Education
M.S. in Forest Resources, University of Idaho, 1999
B.S. in Forest Science,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1997

Areas of Expertise
Plant Ecology & Natural Resource Management

Extension/Outreach Emphasis
Hardwood silviculture; non-industrial private forest (NIPF) management; timber harvesting; forest ecology; afforestation/reforestation; logger training; and the Illinois Big Tree Register.

Research Interests
I have a keen interest in hardwood silviculture throughout the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province of the United States. My primary interests include oak regeneration, rehabilitation of degraded hardwood stands, crop tree management of fine hardwoods, and floodplain afforestation. During 2005-2006, I had the unique privilege of completing over 440 hours of advanced silvicultural training through the USDA Forest Service’s Program of Advanced Studies in Silviculture (PASS). My other areas of interest include bottomland forest ecology, forest soils, forest harvesting and engineering, and forest products marketing and utilization. My last name (Hayek/Hajek) in Czech means “small [timber] grove”, which makes my career choice an interesting one.

Other/Principal Activities

• Cooperative Forest Management Committee, Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters
  
• Continuing Forestry Education Coordinator, Illinois Society of American Foresters
  
• Executive Committee, Illinois Tree Farm
  
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Professional Affiliations

• Society of American Foresters
  
• American Tree Farm System
  
• Illinois Forestry Association
  
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Extension Programs

Illinois Extension Forestry Web Site: maintain interactive web site to assist in the delivery of extension, state, and federal forestry programs along with educational information related to forestry and natural resource management. This website hosts a wealth of knowledge including publications, technical assistance, links, and general recommendations including the Ask the Forester forum and Timber Blog commentary.

• Illinois Woodland Steward Program: this is Illinois Extension Forestry’s premier forest management series – geared toward conservation-minded citizens and forest landowners.
  
  
• Illinois Big Tree Register: administer and coordinate the statewide Big Tree program. Currently promoting an innovative volunteer Citizen Big Tree Inspector initiative to promote Illinois’ Big Tree program; inspect, certify, and measure Big Tree nominations; and encourage public participation and natural resources education across all 102 counties in the state.
  
  
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