Mari visit Georgia

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Originally uploaded by World Forest Institute

Mariane Bueno de Camargo (Brazil) traveled to Georgia for 12 days of conference and forestry meetings. She started her trip down south in Atlanta, where she participated in the Panel and Engineered Lumber International Conference. Hot topics included green building, California’s new emission regulations, and impacts of changing forest ownership.

Mari then traveled to coastal Savannah to meet Gail Lutowski, whom she met at the 2007 International Educators Institute. Gail arranged several forest field tours and visits with manufacturers, including Claude Lumber and Weyerhaeuser. “It was wonderful to see companies working with native species and all the associated wildlife such as woodpeckers, salamanders, and snakes,” said Mari.

Gail also arranged for Mari to speak to the Society of American Foresters and a group of young women interested in science professions. Mari sends her appreciation to Gail for the warm welcome into southern hospitality. “I enjoyed everything...the different style of people, and food, especially barbecue and grits for breakfast,” she said.

The trip ended in Athens, home of the University of Georgia. Professor Bob Izlar hosted Mari in his home, and meetings with faculty led to discussions on biofuels technologies and business operations. Also in Athens, Drew Marczak of Plum Creek Timber toured Mari around Loblolly and Slash pine plantations, the native Georgian species that are the primary plantation species where Mari works in southern Brazil. “We have more favorable conditions for growing these species, with much higher growth rates,” explained Mari. “But we have many of the same forest health concerns.”

Mari was amazed at the similar issues in the two countries. “From legislation concerns to forest health issues, our two countries face the same problems,” she said. “My experience in the Pacific Northwest and the South was so different but so important for understanding the US. Comparing these with Brazil, I found that in all places we have problems and successes —we just speak differently!” Click on Gail and Mari for more photos.