Senate Concurrent Resolution 567

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. JOHN GREEN FOR HIS SELECTION AS THE 2005 MISSISSIPPI TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR AND FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF FORESTRY.

WHEREAS, Dr. John Green of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a conservationist whose passion for the forest, timber production, wildlife and wildflowers has earned him the honor of being selected as the 2005 Mississippi Tree Farmer of the Year; and

WHEREAS, his commitment has been for a lifetime, taking an active roll in management of both pine and hardwood, harvesting and replanting the 500-acre tract with suitable first and second generation loblolly and longleaf pine, as well as using the tubex container practice for hardwood seedlings; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green, being an ophthalmologist, knows the value of education and has become a self-taught forest conservationist in his own right, attending short courses provided by the Mississippi State University Extension Service in planting and thinning pine trees, growing longleaf pines, beetle control, water quality, wildlife management, invasive weed control, using Best Management Practices during logging operations, and hosting groups on the tree farm which has been a part of the Mississippi Tree Farm System for 42 years under a written management plan which has been revised as needed; and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, the 42 acres of hardwood harvested have been replanted in cherrybark oak, nuttall oak, swamp chestnut oak, willow oak, green ash, cypress and sweet pecan while the pine timber was thinned and a select cut conducted on 52 acres of pine; and

WHEREAS, roads with water-bars and bridges have been constructed to provide access throughout the property and firebreaks are constructed and maintained; and

WHEREAS, wildlife quality has been improved with the planting of winter and summer food plots, as well as providing desirable habitat using wildlife management advice from a USDA Wildlife Biologist; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green received the Forest Conservationist Award from the Mississippi Wildlife Federation in 2001, hosted a video shoot for a documentary about the Pascagoula River, "The Singing River", and has been featured in many newspaper articles over the years and recently in two state forestry magazines; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green and his family provide 90% of the actual fieldwork on the tree farm with logging and larger planting jobs being contracted; the peers and colleagues of Dr. Green have been taught many conservation lessons on the many visits to the Green Tree Farm; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize remarkable Mississippi landowners who not only practice sound conservation but share it with others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dr. John Green for his selection as the 2005 Mississippi Tree Farmer of the Year and for his outstanding contributions to the forestry community and extend our heartiest wishes for continued success in conservation and tree farming.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. John Green, his family and members of the Capitol Press Corps.