Tag Archive: State Forester

Virginia’s Capitol Tree Lighting, 2019

December 6, 2019 - On the evening of December 5, State Forester Rob Farrell and Raina DeFonza (public information specialist) attended the Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony in Richmond, Virginia with Helen Braunworth, Cindy Crickenberger and Wayne Crickenberger – donors of the Capitol tree. (Read for more details about the selection and harvest of this year’s Capitol tree.) The weather was clear and cool for the evening event, and students from the orchestra at the... Read More

First Mountain State Forest Dedication

October 16, 2019 - On the afternoon of October 7, a crowd of more than 70 people gathered in Rockingham County for the dedication of Virginia’s newest state forest, First Mountain. First Mountain is the 25th state forest in Virginia and contributes more than 570 beautiful acres of forestland, open fields, and stream frontage to the state lands system. Gary Heiser, State Forests Manager, selected an idyllic location on the property as a ceremony... Read More

Virginia’s Forests and Forest Economy Continue to Grow

July 13, 2018 - Virginia set a new record for the volume of timber harvested with slight increases in both hardwood and softwood volume compared to the previous year, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (DOF) analysis of the Virginia Forest Products Tax receipts from Fiscal Year 2017. “The rate of forest harvest is still well below forest growth in Virginia each year,” explained State Forester Rob Farrell. Across Virginia in 2015, the... Read More