ShareIf you saw the photos of the Joplin tornado devastation, beyond the remains of St. John’s Hospital, one of the most visually affecting sites were the twisted, some still standing, but entirely stripped tree trunks. While the loss of human life and pets were the main focus of most news coverage, the trees, or lack [...]

ShareOfficials on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service are calling for public comment on two proposed projects, one to enhance habitat for the Indiana bat near Greenville, and one to salvage black and scarlet oak trees on a 246 acre tract in western Wayne County.
The Brown’s Hollow Project is intended [...]

ShareROLLA, MO — Eleven Point Resource Advisory Committee will be evaluating project proposals that enhance forest ecosystems or restore and improve land health and water quality on Mark Twain National Forest and nearby Oregon, Ripley, and Shannon counties lands.
Approximately 12 proposals were submitted. New proposals are no longer being accepted.
Eleven Point Resource Advisory [...]

ShareReal Christmas trees are a tradition around the Schaper-Vale household. Yes, they can drop needles, need to be watered daily, and there is always the trip to the tree lot, where the trees are always smaller outside than they appear once you try to get them into the living room.
But we’re outdoors people. A [...]

ShareWhat affects forest ecology?
At its meeting Dec. 17 in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission will consider seeking bids from professional loggers to harvest trees on 2,344 acres in Current River Conservation Area (CA) in Reynolds and Shannon counties and at Peck Ranch CA in Carter County.ltogether, the timber sales are expected to produce [...]

Shareby Jo Schaper
At Traveler, we try to bring you the hard news story…and some of the story behind the story as well. It isn’t very often mythical creatures are involved, but at least one intervened in order to assure that Jay Jensen got a more full experience of the Ozarks.
Last week when I was [...]

ShareOnline Photo Gallery of Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen’s visit.
Jo Schaper
Jay Jensen, Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture, and the man directly responsible for United States Forest Service administration, toured several sites on the Salem-Potosi Ranger District Oct. 28.
The purpose of his visit was to [...]

ShareWhat is your favorite place to go for fall color?
Forest visitors should enjoy nice fall color through Mark Twain National Forest this year, although predicting fall color can be a challenge.
“Temperature, rainfall, amount of sunlight and weather patterns can affect the length and intensity of fall color,” according to Mark Twain National [...]

Share From today to this Friday, 14 volunteers will assist Forest Service staff in rehabbing Falling Spring Mill and cabin in Oregon County.
“Both the single crib log cabin and mill structure with Pelton wheel have experienced decay and need maintenance and
stabilization,” said Ken Hicks, a Forest Service spokesman. Doug Stephens, Mountain Heritage Association, will supervise [...]

ShareThe Conservation Department offers the following advice to avoid starting a wildfire accidentally if you choose to burn slash and woody debris as part of your spring cleanup routine:
* If you must burn debris, pick an overcast day when winds are calm and humidity is high.
* [...]