Testimonials
“It seemed after speaking with EcoForesters that I had found someone who was knowledgeable and cared as much about our woods as we do. You not only talked the talk, but walked it as well. You regularly checked on the site, brought students to see the results, and showed genuine interest in how we felt about the experience. I feel like I made the right choice for land valued by my family”
Woody Noland
Camp High Rocks
I have been working on an 8-acre forest restoration program on my property since 2020. This forest had been “high-graded” for at least two consecutive logging cycles in the previous 40 or so years, leaving very few oaks, hickories, and black cherries in what had previously been considered an oak/hickory type forest. Red and sugar maples, black and yellow birch, and poplars quickly filled the canopy gaps and suppressed oak, hickory, and black cherry regeneration. My goal is to restore approximately 8 acres, in 8 patches, to create a more pre-logging species composition in the forest overall. I cleared most maples, birches, and poplars from the areas and cut lanes through the slash to provide access to plant saplings and maintain them over their early years.
In the last 2 years, EcoForesters has accepted the challenge of providing restoration crews to finish planting my saplings and more importantly, “branching out” into new territory for all of us: establishing and maintaining individual deer exclosures (24” diameter cages) on each of over 1,400 saplings to prevent the browsing that I observed in my first oaks and hickories within weeks of planting. I soon discovered that the deer cages made outstanding arbors for various vines and prevent deer from grazing other native vegetation inside the cages that then grows unchecked and rapidly overtops and shades the smaller saplings. Every cage must be cleared at least 3 times per growing season.
Cleaning out a deer exclosure cage is actually a fairly complex process. It requires expertise in plant identification and growth habit, a careful systematic evaluation of what shading vegetation needs to be removed both inside and outside the cages, a very high degree of consistent quality workmanship, ability to work quickly, and a strong focus on each step of the process. EcoForesters’ crews brought all of these qualities to my project. Their expertise on local plants has helped me devise better procedures for this process that will result in a more efficient and money-saving effort. Without EcoForesters’ talented and enthusiastic crews, I would not have been physically able to complete the cage maintenance in time to protect my saplings properly through the course of the growing season. This project is very important to me, and it’s great to know that, with EcoForesters’ ongoing assistance, I have a very good chance of success.
Russ Oates
Forest Landowner
“Thanks to EcoForesters, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina was able to evaluate opportunities for marketing carbon sequestration on conservation lands. Their professional foresters were attentive to our conservation objectives and respected complex conservation restrictions. Their philosophy recognizes that forested lands serve multiple purposes to many different stakeholders.”
Andrew Kota
Executive Director, Foothills Conservancy
My introduction to EcoForesters was a postcard in the mail last year about the Landscape Scale Forest Restoration Project. Through that project, Krishun did a site visit a year ago at my property which was an amazing gift of knowledge and guidance. Her keen observations and detailed records and teaching are very helpful on an ongoing basis.
This year I am participating in the sweat equity program. Trying to manage invasive plants is overwhelming at times. For a crew of 5 to come to my property and work on invasive plants is an incredible uplift.
Thank you for your top-notch professionalism. I am impressed with the standards you have in place for workplace safety. It made me feel that I was in good hands and also was excellent modeling for me. Thank you for your top-notch expertise. I have loved learning from you. Thank you for the time you have spent outlining for me pros/cons/alternatives of options. Thank you for your many kindnesses in communication and action. Thank you Krishun, Samantha, Charles, Max, Annabelle, and all the staff at EcoForesters who make the work happen.
Jennie Barnhardt
Forest Landowner
“The work that EcoForesters does is critically important as these forests are in desperate need of ecological restoration to increase forest diversity and resilience.”
Megan Sutton
Program Director, The Nature Conservancy Southern Blue Ridge
