The Forestry Project Podcast Jace McCauley

In Episode 8 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss why landowners should consider the management practices they perform in their woods as a form of hands-on meditation. 

Depending on what you are doing out on your property, management can sometimes seem like a choir more than a fun and relaxing experience. In the episode, Jace talks about recent experiences and ways to think about forest management. 

If you own or manage forestland and are considering ways to maximize your management experience, this episode is for you. 

In Episode 9 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss wildlife and management considerations with Drew Metzler. Drew is a Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources Regional Extension Agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. He holds bachelor's in wildlife and a master's in forestry from Auburn University and on-the-ground experience working in both forestry and wildlife fields.

Topics discussed in the podcast are habitat considerations for different wildlife species, management needed for different stages of wildlife life cycles, and how to get the most out of your woods regardless of acreage. In the episode, Drew discusses what habitat different wildlife species, such as turkeys, deer, and squirrels, need and how landowners might want to manage for it. Also, Drew and Jace discuss why landowners should meet and get involved with neighbors to get the most out of their property. 

If you have or manage forestland and want to develop excellent quality wildlife habitat, this episode is for you. 

In Episode 7 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits back down to discuss why landowners should get involved with landowner organizations or associations. 

Learning from others and sharing ideas can benefit landowners wanting to learn how to manage their land. By combining experiences, even new landowners can have years of knowledge about managing their land and mitigating problems that might arise during the management process. 

In the episode, Jace also talks about his experiences attending the Alabama Forest Owner's Association's annual landowner meeting, meeting with landowners and professionals from various backgrounds. 

In Episode 6 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits back down to discuss the time component of forest management with Dr. John Kush. Dr. Kush is a repeat guest from episode 3, a retired research fellow at Auburn University, and has been inducted into the Alabama Foresters Hall of Fame. He teaches several Auburn University classes, such as Restoration Ecology, Plant Ecology, and Forest History. 

Topics discussed in the podcast are how long trees and forests take to grow and species to consider for impacting those times. Additionally, Jace shares his thoughts on his family's land for wanting to change the species composition but not wanting to take the land back to square one. They talk about how to enjoy the forest management process during the times between the current forest and the next one. Also, in the episode, Dr. Kush and Jace discuss the impacts certain management practices have on the timeline of your forest and other considerations of getting into the big three management activities. 

If you have or manage forestland and want to develop a realistic timeline for achieving your management goals and ways to speed the process up and whether you should try to speed it up, this episode is for you. 

While you may think you are just managing the trees on your property, much more goes into managing your woods. Developing a better understanding of the ecological interaction between the environment, such as sunlight and moisture, and the trees is critical. In Episode 5 of The Forestry Project Podcast, host Jace McCauley discusses how sunlight and moisture affect our woods and management. 

Learning more about how the species you have or want on your property are affected by sunlight or moisture can be beneficial when deciding what you need to do on your property. Trees have adapted to grow from flood basins to dry upland sites under the forest canopy or in an old field. Knowing the tolerance of a particular tree will give you clues about how the seed travels to determine whether you want to let it seed in or you need to plant it. 

Determining what the tree you want will need can help you decide if you can have a guiding hand in land management and guide the process or if you need to truly establish the ecosystem. If you have land that you want to begin managing or are looking for a resource to learn more about the interaction of your management, woods, and environment, this is the episode you need to listen to. 

In Episode 4 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss forest management plans with Dr. Adam Maggard. Dr. Maggard is an Associate Professor at the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. He teaches classes on forest management and specializes in the economic aspect of forest management and planning and optimizing the use of forest resources.  

Jace and Dr. Maggard begin the episode by discussing why landowners own land and what common land management goals are. Then discuss important considerations for landowners when deciding the goals that they want to manage toward. They then discuss how management plans can help provide a road map for landowners to achieve those goals. Lastly, Dr. Maggard urges landowners to get to know their property, engage with organizations and the community, and seek professional assistance. 

If you have forestland that you want to start managing, a management plan is the best tool you can have. If you want to learn more about management plans and how they can help you, listen to this podcast episode.