Cultivating Conservation
Heather Brasell’s Journey as an Environmental Steward
Spring 2024
By John Casey
Amid the towering pines of her family property in Berrien County, Georgia, Heather Brasell stands as a testament to the transformative power of environmental stewardship. Recently recognized as the American Forest Foundation’s 2023 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year, Brasell’s journey from a forestry technician in New Zealand to a land manager in South Georgia is a captivating narrative of resilience, passion, and commitment to sustainable forestry.
The Roots of Inspiration
Brasell’s odyssey began in New Zealand, where her early career in animal ecology eventually led her to the tropical rainforests of North Queensland and the forests of Tasmania. Fate intervened when she met her husband at an international conference on nitrogen fixation, luring her to the United States — specifically to the Gaskins family property in Berrien County, Georgia, just east of Tifton.
Years later, Brasell was abruptly faced with urgent challenges in the wake of her husband’s passing. “Everything that was planted was the same age loblolly and slash pine,” said Brasell. “When my husband died, I knew nothing about silviculture, but there were all these planted pines that were ready for thinning and needed a lot of stuff done in a hurry.”
The need for rapid action on a forest requiring immediate thinning thrust Brasell into the world of forestry, launching her on a journey that would redefine her life.
The Roots of Inspiration
Brasell’s odyssey began in New Zealand, where her early career in animal ecology eventually led her to the tropical rainforests of North Queensland and the forests of Tasmania. Fate intervened when she met her husband at an international conference on nitrogen fixation, luring her to the United States — specifically to the Gaskins family property in Berrien County, Georgia, just east of Tifton.
Years later, Brasell was abruptly faced with urgent challenges in the wake of her husband’s passing. “Everything that was planted was the same age loblolly and slash pine,” said Brasell. “When my husband died, I knew nothing about silviculture, but there were all these planted pines that were ready for thinning and needed a lot of stuff done in a hurry.”
The need for rapid action on a forest requiring immediate thinning thrust Brasell into the world of forestry, launching her on a journey that would redefine her life.
Heather Brasell conducts a controlled burn in the understory
of the pines on her property.
Navigating Challenges
Brasell’s transition from a novice to a nationally renowned forest landowner contained many hurdles. “When my husband died, there were a lot of expectations put on me. After all, I talk with a foreign accent even though I’ve been here 40 years,” said Brasell. “One of the first expectations was how soon I was going to go back to New Zealand, and the second was how fast I could spend all the money, and the third was, as a woman, I couldn’t possibly do the work myself. I was going to have to hire somebody else to do all the thinking and the manual work for me. I joke and say if I had lived down to those expectations, I certainly wouldn’t be here now.”
Undeterred, Brasell delved into attending field trips and symposiums, learning from forestry professionals and building a network of support.
During her journey, she encountered Jamie Kent, the regional forester who would introduce her to the Tree Farm system and the Georgia Forest Legacy Program. This pivotal moment shifted Brasell’s perspective from mere timber cultivation to becoming a steward of the land. In 2009, she enrolled the property in the Tree Farm Program, underscoring her commitment to responsible forestry practices.
“When Jamie came out, he kept stopping and looking at the understory. He stopped and took photos of a gopher tortoise and he listened to the birds. He made me realize that being a landowner is about being a steward,” said Brasell.
“It’s not about just growing timber. By seeing it in terms of forest stewardship, that really aroused my passion and my love of ecology and conservation.” The property within the Murray Gaskins Marital Trust contains a mosaic of ecosystems spanning across 2,300 acres bordering the Alapaha River. From cypress ponds to riverine sloughs, Brasell has worked to foster a haven for biodiversity.
As she oversees the planting of longleaf, loblolly and slash pines, she strives not only for sustainable timber growth but also for the restoration and sustentation of the entire ecosystem. Her commitment to conservation includes invasive species control, herbicide application and understory restoration, among other essential ecological management practices.
Brasell’s transition from a novice to a nationally renowned forest landowner contained many hurdles. “When my husband died, there were a lot of expectations put on me. After all, I talk with a foreign accent even though I’ve been here 40 years,” said Brasell. “One of the first expectations was how soon I was going to go back to New Zealand, and the second was how fast I could spend all the money, and the third was, as a woman, I couldn’t possibly do the work myself. I was going to have to hire somebody else to do all the thinking and the manual work for me. I joke and say if I had lived down to those expectations, I certainly wouldn’t be here now.”
