Texas Forestry Association (TFA) is pleased to welcome Dave Duren of Lufkin as the Texas Logging Council Coordinator, an affiliation of private business men and women who make their living from the harvesting and delivery of wood fiber to forest products mills all over East Texas.
“We are very happy to welcome Dave Duren to the TFA staff,” said Ron Hufford, Executive Director of TFA. “His experience and passion for forestry makes him a strong liaison for TFA and the Logging Council which work together to improve relationships with landowners, loggers, and municipalities.”
“I’m honored to be selected as the new Coordinator,” said Duren. “I want to work with loggers and other forestry professionals to help East Texas continue to be a great place to live.”
Duren began a life-long career in the woods by going out with his father and grandfather, both foresters who passed on a passion to see Texas forests thrive for generations. He later worked for and as a partner with his father, “a priceless experience. He was the best in every way.”
“I remember being in high school and passing a clear-cut with my grandfather,” said Duren. “He was a career forester and seeing the mismanagement of that tract brought him to tears. I really hadn’t thought about taking care of the forest until I was taught Best Management Practices and learned that we have to protect and manage Texas forests through education and conservation.”
After a year of college, Duren worked full-time in the logging industry until 2010. As a logger, Duren has worked with Southland Paper and Temple-Inland. One of his sons, Daniel, “is carrying the flag” and runs his own logging and trucking operation.
Duren is a charter member and past president of Chapter 3 of the Texas Logging Council, which is dedicated to the preservation of East Texas’ wood-based economy, and its legislative efforts are designed to keep men and women working. He is also the 2003 recipient of TFA’s Texas Logger of the Year Award.
“I want to work with Logging Council members to build a positive image of logging in the public eye,” said Duren. “Together we can increase the understanding and awareness of industry best management practices that have made me and others better stewards of the land.”
The Texas Logging Council is a council under the Texas Forestry Association, the voice for forestry for 100 years, which promotes an economic, social and political climate that will advance forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations, as well as serving the broad needs of the forest resource of landowners, producers and consumers, and to enhance and perpetuate the Texas forest resource.