November 1, 2007
Contact: Amanda Box, Communication and Program Coordinator,
Mississippi Forestry Association
601.354.4936, abox@msforestry.net, www.msforestry.net
Harold Anderson, of Philadelphia, received the Meritorious Service to Forestry Award given by Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) on October 25, at their Annual Meeting in Natchez. The Meritorious Service to Forestry Award is the most prestigious award presented by MFA and recognizes Anderson for his dedication to forestry during his entire career. Anderson was chosen by a distinguished panel of his peers who have previously been so honored by MFA.
Since graduating from Mississippi State University, Anderson, a native of Jones County, he has enjoyed a lengthy career of service in all phases of professional forestry work, interrupted only once, when he served his nation in the U.S. Navy. Anderson retired in 2005 after well over three decades of service to the forestry community as a state forestry employee at the county, district and state office levels.
Anderson is currently the state director for Project Learning Tree and was recently featured in the summer issue of Mississippi Forestry Association’s Tree Talk magazine for his work with Project Learning Tree, a program that trains teachers to integrate conservation education in the regular curriculum. Developed in 1976, PLT is a program of the American Forest Foundation and partners with international, national, state and local organizations. In Mississippi PLT is sponsored by the Mississippi Forestry Commission, Mississipi Forestry Association and USDA Forest Service. PLT is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United State and abroad. Project Learning Tree has been very successful in Mississippi, so much so that the international PLT convention will be held in Jackson in 2008.
“I love working with PLT. I have friends around the world that I’ve met through PLT, and I love mentoring young people and developing networks and contacts. Frequently, elementary classroom teachers are a little intimidated about teaching science, and their PLT training gives them confidence. With just a little preparation, they can present an accurate, fun, hands-on science lesson to their class,” said Anderson. Please visit PLT’s blogspot at http://msplt.blogspot.com/.
Anderson and his wife Paula have two daughters, Laura Beckham and Heather Knight. Anderson is a long time member of MFA, serving and chairing committees, and as a member of the board of directors.
Mississippi Forestry Association’s vision is to serve as The Voice of Forestry in Mississippi. In 1938 MFA was formed to guard and grow Mississippi’s forests and that is still the mission today. MFA is the only organization that represents every group in the forestry community. MFA leads the efforts in protecting landowner rights, improving the forest products economy and educating the community about the ecological benefits of healthy, renewable forests and of the forest industry. MFA is a private (non government), nonprofit association. To learn more, visit www.msforestry.net.