problems and the reasons why many of Georgia’s forests are in trouble. • The role of stand thinning, prescribed burning, and the use of Longleaf Pine in restoring healthy forests in NW Georgia. • The role of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Project in conducting research into management using Longleaf Pine in NW Georgia. • Berry College’s science programs that focus on undergraduate research.

3. Goal #1 • Educating the public about current forest health problems and the reasons why many of Georgia’s forests are in trouble.

4. Current Forest Health Problems • Over-planting of single tree species (Loblolly Pine) • Indirect and direct fire suppression • Invasion of forests by exotic species

5. Results of Health Problems • Crowded and suppressed trees • Greatly reduced biodiversity on the forest floor (no sunlight on forest floor) • Replacement of native plants with off-site or exotic species. • Altogether, an unnatural situation that “mother nature” can’t remedy herself.

6. Target Audience for Goal #1 • General Public in NW Georgia • Helping them understand the problems facing forests and the methods used for active forest management.

7. Goal #2 • Educating the public about the role of stand thinning, prescribed burning, and the use of Longleaf Pine in restoring healthy forests in NW Georgia.

8. Management Solutions • Stand thinning • Prescribed burning • Planting of Longleaf Pine • Cost-share programs with the Georgia Forestry Commission assisting landowners in implementing these practices. This is mainly the case with those responding to or preventing Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks.

9. Benefits of Management • Lowered risk of devastating tree pest problems • Increased species diversity (both plant and animal) • Greater resistance against invasion by exotic species

10. Target Audience for Goal #2 • Private forest landowners in NW Georgia • Main group of people making decisions about the future fate of much of the forested land in NW Georgia.

11. Goal #3 • Educating the public about the role of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Project in conducting research into management using Longleaf Pine in NW Georgia.

12. Focus of the Project • Role of science of science faculty, staff, students, and volunteers in implementing this project and on some of the specific results so far.

13. Main Message • Since 1999, Berry College faculty, staff, and students have been conducting research, educating visitors, and involving volunteers in a Mountain Longleaf Pine restoration project on Lavender Mountain. • By studying effects of various management practices on its own land, this project provides information of direct use to regional land owners.

14. Results of Research • Longleaf Pine is best suited for SE-, S- and SW-facing slopes, particularly on the upper portions of the many NWSE-running “finger ridges” that run off from the main NESW running mountain ridges. These are where most of the old (>200 year old) trees are found at Berry.

15. Results of Research • Use of intensive site preparation (e.g., herbicides, burning) may be unnecessary on steeper, drier slopes. Chemical site preparation, pre-planting burning and herbicide release may, however, be necessary on lower slopes in order to get longleaf seedlings established.

16. Results of Research • Prescribed burning every 4-5 years must be used to maintain stands after they are established. This is approximately the frequency at which natural fires occurred in pre-colonial days.

17. Main Audiences for Goal #3 • Private forest landowners in NW Georgia, who may be interested in the specific results, and parents/high school students throughout the southeast who may be weighing options concerning colleges and/or majors. • We’d like the former group to know about the project, so that those individuals can contact us for help and/or consult our resources for information. • We’d like to latter group to know about the project in order to attract more students into our science programs.

18. Goal #4 • To educate the public about Berry College’s science programs that focus on undergraduate research.

19. Main Message • Berry College has well established science programs focusing on research with undergraduates. • Its 28,000 acre campus serves as a vast outdoor laboratory and its science facilities are among the best in the southeast. • The Berry College Longleaf Pine Project is just one of the many examples of important faculty/student research on the campus.

20. Main Audiences for Goal #4 • Parents and students throughout the southeast considering colleges and/or particular college majors. • Some focus on science, 4H, FFA, and other clubs related to science/forestry/agriculture. • We want to reach these folks in order to attract more students to our science programs.

21. First Year Goals • 7-8 minute video on the project • 30 second audio PSA • 30 second video PSA • 7-8 minute pod cast from the video • Updating and adding to project website • Taped audio tour for the Longleaf Trail • Brochure • Student oriented PowerPoint and educational activity packet

22. Second Year Goals • Interview on Rome cable channel (30 minute show with showing of 7-8 minute video) • Interviews on other regional TV channels • Release of PSAs to regional TV and radio • Regional speaking circuit showing video

23. Second Year Goals • Distribution of 7-8 minute video via direct mailing to landowners (Georgia Forestry Commission responsibility) • Website pod cast of 7-8 minute infomercial • Website networking with local schools: allow access to videos, PowerPoints and web-based activities • Availability of MP3 players to check out for audio tour of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Trail