WVFA Mountain State Forestry Spring 2021

F E A T U R E D N E W S 8 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry | Spring 2021 www.wvfa.org THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT 2020 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR EVERYONE. Not only were we forced to live through several historical events that were sometimes exhausting and often overwhelming, but we had to do it with our strongest support systems 6 feet away. Like many of you, I had different plans for 2020. I started the year expecting to retire. Apparently, that was not how it was supposed to be. They say hindsight is 20/20 and I suspect that old adage has never been more appreciated than it is now. With 2020 finally behind us, the start of a new year has brought with it a renewed hope for a return to normal—the days when we could safely meet in-person, shake a hand, or share a meal. Although we have every reason to believe that we are on our way out of this pandemic, it is still necessary that we adhere to COVID-19 guidelines until we are certain that it is safe to return to regular operations. Recently, I have spent a considerable amount of time working with key members of the WVDOF Leadership Team to ensure that we are ready to accomplish great things in 2021. We have compiled a list of innovative goals to pursue and are working diligently to determine the most efficient ways to accomplish them as quickly as possible. Working amid pandemic restrictions may change the way we accomplish our goals, but it will not stop us. One of my goals for 2021 is to raise awareness about the important emergency services our foresters provide. Our foresters protect the lives and property of West Virginia’s residents from wildfire. But they are not just firefighters. Our foresters have historically engaged in assisting victims during natural disasters. Not only were they instrumental in various rescue missions during the 2016 flood, but they are frequently New Year Brings Renewed Hope and Opportunities Tom Cover Director/State Forester West Virginia Division of Forestry