Alabama Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey will make a trip to Camden Monday, Feb. 6 to meet with educators, government officials and community leaders throughout the Black Belt to speak on the importance of forestry.

As part of the Alabama Black Belt Initiative, the free event will be held noon inside the Wilcox Chamber of Commerce, located at 1001 Earl Hilliard Road. The initiative encourages youth in the state’s Black Belt region to pursue jobs in Alabama’s forestry industries.

The Alabama Forestry Association director of communications Sam Duvall said it’s important to change students’ perception of forestry.

“A lot of people’s perception of forestry is logs and a truck driver going down a highway, but it’s a lot more than that,” Duvall said.

“You could be a chemical engineer at a plant, there’s a need for welders, paper technicians; there’s a lot more to it than the obvious.”

Duvall said there’s a lot more to forestry than trees and that students would benefit from a career in the field.

“The Black Belt Initiative is an effort to bring greater awareness to students to consider forestry as a way of getting a good job and consider staying in the Black Belt after graduation — it helps our industry,” Duvall said.

Duvall encourages educators, city council representatives and other community leaders to attend the event that will include a chance to speak with Ivey and receive informational handouts.

Lunch will be provided.