Contact: Bob Ratliff
A new area of specialization for Mississippi State students is addressing a need for professionals who can manage trees in towns and cities.
University majors in the College of Forest Resources' urban forestry option learn to take care of trees along city streets and in municipal parks, private woodlots and utility right-of-ways. Potential employers include all levels of government, private consultants and industry.
Begun last fall, the nationally accredited curriculum is offered within MSU's traditional forestry major, said forestry department professor Keith Belli.
"The urban forestry option is available at only a few other schools in the South," said Belli, the department's undergraduate program coordinator. "We decided to offer this focus because of the large number of questions about urban forestry received by MSU's extension forestry specialists."
Belli said urban foresters usually work with city planners in designing parks and wooded areas, as well as in managing land between urbanized and rural areas.
"Beside their aesthetic value, trees can lower energy costs, aid in water run-off and increase property values in urban areas," he added.
Mark Anderson is an MSU alumnus now working as an urban forester for the city of Hattiesburg. In addition to duties ranging from maintenance of 13,000 street-side trees to a range of municipal environmental and natural resource issues, he also approves planning for new developments and construction.
"The City of Hattiesburg has a tree ordinance requiring developers to have one tree per 3,000 square feet, provide green space in front of buildings and maintain vegetative buffers," Anderson said. "Trees in the city of Hattiesburg do more than provide aesthetics. They also protect our roads by shading them and helping manage storm water run-off."
The tree ordinance is important to Hattiesburg and is actively enforced by Anderson and a seven-person crew. His signature is required on the certificate of business occupancy, which ensures that they comply with landscape requirements.
Mississippi State students pursuing a forestry degree may choose between urban forestry and three other options: environmental conservation, forest management and wildlife management.
"All options are accredited by the Society of American Foresters, the specialized accrediting body for forestry in the United States," Belli said.
For additional information, contact Keith Belli at (662) 325-2778 or kbelli@cfr.msstate.edu.