Faces of the Forest

Where did you grow up?

I grew up a half an hour south of the ANF in Lucinda, PA.

What do you like to do for fun in your free time?

I enjoy spending time outdoors running, kayaking, mountain biking, and camping. Pretty much anything outside!

What do you do in the Forest Service and when did you start working here?

I am a forestry technician on the Marienville Resource Crew. I worked a summer as a technician for the Research Lab in 2015 assisting with a couple different studies on the forest. After I graduated college, I worked in the private sector for four years before I started my current position with the Forest Service in March 2020.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I don’t think I could pick just one favorite part of my job. I get to work outside every day and I have gotten to see different parts of the forest that I hadn’t seen growing up and might not have had I not worked in this position. I take a lot of pride in the miles we cover and the goals we accomplish. I love how important the work we do is to maintain a healthy and productive forest.

How has your education, background, or personal experiences prepared you for the work that you do now?

I have had an interest and love of trees since I was in 8th grade and even after high school, I knew I wanted to do something in that kind of work. I attended Clarion University majoring in Environmental Biology and that’s where I learned more about how different management practices improve the growth and regeneration of forests. Then jumping into the private sector after college I learned a lot of valuable knowledge.  I learned about what trees to select to obtain the management outcome we wanted. I even learned a lot about the logging process and how to ensure that it is being done properly and with the least amount of disturbance. I feel that “in the field” learning is the best way to learn and appreciate this kind of work.

Describe a professional or personal achievement that you are particularly proud of.

An achievement that I am most proud of is becoming a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service. I love the sense of pride and accomplishment I receive from my regular duties, but this is on a completely different level. I know the work I do as a wildland firefighter is challenging, but it is so rewarding to see how much it helps others. It has also allowed me to travel to different parts of the country and meet and work with people from other national forests and government agencies.

Why is your career field important?

Our career field is important because, we are improving the health and future of the forest. We are on the ground implementing the silvicultural prescriptions and shaping how the forest looks. The management practices that we apply now influences the future of the forest for years to come. Plus, not only are we managing for the overall health of the forest, but we are also managing to improve wildlife habitats.

What would you like the public to know about the work we do at the Forest Service?

I want the public to know that what we are doing is important. We are creating a healthy sustainable forest for everyone to enjoy and benefit from, now and for generations to come. The work we do is for everyone to be able to do what they love.

Intro

USDA Forest Service Wildlife Biologist Dan Tollini is a dedicated Forest Service team member with over 20 years of experience managing public lands. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman who has a deep respect for nature, wildlife, and the land that he manages and recreates on.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania but I grew up in DuBois, Pennsylvania.

Who or what inspired you growing up?

My father and grandfather introduced me to hunting and the outdoors when I was a young boy. They taught me that a simple walk in the woods can be relaxing and you will almost always see wildlife. It is also the best way to become more familiar with certain places where you hunt. So as a result, I am always in the woods, whether at work or on my personal time. In the seventh grade, when I was 13 years old, I took a career quiz and the job best suited to me came back as a wildlife biologist. As fate would have it the test was right.

What do you like to do for fun on your free time?

That really depends on the season of the year. In the spring I am an avid turkey hunter, so spring gobbler becomes my passion. In the summer I coach my daughter’s little league softball team, play backyard sports with both my son and my daughter, and work in the garden. In the fall I am turkey hunting and deer hunting with my son and my dad. Once the snow and winter sets in I usually have some woodworking projects to work on to get through my winter cabin fever.

Every year my wife and I take the kids on a family vacation to a beach on the east coast. Of course, the summer wouldn’t be complete without grilling on the weekends for the family.

What do you do in the Forest Service and when did you start working here?

I am currently a Wildlife Biologist on the Allegheny National Forest’s Marienville Ranger District. I started my career in the Forest Service as a seasonal biological technician in fisheries in 1999 but I also have time as a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) writer/editor.

What is your favorite part of your job?

This is a hard one because I love all parts of my job, so I’ll have to call it a tie. The first is being in the woods every day. This allows me to become familiar with so many different areas and I get to see a lot of different wildlife species throughout the year. The second is having the ability to actively enhance wildlife habitat. I do this by making good use of my sawyer certification, operating a chainsaw an average of 50 days a year. My co-workers and I regenerate aspen stands, release mast-producing trees and shrubs, and daylight basking and gestation sites for timber rattlesnakes.

How has your education, background, or personal experiences prepared you for the work that you do now?

