Beneath the Canopy: A Historical View of Forestry in Delaware

by Bob Tjaden

Overview

Author Bob Tjaden is a native Delawarean and a forester. With a great appreciation for Delaware's rich forest history, he wrote this book with the late Walt Gabel, so others can realize the value of these forests.

They take the reader on a historical journey with photographs and written documents.Delaware's forests have provided valuable materials for the production and manufacturing of many items. They include ship building, paper making, charcoal production, holly wreath making, wooden basket manufacturing, gunpowder, pulpwood and lumber. During the 1920s, Laurel was the largest manufacturer of wooden bushel baskets and crates for fruits and vegetables. In the 1930s & 40s, Milton was known as the Holly Wreath capital of the world, shipping Christmas wreaths worldwide. In 1927 the Forestry Department was established to provide leadership for the protection and management of Delaware's forests. During this time, forest fire lookout towers were erected, a State Tree Nursery was established, and a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp was built at Redden Forest.

The reader will also learn the critical role of the Forestry Department and Delaware's wood products during WW II.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538005750
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	04/14/2020
Pages:	422
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Bob is a native Delawarean, born and raised in the Wilmington-New Castle area. After graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in 1971, he was drafted and decided to enlist in the Navy. Bob served in the US Navy during the Viet Nam War from 1972-1974 and in the US Naval Reserves from 1974-1982. He was a Communication Technician (CTR), Petty Officer 3rd Class. During the Viet Nam War, he was assigned to a Naval Air Reconnaissance Unit (VQ-1) with the Naval Security Group Activity in Guam, Atsugi and Misawa, Japan. He earned his Flight Crew wings with over 300 hours of flight time.

Bob’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maine at Orono in Forest and Wildlife Management, a Master’s Degree from Duke University in Forest Economics and a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park, in Natural Resource and Environmental Policy. Upon graduating from the University of Maine at Orono, he accepted a position from Tony Florio, Director of Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife as a game warden assigned to New Castle County. In late 1980, he was hired by Walt Gabel as a field forester for the Delaware Forest Service assigned to Sussex County and served in that capacity until 1988.

In 1988, Bob accepted a position with the University of Maryland, Cooperative Extension Service as a Regional Specialist in Natural Resources. He taught many forest landowners, foresters, farmers, youth and policy makers forest and wildlife management techniques. On January 1, 1992, Bob was appointed Delaware State Forester, for the Delaware Forest Service, by Bill Chandler, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, and served in that capacity till March 3, 1994. In 1994, Bob returned to the University of Maryland Extension Service and served in various capacities such as an Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resource Programs, Interim Assistant Director-Environmental, Natural Resource and Sea Grant Programs, and currently is a Specialist and Professor in Natural Resource Management and Policy for the Department of Environmental Science and Technology

Bob and his wife, Linda, both native Delawareans, live in Harrington. They have three adult children: Jennifer, Bobby and Scott. Bob is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, kayaking, camping and hiking with his family.