Increasing the health of the forests in Alabama is a calling for service worker Adam Maggard, Auburn University Associate Professor and Alabama Extension Forestry Specialist, who found his passion for trees through the forest business resource program.
From an early age, Maggard witnessed firsthand the impact Alabama Extension has on forestland owners in terms of education and assistance. Now, through his Extension programs, he is making an impact of his own.
“I really value making connections, creating those relationships with landowners, with stakeholders, to understand their goals and objectives, understand what their purpose is for their forest land, and really help them from an educational standpoint,” Maggard said.
Thanks to his work as the project’s leader—Forest Business Resources made a direct estimated impact of $4.3 million in 2022. This gives landowners access to materials to help with the forestry on their lands.
“There’s a lot of interest for our landowner,” Maggard said. “There’s a lot of need for landowners and resources for them to manage forests. It’s really about improving the timber stands — the forestry, in general — but all of our natural resources [as well as] improving the health of those resources, longevity, and sustainability of those resources.”