I have always been very interested in wildlife watching and animal behavior. A key aspect of my job is paying attention to animal behavior and having the experience and knowhow of what an animal is doing and why, which can lead to the discovery of important habitat features. This is important because it lets me determine if it needs to be maintained, enhanced, protected, or buffered, depending on what the habitat feature is and what human activities are proposed in that location. Above all else, I would say that a general familiarity with various wildlife species is very important in this job.

I’ll also put in a plug for my alma mater at the Penn State DuBois Campus, where I earned my Associate Degree in the Wildlife Technology. Their program has served as a foundation for my career and has been invaluable to me as a professional biologist. The wildlife and dendrology classes were hands-on and took place in the field. The field lessons that I participated in while in college have been instrumental in giving me the experience and knowledge with similar tasks and responsibilities which come up while doing this job. I believe that learning hands-on is what makes their program unique.

Describe a recent, current, or upcoming project that you're currently working on.

We are continuing to pursue shared stewardship agreements and opportunities, referred to as the Good Neighbor Authority, with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in order to develop a strategy and prioritize the multitude of wildlife habitat enhancement activities that they can accomplish on the Allegheny National Forest. Having worked closely with several of these PGC employees, I am familiar with the great work they do and the areas where they do it. I have been asked to be the point of contact for compiling a list of potential habitat-improvement activities in which the PGC may be able to complete on the Marienville District this year. As a Forest, we are very fortunate to be able to partner with the PGC for all the work they do on federally-owned land, and I feel honored that I am involved with the continued partnership of both agencies.

Describe a professional or personal achievement that you are particularly proud of.

Since I’ve been here for 20 years, I can tell you that it is very uncommon for an employee to be involved entirely with a project from beginning to end. We have obtained authorization, through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to implement much needed habitat enhancement activities across the Marienville District and the Forest. Much of the habitat work my coworkers and I implement in the dormant season, fall and winter, starts out as field reconnaissance in the spring before our visibility becomes limited when the trees and vegetation greens up. Locating and mapping previous tree and shrub planting sites, apple orchards, and aspen inclusions results in an efficient method of actively managing these habitat features the following winter. As a wildlife biologist, I have worked on the NEPA and effects analyses, the planning and layout, and the implementation of these activities.

I have been fortunate to see these projects from the beginning stages to the result, having actively participated in each step of the way. It is very satisfying to see a quality result and know that you were involved throughout the entire process. In addition, since none of these activities are accomplished without the help of my coworkers, I am thankful that they also actively participate in this habitat work. I take pride in knowing they trust me to plan the work and they know that I will be working right alongside them and that I don’t ask them to do anything that I’m not willing to do myself. Some of our work sites are remote and sometimes require a lengthy hike with a variety of heavy gear, so there is a certain level of trust required and I’d like to believe that I’ve earned the trust of my coworkers, which is important because we accomplish a lot of work together each year.

Why do you think your career field is important?

Habitat loss and degradation are constant factors which limit the ability of species to sustain viable populations as well as limit the amount of species diversity across the four counties in which the Allegheny National Forest is situated. Simply put, if you don’t have the habitat, the species won’t be found there. One of my responsibilities as a biologist, is to maintain, protect, or enhance habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

What are some of the greatest challenges confronting your career field?

Over the past two decades that I’ve worked on the Allegheny National Forest wildlife diseases, non-native invasive species, habitat loss, and degradation are some of the most influential challenges to wildlife and their respective habitats.

What are some of the most promising strategies being used by the Forest Service to address these challenges?

The NEPA authorization to perform specific habitat enhancements across the Forest, in my opinion, has been very important in both maintaining and enhancing existing wildlife habitat. In addition, having the support of management to allow my coworkers and me to actively implement habitat management activities, in addition to working with partnering agencies and contractors through various means, has resulted in an extraordinary amount of successful work, which has no doubt benefitted numerous wildlife species.

We have numerous non-native invasive plants and insects on the Allegheny National Forest which are being controlled through various means. Glossy buckthorn is a non-native invasive shrub which has become the most prevalent woody species in the southeastern portion of the Marienville Ranger District and numerous Forest Service personnel have been involved with implementing active management measures to limit its spread.

The prevalence of mature forest habitat and generally minimal amounts of early-successional habitat, which is utilized by numerous wildlife species, is being addressed by placing an emphasis on timber harvesting and reforestation activities while maintaining and protecting sensitive habitat features important to wildlife.

White-nose syndrome (bats), West Nile virus (ruffed grouse), Chronic Wasting disease (white-tailed deer), mange (black bears), and snake fungal disease (timber rattlesnakes) are just a few of the diseases which are currently having an adverse impact on wildlife in or around the Allegheny National Forest. My fellow biologists and I work collaboratively with our partnering agencies to monitor wildlife species in order to manage populations and habitat and to assess and mitigate the impacts of these diseases.

