Some of the oldest trees in North Carolina have been here for more than 400 years. The North Carolina Forest Service that tends them isn’t quite so old, but it’s getting up there — 2015 marks its centennial.
“It’s a really exciting time for us,” said Tom James, information, education and outreach branch head for the N.C. Forest Service. “It’s kind of special because the Forest Service — given that we are a wildfire fighting organization — there’s a large family sense about us. I think we’ve had that since the very beginning in 1915.”
For Burke County Ranger Chris Moss, his work is a way to stay in touch with nature and the community. “It’s a lot more hands on with nature itself,” Moss said. “A lot of stuff we do has a direct impact on nature and the health of our forest. Fighting wildfires is my favorite part of it. It’s a sense of duty, a sense of protection.”
Moss has been with the Forest Service for more than a decade — 12 years, as of Tuesday. During that time, he’s channeled that sense of duty to serve the people in his county. “As county ranger, my primary responsibility is to the private landowners of Burke County,” Moss said. “I feel like I’m giving back to the community and helping protect the community.”
Many in the Forest Service are like Moss — they want to stay in touch with nature and give back to the people around them. “A lot of people are just drawn to be outdoors,” James said. “They’re people who want to stay in touch with nature. They grew up either on a farm or in some kind of rural life, and want to continue having that connection.”
From The News Herald: https://www.morganton.com/news/nc-forest-service-celebrates-years/article_61d97ae6-c37d-11e4-88e0-2711e121e471.html