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Taylor awarded Texas A&M Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Public Service in Forestry
COLLEGE STATION — Eric Taylor, Ph.D., Texas A&M Forest Service Silviculturist, was presented the Public Service in Forestry Award by Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Savell, Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Throughout his career, Taylor has embodied both Texas A&M AgriLife’s and Texas A&M Forest Service’s missions by serving landowners, educating future professions, advancing innovative silvicultural strategies and fostering collaborations that strengthen forestry in Texas and the Southern U.S.
“Taylor shows exceptional leadership skills in forestry that result in strong partnerships and outcomes for Texas and throughout the south,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. “He also consistently provides exceptional service to landowners, especially those with smaller properties who often struggle to access forest management services.”
Taylor earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry from Stephen F. Austin and his Ph.D. in forestry from Texas A&M University in 1998, specializing in forest ecology, statistics, geographic information system and remote sensing.
In 1998, he began his career with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, later assuming a dual role with Texas A&M Forest Service in 2008 and fully transitioning to work for the agency in 2013.
Taylor empowers landowners and professionals to make informed, science-based decisions by developing and leading numerous decision-support resources. One example is a co-authored forestry herbicide manual and development of the Forestry Herbicide Prescriptions tool, now widely used across multiple states.
Taylor also builds future forestry professionals through teaching and mentoring. Many of his students are now professionals carrying forward his influence.
Another hallmark of Taylor’s career is securing competitive grants to expand opportunities for landowners. His leadership in recent initiatives such as the $10.8 million Texas Climate- Smart Initiative and the $5 million USDA Landowner Support Program has broadened access to forest management activities among small acreage landowners.
Taylor has also published widely, organized workshops and received major honors including the USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Two Chiefs’ Award, the Society of American Foresters Lawrence C. Walker Distinguished Service to Forestry Award and the Texas Forestry Association Communicator of the Year Award.
Courtesy photo
