Paul Smith's College steps up forestry program

PAUL SMITHS, NY (09/03/2015)(readMedia)-- Paul Smith's College announced Thursday that David Falkenham has come aboard as its new forest manager.

The creation of the forest-manager position will increase educational opportunities in areas such as silviculture and ensure that the college continues to manage its 12,000 acres of woodlands in an ecologically-sensitive manner. Students will be actively involved in all aspects of forest management, including the development and maintenance of the forest-management plan, timber-harvest and wildlife inventories, GIS mapping of logging areas and much more.

In the coming months, Paul Smith's College will also launch its logger-training program, which provides updated skills for the next generation of loggers as well as professionals already active in their careers. The program will use the college's forestland as a teaching resource along with harvesting simulators and other updated equipment.

"I am looking forward to working with students, faculty and staff on a new holistic forest-management program for the college," Falkenham said. "Everything we do in our forest and with our students here at Paul Smith's is widely regarded by the folks who hire our graduates, purchase our timber and use our lands for recreation and businesses. My goal is to manage our woodlands in a way that benefits each of these stakeholders as much as possible and to involve students in the process."

Falkenham has nearly 20 years of experience in the forestry industry. He worked for the last seven years as a natural resources extension specialist for the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, where he was responsible for forest-resource education, outreach and assistance to all private landowners, forest-management and industry professionals of Grafton County, N.H.

Falkenham earned a master's in environmental education from Plymouth State University and a bachelor's in forestry from the University of New Hampshire.

"We've always had a fantastic forestry program at Paul Smith's College," said Dan Kelting, dean of the School of Natural Resource Management and Ecology. "Having a dedicated forest manager to oversee the operation will allow us to do so much more, though. I'm very excited to have David on board. His experience and depth of knowledge will allow us to take the program to the next level."

ABOUT PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. Paul Smith's, which was founded in 1946, is the only bachelor's degree-granting institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs – in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences – draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information: www.paulsmiths.edu.