Misty Booth, ISA, Community Forester, MS
Misty works closely with communities in Mississippi to build resiliency through conservation and restoration of urban forests. Through GIC’s TreesMS program, she aids in the establishment and revision of ordinances, assessment of urban canopy cover and related benefits, urban forest master planning and tree planting, and community engagement and training.
Misty has 24 years of experience as a natural resource management professional with both Federal and state government agencies and the non-profit sector. She began her career with USDA Wildlife Services in support of human-wildlife conflict resolution. She went on to work with the Forest & Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University where she ultimately served as Forest Supervisor to aid the management of the 30,000-acre Bulldog Forest. In this role, she also served as Executive Vice President of the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show, where she planned and implemented all aspects of the biennial event which hosts a two-day attendance of over 7,000 people.
Prior to joining GIC, Misty was the Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, where she managed a state-wide assistance program supporting municipalities, tree care professionals, contractors, homeowners, and volunteers to develop sustainable community forestry programs. She was the liaison for the Arbor Day Foundation in Mississippi and worked to promote sound management of green infrastructure where we live, work, and play to maximize environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits associated with trees.
Misty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from Mississippi State University. She is a Mississippi Registered Forester and an ISA Certified Arborist with TRAQ credentials. She has served on the Executive Committees of both the Mississippi Forestry Association and the Professional Arborist Association of Mississippi. She is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Urban & Community Forestry Society, as well as a lifetime member of the Mississippi Forestry Foundation. Misty and her husband, Cade, enjoy stewarding their land in Winston County, Mississippi, where they spend weekends and are active in their church.