FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2024
W.G. JonesState Forest centennial celebrated in greater Houston
CONROE, Texas—Today, community members gathered to kick off the year-long Texas
state forest centennial celebration at the W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe,
Texas.
Thirty-five exhibitors,
including natural resource partners, were in attendance. Visitors experienced emergency
response vehicles, received tree seedlings, fished at the forest’s lakes, participated
in forest therapy hikes with Dr. Daniel Porter and learned about different
species living in the forest.
“Today was a culmination
of forestry and conservation we have pioneered at Texas A&M Forest Service
for over a century now,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director.
“Our state forests are extremely vital to local ecosystems, and they offer
access to tens of thousands of visitors annually to enjoy the mental and
physical health benefits of forests.”
Presentations at today’s
festival included topics about Texas state forest history, Red-cockaded
woodpecker conservation efforts, health benefits of forest exposure and
featured a demonstration by Chikawa Aztec Dance and Traditions.
The Texas state forest
centennial celebration honors a century of sustainable forestry practices occurring
in state forests across East Texas. State Forest No. 1, now E.O. Siecke State
Forest, was the first state forest to be acquired by Texas A&M Forest
Service. State Forest No. 2, now W.G. Jones State Forest, was acquired in 1926.
Texas A&M Forest
Service owns and operates five state forests that serve as working
demonstration forests and educational classrooms that welcome thousands of
visitors and horseback riders. Forestry practices such as prescribed burning
and timber thinning and harvesting are performed on state forests. Texas state
forests are managed by Texas A&M Forest Service Foresters, and some
forestry practices at the forests are conducted in collaboration with Texas
state agency natural resource partners.
“State forests provide a great opportunity for the public to see and learn about land stewardship and sustainable forest management practices in action while enjoying the forest,” said Billy Whitworth, Texas
A&M Forest Service Area Operations Chief. “State forests also provide a unique opportunity to train our personnel in various fire suppression and forest management techniques.”
At 1,700 acres, the W.G.
Jones State Forest is one of the nation’s largest managed state forests. This
forest is comprised of loblolly and shortleaf pine tree plantations. The forest
is also notable for its sanctuary for the federally endangered Red-cockaded
woodpecker (RCW) population.
The W.G. Jones State
Forest was named after W. Goodrich Jones in 1949. Jones is known as the father
of Texas forestry, as he brought innovative silvicultural practices to Texas,
helped form the Texas Forestry Association in 1914, lobbied for the inception
of the Texas Department of Forestry in 1915 and established Texas Arbor Day in 1889.
Two additional
celebration events will be held at the I.D. Fairchild State Forest on April 26,
2025, and E.O. Siecke State Forest in fall 2025.
Learn more about Texas
State Forests here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/StateForest100.aspx
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Photos: Content from today’s event linked
here may be used for all media needs. https://agrilife.photoshelter.com/galleries/C00004ctr0uNLkTQ/G00002yfXh6wyX1E/20241019-W-G-Jones-State-Forest-Centennial-Celebration
Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Communications Office, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-458-6606