Monticello Live

From the United Kingdom to Arkansas, research forester’s silvicultural histories are recognized. The Editorial Board of Forestry, an international journal of forest research recently  awarded Don Bragg, Research Forester, USDA Forest Service, the “2017 Percy Stubbs, John Bolton King and Edward Garfitt Prize for Silviculture” for advancing silviculture research.

Bragg received this prestigious award in recognition of his Forestry paper entitled “The development of uneven-aged southern pine silviculture before the Crossett Experimental Forest (Arkansas, USA),” published by Oxford University Press for the Institute of Chartered Foresters, the Royal Chartered professional forestry body in the UK.

“This paper is an engaging historical review of the development of uneven-aged silviculture in Arkansas, USA during the early part of the twentieth century,” said Gary Kerr, Editor-in-Chief of Forestry. “We recommend all professional foresters in the UK set aside a couple of hours and immerse themselves in a delightful account, diligently researched, of the work of two pioneering foresters.”

The paper is a glimpse into early decades of sustainable forestry.

“I am deeply honored by the recognition of the Editors of Forestry for my paper on early silvicultural work in this remote corner of the United States,” Bragg says. “For one who loves the history of forestry – and loves to share what I learn – receiving the Silviculture Prize is immensely gratifying and encouraging.”

Bragg is also the recipient of the 2018 Walter L. Brown award for “Best School History” given by the Arkansas Historical Association for his paper on the beginnings of Arkansas’s first and only collegiate degree program in forestry entitled “Growing Pains: Hank Chamberlin and the Arkansas A&M Forestry Program, 1946-1957,” published in the 2017 issue of the Drew County Historical Journal.

“Southeastern Arkansas provides unique opportunities to study the development of professional forestry in the southern U.S., whether it is at the hands of two engineers turned forestry pioneers, the development of the Crossett Experimental Forest, or the founding of a new forestry education institution,” said Bragg. “Forestry has contributed so much to the State, yet its history has hardly been told—this recognition by the Arkansas Historical Association is validation of their desire to learn more, for which I am truly grateful.”

Bragg has a doctorate in forest ecology from Utah State University. During his research career, he has authored or co-authored over 110 scientific and technical publications and given over 170 presentations. Originally from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Bragg has spent his 18-year Forest Service career with the Southern Research Station in Monticello, AR. He is the Project Leader of the SRS Southern Pine Ecology and Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine Ecosystems research work units. His office is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and he has research teams in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 29th, 2018 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Announcements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.