NC · VA · SC · GA · FL

The right work,
on the right acre,
at the right time.

Science-led forestry from first assessment through long-term stewardship — keeping working forests healthy, productive, and resilient.

Field note · 01 Southeastern Coastal Plain Working forests across five states Explore the land
Member of
  • NC Forestry Association
  • Georgia Forestry Association
  • Florida Forestry Association
  • Association of Consulting Foresters
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Soil Science Society of America

Our approach

Listen first.
Plan with purpose.

Every property has its own goals, conditions, and constraints. We take time to understand all three before recommending what comes next.

See how we work
  • 20+ Years Forestry work spanning academia and industry.
  • Licensed & insured Registered forester in NC & GA; ground applicator & pesticide consultant.
  • Safety-led OSHA 10 certified — safety in our work, every job.
  • Research to operations From tree improvement at NC State to operations at Rayonier.

Forestry services

Complete solutions,
tailored to the land.

Stand management, mapping, operations consulting, and R&D — practical services shaped by hands-on work in the field and the nursery.

01

Forest Management

  • Timber sales & site prep
  • Planting & pre-commercial thinning
  • Management plans
  • Mapping & inventory
02

Operations Consulting

  • Silviculture program review
  • Operational excellence
  • Nursery & orchard management
03

Research & Development

  • Research trial installation, maintenance & measurement
  • Pine breeding & cone collection
  • Silviculture innovation partnerships
04

Forest Mapping

  • Digitize existing stand records
  • Map creation
  • Inventory assessment & mapping
05

Forest Inventory Assessment

  • Stand inventory collection & analysis
  • Growth and yield projections
  • Data-led management decisions

Specialist capabilities

Specialized support when the work calls for a broader set of tools.

Soil ScienceField sampling, site evaluation, and data-led prescriptions.
Aerial ApplicationLicensed helicopter and fixed-wing application.
Vegetation ManagementTargeted programs that manage competition and protect desired species.
Seedling DevelopmentBareroot and containerized pine nursery management.

How we work

A clear path,
from first walk to follow-through.

You’ll know what we’re doing, why it matters, and what comes next — from the first walk through ongoing monitoring.

  1. 01

    Listen

    We begin with your goals and a walk of the property.

  2. 02

    Assess

    We measure the site, review the data, and identify what matters most.

  3. 03

    Plan

    We turn the findings into a practical, site-specific plan.

  4. 04

    Implement

    We coordinate the work carefully, with safety and minimal impact in mind.

  5. 05

    Monitor

    We track outcomes and adjust as conditions change.

Every recommendation begins with your goals, not a template. Start a conversation

Across the Southeast

Growing tomorrow, together.

We help landowners and forestry organizations build lasting value through healthier, more productive forests — for the people who depend on them and the generations that follow.

Our values

Credentials

Licensed, insured, and connected.

Professional licenses, industry memberships, and safety training that support every engagement.

Licenses & insurance

  • NC commercial ground applicator
  • NC forest pesticide consultant
  • Registered forester — North Carolina & Georgia
  • Licensed and insured

Memberships

  • NC Forestry Association
  • Georgia Forestry Association
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Soil Science Society of America
  • FFA

Research affiliations

  • Forest Productivity Cooperative
  • NC State Tree Improvement Program
North Carolina Forestry Association Georgia Forestry Association Florida Forestry Association Association of Consulting Foresters Society of American Foresters

About us

Proven expertise.
Relationships that last.

We help landowners and forestry organizations make confident, informed decisions for their land. Success means healthier acreage, practical results, and clarity about what comes next.

Who we are

Kakalaki Creek is a new firm, backed by a team whose background spans forestry research, nursery management, field operations, and client service.

Joshua Steiger at a working forestry site

Joshua Steiger

Forestry & Operations

Jacksonville, Florida

  • BS Natural Resources
  • MS Forestry
  • 20 years industry
  • NC State → Rayonier

Joshua brings twenty years of forest-industry experience, from tree-improvement research at NC State to operational work at Rayonier. He holds a BS in Natural Resources and an MS in Forestry, with expertise spanning southern pine R&D, nursery management, silviculture, regeneration, forest productivity, land management, and forest finance.

Steve Alcaraz in a formal portrait

Steve Alcaraz

Client Relations

Zebulon, North Carolina

  • Bilingual
  • North Carolina landowner
  • Client relationships

Steve brings a customer-service background and a practical landowner’s perspective to every client conversation. Bilingual and based in North Carolina, he helps strengthen communication with clients and crews across the Southeast. As the owner of his own farm, he understands the day-to-day realities of stewarding acreage and making sound decisions over time.

Our values

  • Research and field experience guide every recommendation
  • Clear communication and client trust come first
  • Safety comes first — OSHA 10 certified
  • Quality and customer service are never compromised

Locations

  • FloridaJacksonville, FL — Joshua Steiger
  • North CarolinaZebulon, NC — Steve Alcaraz

NC, VA, SC, GA & FL — core service areas across the Southeast

Selected work

Work across
the coastal plain.

A look at stand management, nursery operations, and silviculture work from Joshua’s prior forestry career.

Shown as prior work. Kakalaki Creek case studies will be added as current engagements are completed.

Pine stand under management

Forest management

Prior experience · Joshua Steiger

Thinning, site preparation, timber sales, and harvest planning on working pine acreage.

Regeneration and nursery site

Regeneration & nursery

Prior experience · Joshua Steiger

Bareroot and containerized seedling production, nursery management, and replant planning.

Forestry consulting site

Operations consulting

Prior experience · Joshua Steiger

Tree-improvement trials, silviculture program review, and operational consulting.

Let's talk land

Tell us about your property.

Call Joshua at (904) 430-7897, or send us a few details below.

We’ll follow up to learn more and discuss next steps.

Jacksonville, FL  ·  Zebulon, NC
NC, VA, SC, GA & FL — core service areas across the Southeast
Let's talk
about
your land