How would you like the public to perceive the work we do at the Forest Service?

This is an extremely complex national forest. In addition to our wildlife department, Forest Service personnel deal with timber harvesting; reforestation; transportation management; natural heritage (archaeology); oil and gas management; recreational site management; which includes volunteer groups, special-use permits, all-terrain vehicles and off-highway vehicle, snowmobile, hiking, equestrian, and mountain bike trails, as well as campsites and boat launches; and a variety of administrative issues. I would stress to the public that this is indeed a land of many uses, and almost every activity undertaken by a resource department has some implication to other resource departments. We are constantly working together in order to improve the land while minimizing impacts to other resources. There are some truly knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated Forest Service employees that live and work in and around this Forest.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to serve their country as a Forest Service employee?

As I’ve stated above, there are multiple resources which we are entrusted to manage. I think the overall best advice I can give to a prospective Forest Service employee is to not only serve their resource but to be open-minded and willing to work with other resource departments in finding compromises to issues which may arise. As with any government agency, there is a level of bureaucracy that we all need to contend with, but if you are passionate about your field of study, have a love of the outdoors, and want to work with some very talented people; this agency would be a good fit for you. In addition, if you show some initiative and perform quality work you can have the ability to move around the country and attain promotions.

Where did you grow up?

About 60 miles north of New York City in Carmel, New York.

Who or what inspired you growing up?

I grew up watching tons of nature documentaries, especially those narrated by David Attenborough. The way he instilled awe and curiosity into my preteen years was carried with me up until this very day!

What do you like to do for fun in your free time?

I enjoy rock climbing, reading, playing video games, and of course hanging out with my dog, Milo.

What do you do in the Forest Service and when did you start working here?

I’m a Biological Science Technician and I started working at the ANF in June 2022. Before the Allegheny I briefly worked at the Mark Twain NF in Southern Missouri as a Forestry Technician.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love exploring unseen parts of the National Forest and all sorts of different environments. Working with all the different disciplines within the FS feels super fulfilling and learning more about how each of them is connected really brings it all together.

How has your education, background, or personal experiences prepared you for the work that you do now?

My degree in Wildlife Conservation Biology required me to take a numerous amount of field classes. From Field Botany, to Ornithology, to Wetland Ecology, I gained a wide breadth of experience working outdoors and how to survey for different types of data collection.

Describe a recent, current, or upcoming project that you're currently working on.

I’m currently working on documenting any new infestations of the invasive insect Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA). HWA is a pest that causes a decline in health, and eventually death, in Eastern Hemlocks. Treatments for HWA are determined by the survey results, whether that be biocontrol, silvicultural, or chemical controls.

Describe a professional or personal achievement that you are particularly proud of.

I first received a job offer from the Forest Service from the Mark Twain NF in southern Missouri. I didn’t want to pass up this opportunity despite the unfamiliar location, so I bought a car and moved out halfway across the country to a new state where I’ve never been. It was hard to make friends and adjust, but that fear didn’t stop me from moving halfway across the country all over again to move to northern PA, again to an area I have never been to with no friends or family. I’m glad I took that huge jump because it taught me some lessons I never would have learned if I never left my comfort zone.

Why do you think your career field is important?

We only have one home planet, Earth, and it’s not being well taken care of. People in the environmental career field are actively trying to protect the only place we can call home.

What are some of the greatest challenges confronting your career field?

Historically, there wasn’t a lot of diversity within ecology and forestry. I never had role models that I could relate and look up to thinking that I could be in their shoes one day, I had to carve that path out for myself.

What are some of the most promising strategies being used by the Forest Service to address these challenges?

I do see more diversity in the upcoming generations coming into the FS. The agency’s This Is Who We Are initiative addresses the challenge.

How would you like the public to perceive the work we do at the Forest Service?

The work that is done by the FS has an end goal to benefit the public.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to serve their country as a Forest Service employee?

There is plenty to learn from all different departments, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Learning how all of the different paths intersect and meet within the agency makes the end goals easier to understand. Be confident in your abilities and experience, you know more than you think!

Intro

USDA Forest Service Land Surveyor Joe McGraw is an avid outdoorsman, sports lover, dedicated father, husband, and a professionally licensed land surveyor in New York and Pennsylvania. His passion for the outdoors and teamwork suit him well for his job with the Forest Service. Joe and his wife, Linsey, and their two children, Curtis and Caroline, live in Warren, Pennsylvania.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Village of Scandia, Elk Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania where I spent a lot of time in the woods as a child and young adult.

Who or what inspired you growing up?

