CONROE, Texas—Today, community members gathered to kick off the year-long Texas State Forest centennial celebration at the W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe, Texas.
Thirty-five exhibitors, including natural resource partners, were in attendance. Visitors experienced emergency response vehicles, received tree seedlings, fished at the forest’s lakes, participated in forest therapy hikes with Dr. Daniel Porter, and learned about different species living in the forest.
“Today was a culmination of forestry and conservation we have pioneered at Texas A&M Forest Service for over a century now,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. “Our state forests are extremely vital to local ecosystems, and they offer access to tens of thousands of visitors annually to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of forests.”
Presentations at today’s festival included topics about Texas state forest history, Red-cockaded woodpecker conservation efforts, and health benefits of forest exposure and featured a demonstration by Chikawa Aztec Dance and Traditions.
The Texas state forest centennial celebration honors a century of sustainable forestry practices occurring on state forests across East Texas. State Forest No. 1, now E.O. Siecke State Forest, was the first state forest to be acquired by Texas A&M Forest Service. State Forest No. 2, now W.G. Jones State Forest, was acquired in 1926.
Texas A&M Forest Service owns and operates five state forests that serve as working demonstration forests and educational classrooms that welcome thousands of visitors and horseback riders. Forestry practices such as prescribed burning and timber thinning and harvesting are performed on state forests. Texas state forests are managed by Texas A&M Forest Service Foresters, and some forestry practices at the forests are conducted in collaboration with Texas state agency natural resource partners.
“State forests are essential to our forestry research and practices,” said Billy Whitworth, Texas A&M Forest Service Area Operations Chief. “We also host many community and educational events throughout the year at the forests including our youth deer hunts next weekend. Access to our forests helps build a greater appreciation for natural resource conservation and introduces the next generation of foresters to the trade.”
At 1,700 acres, the W.G. Jones State Forest is one of the nation’s largest managed state forests. This forest is comprised of loblolly and shortleaf pine tree plantations. The forest is also notable for its sanctuary for the federally endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) population.
The W.G. Jones State Forest was named after W. Goodrich Jones in 1949. Jones is known as the father of Texas forestry, as he brought innovative silvicultural practices to Texas, helped form the Texas Forestry Association in 1914, lobbied for the inception of the Texas Department of Forestry in 1915 and established Texas Arbor Day in 1889.
Two additional celebration events will be held at the I.D. Fairchild State Forest on April 26, 2025, and E.O. Siecke State Forest in the fall 2025.
Learn more about Texas State Forests here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/StateForest100.aspx