Karl Davies  
 

Karl Davies:  This is a quote form a post by Bob Leverett dated Oct 27, 2003:  

 Finally, on Saturday, we paid tribute to the passing of a dear friend. We dedicated a splendid white pine in the Algonquin grove of MTSF to our friend Karl Davies who recently passed away from cancer. The dedication was attended by 60 people. Karl's tree stands near Michael Perlman's tree. Mike passed away in April 1998. Karl passed on October 2003. Both Karl and Mike were protectors of the forest. They chose different, but equally important and necessary routes.

   One of Karl's close friends and fellow Quakers told me that he often walked the Mahican-Mohawk trail and had always admired the tree we dedicated to Karl. It seemed so fitting. We appreciated all who came to pay their respects to Karl. The tall pine stands as living monument to Karl and his work. We invite all to walk the trail and to remember Karl and Mike as they pass their trees.

Karl Davies was the proprietor and supervisor for Davies & Company in Northampton, MA. The company is responsible for the management of over 15,000 acres of private and municipal forestland. It specializes in forest investment management and agroforestry systems planning. Davies was a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters, the Northern Nut Growers Association, and the Association for Temperate Agroforestry. Davies is the author of several publications. 

Karl Davies
Professional Experience

1981 to Present
Davies & Company
Northampton, MA      
Proprietor, Supervisor

Responsible for management of over 15,000 acres of private and municipal forest land. Specializing in forest investment management and agroforestry systems planning.              

1975 to 1980
Green Diamond Forestry Service
Belchertown, MA
Regional Supervisor

After starting as an apprentice, became regional supervisor of management of over 12,000 acres of private forest land. Represented employees on board of directors.

1969 to 1974
American Friends Service Committee
Cambridge, MA  
Coordinator, Economic Alternatives Program

Began in the Peace Education Program, later developed and became coordinator of the Economic Alternatives Program which carried on education about and organizing of community land trusts, workers' self-management, community development corporations, and cooperatives.

Education

1982 to 1985
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
MPS 1985

Master of Professional Studies in Forest Science (Department of Natural Resources). Worked closely with the interdisciplinary Cornell Tree Crops Research Project. Special project (thesis) entitled: A Systematic Approach for Indicating Potential New Perennial Crop Systems for the Northeast.

1964 to 1968
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH
BA 1968

Graduated cum laude with a major in comparative literature (French and English) and a minor in economics. Studied at the Sorbonne and the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris, France for the academic year 1966-67.

Organizations

Society of American Foresters (National Professional Organization)
Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters (State Professional Association)
Northern Nut Growers Association (International Amateur and Professional Association)
Association for Temperate Agroforestry (International Professional Association)

Publications

Grade value increase rates for northeastern timber species.  1999 in progress.  Adapts data from published research papers to calculate grade value increase rates for all major species by diameter and grade.  Shows how grade value increase rate is usually greater than either volume or market value increase rates for grade species.

The myth of low tree value growth rates.   1999.  Massachusetts Woodland Steward.  Reviews how trees grow in volume, grade value and market value all at the same time.

Davies & Company Web Site.  1999.  Internet website with major sections on forestry perspectives, management choices, consulting services, forestry laws, research papers and articles, internet resources; over 180 separate web pages altogether.

Precautionary planning for the effects of climate change on forests in the Northeast. 1998.  Massachusetts Woodland Steward.  Reviews important aspects of how climate change is likely to affect weather patterns in the Northeast, and how these weather patterns are likely to affect forests.  Also describes adaptive measures that may be taken by forest landowners.

A spreadsheet program for calculating stumpage prices from published sawlog prices.  1998. Sawlog Bulletin.   Calculates average New England/New York stumpage prices for all species and grades.

White ash decline hazard assessment and management strategies in Massachusetts stands. 1997. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry.   Second author on an approach for determining the liklihood of ash decline based on soil, slope and associated vegetation--and how to minimize risks.

Toward more accurate growth simulations and appraisals: Using INFORM to project tree grade and market value increases.  1996.  The Compiler.  How to adapt a popular forest treatment and growth simulation program to more accurately account for tree grade and market value changes over time.

The relationship between site factors and white ash (Fraxinus americana L) decline in Massachusetts.  1993.  Forest Ecology and Management.  Third author on investigation into the causes of ash decline.  Found that site factors were the most significant.

Growing new tree crops in New England: Updating some old agroforestry practices.  1993. Massachusetts Woodland Steward. Describes Native American and early colonial agroforestry practices and the potential of nut trees in new agroforestry systems.

Some ecological aspects of northeastern American Indian agroforestry practices.  1994. Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Report.  Explains how Indians' practices of shifting cultivation and controlled burning were sustainable and productive of food for humans and wildlife, explores implications for present-day agroforestry systems.

Forest investment considerations for planning thinnings and harvests.  1991.  Northern Journal of Applied Forestry.  Explains important economic factors influencing selection of trees for cutting: volume, grade value and market value increases.

Microclimate evaluation and modification for northern nut tree plantings.  1990.  Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Report.  Describes methods for quickly estimating growing degree days and frost-free days for particular sites, and for improving these measures with windbreaks and soil modifications.

Agroforestry in New England?  1988.  Resources and Environment.  Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Service.  Suggests research goals for tree crop species found most likely to succeed in Cornell M.P.S. special project.

A method for converting forest stands to nut tree plantations in the Northeast.  1984.  Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Report .  Summarizes management practices indicated as most practical in Cornell M.P.S. special project.

Progress report on the Cornell Tree Corps Research Project.  1982.  Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Report.  Lead author with two others.  KD section focuses on experimental designs.

Principles of forest investment analysis.  1980.  Forest Resource Management Associates.  A paper written for landowner-clients of an association of consulting foresters.

Community Land Trusts in Massachusetts.  1977.  Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Service.  A booklet on the purposes, methods, and structure of community land trusts.

Forest Management in Massachusetts.  1976.  Massachusetts Tree Farm Committee and Massachusetts Farm Bureau.  A folder of articles on many aspects of forest management for landowners.

Democratizing the Workplace.  1973.  American Friends Service Committee, New England Regional Office.  A folder of articles about workers' self-management and other participatory systems.

Behind the Corporate Image.  1972.  American Friends Service Committee, New England Regional Office.  Co-author with several others of a report on a large, multinational corporation