Undeterred, Brasell delved into attending field trips and symposiums, learning from forestry professionals and building a network of support.
During her journey, she encountered Jamie Kent, the regional forester who would introduce her to the Tree Farm system and the Georgia Forest Legacy Program. This pivotal moment shifted Brasell’s perspective from mere timber cultivation to becoming a steward of the land. In 2009, she enrolled the property in the Tree Farm Program, underscoring her commitment to responsible forestry practices.
“When Jamie came out, he kept stopping and looking at the understory. He stopped and took photos of a gopher tortoise and he listened to the birds. He made me realize that being a landowner is about being a steward,” said Brasell.
“It’s not about just growing timber. By seeing it in terms of forest stewardship, that really aroused my passion and my love of ecology and conservation.” The property within the Murray Gaskins Marital Trust contains a mosaic of ecosystems spanning across 2,300 acres bordering the Alapaha River. From cypress ponds to riverine sloughs, Brasell has worked to foster a haven for biodiversity.
As she oversees the planting of longleaf, loblolly and slash pines, she strives not only for sustainable timber growth but also for the restoration and sustentation of the entire ecosystem. Her commitment to conservation includes invasive species control, herbicide application and understory restoration, among other essential ecological management practices.
Heather Brasell (center) poses for a picture with Georgia Speaker of the House Jon
Burns (R-Newington) and Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) during a visit to the State Capitol for Georgia Forestry Day.
Educational Outreach:
A Commitment to the Future Ignited by her passion for the land, Brasell’s journey did not end with only managing her property — it evolved into a commitment to education and outreach.
Recognizing the importance of bridging the gap between the forestry industry and the public, Brasell launched the Gaskins Forest Education Center in 2011. From workshops for children to taxonomic workshops for professionals, she provides access and opportunities for diverse audiences to connect with nature.
“There is a huge need for us to do education outreach for forestry people to be able to do their job and do the good job they know how to do. We need to get people to understand and support what we do in terms of conservation, environmental issues, water quality, air quality, etc.,” said Brasell. “As time has gone on, I’ve spent more and more time in educational outreach and working not just with the people inside the industry and the [Georgia Department of Natural Resources] and the biologists who already know what a wonderful job forestry does for us all, but also working with the public and the people who don’t get to go into our woods and providing access and educational opportunities.”
Brasell’s efforts have included creating an arboretum and demonstration gardens that serve as resources for environmental education. Her dedication to fostering understanding and support for forestry practices is further evident in her involvement with Project Learning Tree, the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop, and collaborations with various partner organizations committed to forestry education and environmental stewardship.
However, despite her efforts and the efforts of many like-minded landowners and organizations, challenges persist in education regarding forestry’s role in conservation.
“Over the last few years, I’ve certainly seen an increase in the general public understanding that trees sequester carbon in regard to climate change. I’ve also seen an increased awareness that forests and woodlands provide ecological services — preventing erosion, filtering out pollution — and clean air, clean water, all of those kinds of things,” said Brasell.
“But what I don’t see is an understanding of the role of land managers in ensuring environmental services for the public.”
In the face of challenges like the public’s lack of awareness about the costs and efforts invested in stewardship, Brasell advocates for acknowledgment and support from policymakers, aiming for recognition that the work of landowners and foresters is a public service deserving acknowledgment and financial support.
“The cost is coming out of my pocket, but who’s benefiting? The general public. It’s essentially a charitable donation from me to the public that isn’t recognized. And then, when I apply for cost share for those programs, I may get some funding in one year out of three. I think we need our voters and our politicians to understand that what we’re doing is a public service,” said Brasell. “It’s not a handout to give us cost share. It’s a way to pay their dues for the work that we do, and there needs to be a lot better both the acknowledgment of it and, of course, the funding of it as well.
But even the acknowledgment of it would be a huge step forward.”
A Commitment to the Future Ignited by her passion for the land, Brasell’s journey did not end with only managing her property — it evolved into a commitment to education and outreach.
Recognizing the importance of bridging the gap between the forestry industry and the public, Brasell launched the Gaskins Forest Education Center in 2011. From workshops for children to taxonomic workshops for professionals, she provides access and opportunities for diverse audiences to connect with nature.
“There is a huge need for us to do education outreach for forestry people to be able to do their job and do the good job they know how to do. We need to get people to understand and support what we do in terms of conservation, environmental issues, water quality, air quality, etc.,” said Brasell. “As time has gone on, I’ve spent more and more time in educational outreach and working not just with the people inside the industry and the [Georgia Department of Natural Resources] and the biologists who already know what a wonderful job forestry does for us all, but also working with the public and the people who don’t get to go into our woods and providing access and educational opportunities.”