I was inspired by my parents’ hard work ethic and moral guidance. I developed many of my traits from life experiences through sports in high school and college and through the many outdoor activities I am involved in. I was also inspired by many great teachers and coaches that made a positive impact on my life.

What do you like to do for fun on your free time?

I spend a lot of time with my wife and kids when I’m not working. Both my wife and I have a lot of family living in the area. I enjoy hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and teaching my kids how to appreciate the outdoors. I have a special place in my heart for hiking in the Adirondack Mountains; currently, I am working on becoming an Adirondack winter 46er.

What do you do in the Forest Service and when did you start working here?

I am the Forest Land Surveyor stationed at the Supervisors Office in Warren, PA. I started working for the USDA Forest Service – Allegheny National Forest in June 2016.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy interacting with the public, my co-workers, working with other private surveying professionals, working in the outdoors, and dealing with the day-to-day challenges presented by my job.

How has your education, background, or personal experiences prepared you for the work that you do now?

I grew up in the outdoors so I am very comfortable in the woods, probably more so than being indoors. Like many surveyors, I had a great mentor who taught me the value of land surveying from early on in my career. The college education I received at Paul Smith's College, where I received an A.A.S. in Land Surveying Technology, and Alfred State College, where I received a B.S. in Survey Engineering Technology, gave me a solid foundation to begin my surveying career with the Forest Service. I feel that my participation in sports while growing up taught me the value of communication and teamwork, which is a pivotal part of any job.

Describe a recent, current, or upcoming project that you're currently working on.

Right now I am working on a number of trespass and encroachment issues on our forest that require a great deal of communication with private land owners. One of my collateral duties on the Forest is as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR), where I am working on overseeing surveying boundary contract task orders. This requires me to assess all land line boundary needs for upcoming timber sales on both ranger districts. For nearly the past three years I have been working on a fairly complex land acquisition case for the Allegheny National Forest. I have learned a lot of valuable information about federal land acquisitions in the process.

Describe a professional or personal achievement that you are particularly proud of.

This past fall I was given the opportunity to work on a very large engineering survey related project on Forest Road 262, also known as Longhouse Scenic Drive, and Forest Road 492 at Jakes Rocks. These roads encompass a large majority of the major recreation sites on the Allegheny National Forest and are in great need of repair. I knew that this survey work was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I jumped at the chance to be able to survey approximately 14 miles of National Forest Road consisting of seven large culvert locations, 186 smaller culvert locations, and 17 proposed culvert locations. I completed this survey work entirely by myself with the use of two Trimble survey grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and a Trimble robotic total station. This work would typically require a two- to three-person survey crew and could not have been accomplished if not for the investment the Allegheny National Forest made in this new technology.

Why do you think your career field is important?

Without the surveying and marking of National Forest boundaries it would make any resource activity nearly impossible. The delineation of our Forest Service boundaries is critical to the public’s use of the land and helps immensely in avoiding trespass, encroachment and timber theft issues on Forest Service land.

What are some of the greatest challenges confronting your career field?

It can be a very difficult task for one person to manage over 500,000 acres of Allegheny National Forest land boundaries, a lot of which is mixed with private ownership. In addition to managing our land boundaries, I assist engineering with topographic surveys for culvert/bridge replacements; the Allegheny National Forest oil and gas program with deed review and title work; and the land’s program with land and right-of-way acquisitions and special use permitting ownership and title issues.

What are some of the most promising strategies being used by the Forest Service to address these challenges?

When funding is available, I am able to contract boundary survey land line work on the National Forest when the work is directly related to resource activity. I have also started the process of scanning our old land records for quicker access and to help preserve records, some of which are nearing 100 years old. I rely heavily on our Geographic Information System database in managing the National Forest’s boundary and land line needs.

How would you like the public to perceive the work we do at the Forest Service?

Our work is important in protecting our natural resources for future generations. I believe that when the public, local government agencies, Forest Service employees, and Forest Service leadership work together and engage in shared stewardship, everyone can find common ground and we can know better what we as public servants can strive to achieve in making the Allegheny National Forest better for the community and better for the Forest as a whole.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to serve their country as a Forest Service employee?

If you enjoy the outdoors and want to help in managing public land and preserving the forest and natural resources for future generations, a career with the USDA Forest Service is a great and rewarding place to work.

Intro

Lisa is passionate about her job and takes her responsibility of reforestation very seriously. She believes in protecting current resources and improving them so our next generation of forest and nature lovers can enjoy them as she does.

How did you start out at the Forest Service?

