Ghost Forest in Manhattan with NJ Forester Bob Williams

"A forest has sprouted in the middle of Manhattan. Dozens of cedar trees have recently appeared in Madison Square Park, in the shadow of the iconic Flatiron Building. But there’s something odd about these trees: They’re dead, and that’s just how Maya Lin wants them. Lin, the artist who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, is using these cedars to recreate a 'ghost forest' — one of the most prominent impacts of climate change in South Jersey — in the middle of New York City." "Bob Williams, a South Jersey forester who worked with Lin to bring the installation to life, is excited and hopeful that the work will spur onlookers to think about the world around them." We'll ask Bob about what the exhibit means to him and how forestry might play a positive role in bringing back Atlantic white cedar, climate mitigation, and other conservation goals.

Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975.  Bob has 43 years experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organization.