Changing issues in forestry will be highlighted at the 59th annual meeting of the Louisiana Forestry Association at Shreveport August 29-31.

With the theme of "Winds of Change," the convention at Sam's Town Hotel on the Shreveport riverfront, will hear presentations by nationally recognized personalities on trends in the industry.

Headlining the general session on Wednesday morning, August 29, are Dr. David Wear, U.S. Forest Service researcher, On the topic, "Changing Economics and Demographics in Southern Forestry;' and Larry Seltzer, president and CEO of the Conservancy Fund, on "How TIMOs and REITs Affect Southern Forestry."

Dr. Wear is project leader for forest economics and policy research at the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station, with locations in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and New Orleans. He manages a research project that addresses the economics of forest disturbances, timber and land market analysis, forest taxation, and analysis of laws and regulations. He also leads a national effort to forecast U.S. timber markets, land uses, and forest conditions and trends. Wear led the team for the Southern Forest Research Assessment, released in 2002. He was a lead researcher in the report "The US South's Timber Sector in 2005: A prospective analysis of recent change."

Dr. Bill Stuart, a professor at Mississippi State University, addresses the Louisiana Logging Council breakfast on Wednesday morning, August 31, on "Loggers Role in the Fiber Supply Chain."

The LFA convention includes a variety of social and educational events beginning with a golf tournament at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 29, and concluding with the directors and new LFA officers meeting at 7:30 August 31.

Registration material has been sent to LFA members. For information contact LFA at 318-443-2558, email lfa@laforestry.com , or see www.laforestry.com

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