By Marlee Jackson

Protect. Sustain. Educate. For a century, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has been flush with humble heroes who demonstrate those directives — from fighting wildfires and finessing land management plans to fielding questions from community members curious about Alabama’s abundant natural resources.

It’s the living legacy state leaders envisioned when they founded the AFC in January 1924, said State Forester Rick Oates.

“We’re here to ensure generations now and generations in the future have sustainable forests and can use those resources to make peoples’ lives better,” Oates said. “I hope our centennial celebrations have helped the public better understand what we do, why we do what we do and how we benefit the state of Alabama.”

AFC’s centennial celebration kicked off in early 2024. A mural depicting AFC staff’s commitment to protect, sustain and educate was unveiled and added to the Alabama Mural Trail. Majestic turkeys and tortoises anchor the larger-than-life wall of art at state headquarters facing Bainbridge Street in downtown Montgomery. Other elements include a wildland firefighter, forest education amid towering timber and the AFC’s arched logo.

The mural and other centennial events were made possible thanks to sponsors such as the Alabama Farmers Federation and its affiliated Alabama TREASURE Forest Association. The Federation has long supported the AFC in its mission to protect forests and assist landowners, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. Alabama has 23 million acres of forest land, 93% of which is privately owned.

“Our landowners rely on the Alabama Forestry Commission for advice and protection,” said Parnell, whose family is in the timber and cattle businesses in Chilton County. “We are proud to support this state agency that truly works for the people of Alabama.”

AFC personnel cover all 67 counties. They’ve spent this centennial year coordinating field days, educating youth through Classroom in the Forest and donning Smokey Bear regalia at community events. That’s in addition to identifying Southern pine beetle damage, issuing burn permits, clearing roads after storms, manning heavy equipment to create fire breaks and, in some cases, battling blazes out West.

Those foresters, rangers, dispatchers, fire specialists and more have been key fixtures at cookouts organized to celebrate the agency’s 100th anniversary. An agency-wide event took place at Lanark in Millbrook, while regional cookouts built camaraderie among smaller groups.

In April, AFC hosted a reception at the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery. Among attendees were the seven commissioners who oversee the AFC’s work, including Chairman Chris Langley of Chambers County.

“I believe our biggest impact comes when we use our resources wisely to help with wildfires and timber management or any part of a landowner’s forestry needs,” said Langley, a landowner and logger.

In minutes from AFC’s first commission meeting Jan. 15, 1924, commissioners proved they understood those needs by allocating $35,000 for fire protection work. While today’s budget is substantially larger and methods have evolved, AFC’s faithful public servants remain committed to the “protect, sustain and educate” refrain, Oates said.

“We have over 200 employees who really love what they do,” Oates said. “They care about this state and the people who are in it. I’m thankful for their commitment and the work they do for the people of Alabama each and every day.”