Forest management is a necessity for wildfire protection and habitat conservation, says A.J. Brigance, the new Poteau/Cold Springs District Ranger of the Ouachita National Forest in Scott and Logan counties.
Having grown up on a dairy farm in the Tate community near Booneville in the 1950s and ’60s, Brigance says he did not see as much wildlife in the area when he was younger and felt that forest management is a direct result of that.
“In general, people don’t really understand just what all a forest does,” Brigance said. “To my mindset, it’s a living organism that needs to be managed or it will collapse on itself sort of like people. We all grow old. We’re going to die sooner or later. If the forest is not managed, the trees will get more disease and insect infestations, or a catastrophic fire, like what we’re having out west, which is a direct example of what happens when you don’t manage a forest.”
Management includes prescribed burns to keep down woody undergrowth that could become fuel for a wildfire and long-range timber harvest plans to take advantage of the renewable resource. Creating room for future tree growth and periodic control burns also improve wildlife habitat, he said.
Succeeding Howard Freerksen as ranger of the 334,000-acre Poteau/Cold Springs District, Brigance completes a full circle in his forestry career. He started with the Cold Springs District work center in the summer of 1968 working on a “KV” crew, named for the Knutson-Vandenberg Program, which allows timber sales proceeds to be used for forest regeneration. Foresters are required to make a K-V plan for replanting trees. The Poteau/Cold Springs District is looking to hire more timber and fire personnel because of needed replacements.
From The Southwest Times Record: https://swtimes.com/news/monday-matters-new-district-ranger-says-forest-living-organism