Brasell’s efforts have included creating an arboretum and demonstration gardens that serve as resources for environmental education. Her dedication to fostering understanding and support for forestry practices is further evident in her involvement with Project Learning Tree, the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop, and collaborations with various partner organizations committed to forestry education and environmental stewardship.
However, despite her efforts and the efforts of many like-minded landowners and organizations, challenges persist in education regarding forestry’s role in conservation.
“Over the last few years, I’ve certainly seen an increase in the general public understanding that trees sequester carbon in regard to climate change. I’ve also seen an increased awareness that forests and woodlands provide ecological services — preventing erosion, filtering out pollution — and clean air, clean water, all of those kinds of things,” said Brasell.
“But what I don’t see is an understanding of the role of land managers in ensuring environmental services for the public.”
In the face of challenges like the public’s lack of awareness about the costs and efforts invested in stewardship, Brasell advocates for acknowledgment and support from policymakers, aiming for recognition that the work of landowners and foresters is a public service deserving acknowledgment and financial support.
“The cost is coming out of my pocket, but who’s benefiting? The general public. It’s essentially a charitable donation from me to the public that isn’t recognized. And then, when I apply for cost share for those programs, I may get some funding in one year out of three. I think we need our voters and our politicians to understand that what we’re doing is a public service,” said Brasell. “It’s not a handout to give us cost share. It’s a way to pay their dues for the work that we do, and there needs to be a lot better both the acknowledgment of it and, of course, the funding of it as well.
But even the acknowledgment of it would be a huge step forward.”
Heather Brasell leads a pollinator census group to calculate the population of local pollinator species.
Collaboration Driving Forestry Success
Brasell acknowledges her journey to becoming a driving force for change wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration with partners and professionals within the forestry community.
Among those she credits for her success are three forestry leaders who ultimately led the campaign to nominate her for National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year: Steve Chapman, a registered forester with Habitat Management Services; Mark McClellan, stewardship and legacy coordinator for the Georgia Forestry Commission; and Frank Green, program manager for the Georgia Tree Farm Program.
“I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with Heather over the past few years. She’s impressed me with her work ethic on the property and thinking outside the box. I think that is probably my favorite thing about Heather. She’s always wanting to experiment, always wanting to do something different and always wanting to reach out to the public to share that learned knowledge,” said McClellan. “I love going out there on the property to look at all the work that they’ve done. Everything’s done to a tee.”
As she looks to the future and what’s next, Brasell is excited to leverage connections made through her recent award to continue to drive her work forward.
“I really appreciate this award. I’ve always appreciated all my colleagues, interagency and across the board, who have helped me along the way. This kind of award helps me to ask them to support what I’m doing. I love everything I
do. I say working in the woods keeps my mind, body and soul in good shape,” said Brasell. “This work is about collaboration.
You need to work with other people. You need to respect them. You need to listen to them. When I do my educational outreach, I help other people in other places just as much as they come and help me. It’s about working together as a team.” ■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
Brasell acknowledges her journey to becoming a driving force for change wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration with partners and professionals within the forestry community.
Among those she credits for her success are three forestry leaders who ultimately led the campaign to nominate her for National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year: Steve Chapman, a registered forester with Habitat Management Services; Mark McClellan, stewardship and legacy coordinator for the Georgia Forestry Commission; and Frank Green, program manager for the Georgia Tree Farm Program.
“I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with Heather over the past few years. She’s impressed me with her work ethic on the property and thinking outside the box. I think that is probably my favorite thing about Heather. She’s always wanting to experiment, always wanting to do something different and always wanting to reach out to the public to share that learned knowledge,” said McClellan. “I love going out there on the property to look at all the work that they’ve done. Everything’s done to a tee.”
As she looks to the future and what’s next, Brasell is excited to leverage connections made through her recent award to continue to drive her work forward.
“I really appreciate this award. I’ve always appreciated all my colleagues, interagency and across the board, who have helped me along the way. This kind of award helps me to ask them to support what I’m doing. I love everything I
do. I say working in the woods keeps my mind, body and soul in good shape,” said Brasell. “This work is about collaboration.
You need to work with other people. You need to respect them. You need to listen to them. When I do my educational outreach, I help other people in other places just as much as they come and help me. It’s about working together as a team.” ■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
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