I started out in 2007 where I worked as a seasonal employee marking timber during the spring and summer months and as a biological sciences technician doing botany and wildlife surveys. I was lucky enough after seven years to have the opportunity to get a full-time position.

What do you do now at the Forest Service?

I am currently a forestry technician on the Bradford District of the Allegheny National Forest. The main focus of my job is working on timber stand improvement and reforestation. I’ve been a forestry technician for four and half years.

What is your favorite part of your job?

There are so many things I love about my job but if I had to pick a few I would have to say the first is coming to work and being around the most amazing co-workers. We all have the same interests, passions and joy of working on the Allegheny National Forest. They all share the same love for the forest and its wildlife as I do. Secondly, is having a job where I get to go into the field every day and work in nature. I get to experience the blooming flowers in the spring and see the wildlife flourishing everyday as a result of my efforts. I am really lucky to be able to work independently in the field and enjoy the solitude of the forest. I am really proud of my job and the work that I do to regenerate the forest. I love when I get to do community outreach with school groups who visit and we get to teach them about the forest, how to identify trees, and how to be good stewards of the forest. One of the really cool things I get to do as part of my job is to fight wildfires on forests out west, conduct prescribed burns, and support neighboring forests. Fighting fires is very challenging but extremely rewarding.

Describe a recent, current, or upcoming project that you’re currently working on?

I am currently preparing for spring and summer timber harvestseasons. Working with the foresters, we determine which timber stands are ready for timber harvesting and reforestation projects.  We take advantage of the winter months to mark timber stand improvement project areas for the contractors. Using the Forest Service Geographic Information System, or GIS, I make maps with updated boundary lines for reforestation contractors to use. Once the maps are created I go into the field and layout the boundaries and sensitive features using flagging to clearly identify the boundaries for reforestation contractors. Once that is done I help the reforestation forester with doing some of the paperwork for upcoming reforestation contracts. The winter weather makes it challenging in the field but I love the challenge.

Describe a professional or personal achievement that you are particularly proud of. I am very proud of a personal achievement a co-worker and I accomplished. We rode our bicycles across the state of Pennsylvania, starting in Ohio, along scenic Route 6. Our ride was in early October so we encountered rain and snow the entire way. Luckily we decided to only ride 50 to 60 miles a day and stay in local bed and breakfasts each night. My mom supported us by driving ahead of us to secure our rooms and any supplies we needed for the next day. The ride took us seven days and 401 miles.

Why do you think your field is important?

Reforestation is vital to maintaining a forest’s health. We all want the forest to be here for many generations to come. In order to make that happen we have to manage the forest’s age classes, invasive species, wildlife population, and the overall health. We manage the age and health of the forest with planned strategic timber harvesting. This ensures there can be a diversity of age classes spread throughout the forest. Once timber stands are harvested, natural regeneration is monitored with routine surveys to ensure growth and species composition.  We check for invasive plant and insect species and mitigate their impact as best as we can. Through all these different steps we can ensure the forest is regenerated sustainably and it remains healthy for many years. We also provide may local jobs and employment opportunities through all the timber related contracts we provide every year. This ensures that our communities work as a team with one goal in mind, the forest’s longevity and health.

What are some of the greatest challenges confronting your field?

The biggest challenges right now for the silviculture and forester community are the invasive insects and plant species that are impacting our forests. This is causing our forest problems in regards to reforestation, providing improper light conditions for desirable seedlings and limiting seed supply.

What are some of the most promising strategies being used by the Forest Service to address these challenges?

Although invasives are a challenge, we are fighting back through collaboratives, information sharing, research, and joint stewardship among all the stakeholders in our area. One great example of collaboration is our Allegheny Forest Health Collaborative, which is comprised of federal, state, local, and private forestry organizations that work together to develop joint strategies that we all can use together to fight invasive plants and species. Carefully planned and targeted herbicide application is our number one tool for invasive plants and American Beech sprouts. And of course, everyone’s help in not moving or introducing non-native invasive plants to our forests by not planting them near forest boundaries or disposing of brush and yard debris on the National Forest.

How would you like the public to perceive the work we do at the Forest Service?

I want the public to know that the work we do is beneficial to everyone and everything they do on the forest. It is public land and we are here to help everyone enjoy spending time on it. Our job is to do great things for the people, the wildlife, the plants, the trees, the waterways, and for the recreation sites. We work hard to ensure that the forest is a place that everyone wants to visit and recreate on every year. More importantly though, our job is to ensure the forest is healthy and around for many generations to come. My colleagues and I are so proud of the work we do and want everyone to know that we love seeing people out recreating on the forest, whether it’s hunting, fishing, camping, hiking or biking. The work we are doing is for them.