Written by Emma Dunn, MFR ‘27
I recently sat down with Dustin Evans, a proud University of Georgia “Double Dawg” in forestry, to discuss the timber industry and his career journey. Evans graduated from UGA with his Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources in 2008, followed by his Masters of Forest Resources (MFR) in Forest Business in 2009. Currently a Lead Procurement Forester at Interfor, he previously worked for Canal Wood and Forest Resource Consultants. Like many in the forestry sector, Evans’ path has been anything but linear as he’s moved between companies and positions.
Throughout our conversation, I found his confidence in the industry and commitment to its future inspiring.
The Power of Advocacy
Evans emphasized that advocacy is essential, not just externally, but within the forestry community itself.
“In order to advance forestry, there needs to be better forest advocacy.”
Evans noted that if the public doesn’t understand the forest industry, they can’t understand the sustainability solutions forestry can offer. Coming from a non-forestry background, Evans reflected on how he wished he had known more about the breadth of the industry when he was a student. Now, with nearly two decades of experience, he sees advocacy as a bridge that connects loggers, foresters, policymakers, and the public to foster open dialogue and mutual understanding that can enable growth and success in the timber industry.
Diversification in Forestry
When asked what he might have done differently in his career, Evans shared:
“Looking back, I wish I would have expanded my knowledge on all the parts that play into our industry, not just what I was primarily interested in [during my early career].”
This reflection led us into a discussion about the importance of diversification. Evans spoke about how his former classmates have pursued a wide range of roles across the country, and how valuable it was to learn from their varied experiences. He highlighted the MFR in Forest Business program’s ability to expose students to diverse career paths and stressed the importance of embracing those opportunities early in one’s career.
Leadership & The Future of Forestry
One of the most compelling parts of our conversation centered on the future of the industry.
“Well, I can’t tell you exactly what it will look like, but I can tell you it will look a lot different than it did 50 or even 10 years ago.” Evans continued to share that forest industry will never go away, as “there is just too much that depends on it.”
For Evans, part of improving and growing the future of forestry lies within industry leaders serving as both internal and external advocates for the timber industry. Because of this, Evans joined the University of Georgia’s Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry (AGL) program. According to the AGL website, the program “educates, empowers, and connects today’s professionals in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, and allied sectors to be dynamic industry leaders.”
During our conversation, Evans shared that he believes that developing the next generation of strong leaders is key to enacting positive change across all levels of the industry. Strong leadership, he emphasized, is essential to building a resilient and innovative future for forestry.
Final Thoughts
By the end of our conversation, we had covered everything from advocacy and diversification to leadership and, of course, Georgia football. These themes left me feeling optimistic about what lies ahead, not just for the industry, but for the next generation of forestry professionals.
