Maryland Association of
Forest Conservancy
District Boards

History

The goals of the State Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards are:

• Public Education: to increase public awareness of environmental concerns and good forestry practices.
• Self Education: to assure that board members stay informed of new forestry programs and practices.
• Forestry Board Newsletter: a quarterly newsletter to keep Association members informed of Board activity.
• Legislative Network: to coordinate activities of Boards in promoting good forest management through the legislative process.

We see a lot of different words when we read about natural resources. Conservation and preservation are just two of them, but they represent opposite views of how we should treat natural resources.

Preservation means locking resources away and affecting them as little as possible. This approach is necessary when unique ecosystems or the habitat of endangered species are involved. These are treasures that cannot be replaced, so preservation of their living space is a valid means of ensuring their future.

Conservation is sometimes confused with preservation, but by definition and proper usage it is totally different. Conservation is the wise use of natural resources to attain the maximum benefit possible from the resource base now, and for all future generations. In the United States we have looked at our natural resources as commodities for exploitation rather than as legacies to be husbanded for future generations. Only in recent generations have people started to look at conserving natural resources.

Renewable resources have the capacity of regenerating themselves. So, through conservation there can be a sustained use of the resource over a long period of time. Conservation of wildlife, fisheries and forests means getting a maximum sustainable yield without adversely affecting the resource base.

This is often easier said than done. Having for so long treated our resources as commodities, we have only limited experience with effective conservation measures. Most renewable resources take a very long time to renew themselves, and adverse effects are often not seen for decades. While it may take twenty years for a single tree to grow, a forest might not regenerate itself for centuries. How much confidence can we have that our current actions and plans will not have an adverse effect?

The Forestry Boards throughout Maryland are led by volunteers who come from all walks of life; but all members are committed to finding the best answers to the basic conservation questions. Maryland's forests, both public and private, constitute a unique resource for us, and for future generations. The best use of those lands and those resources is a crucial issue not only for your Forestry Boards, but for all of us.

Programs

• Natural Resources Careers Conference - to educate high school students interested in pursuing forestry and other natural resources careers. Online Resources: Video, Power Point Presentation.
  
• Forest Stewardship Program is the wise management and use of forest resources.
  
• Patch Program - the Forest Service will be sponsoring a 2006 MD Forest Service Centennial Celebration Urban Forestry Patch program for youth groups in Maryland. The patch program has been designed to teach youth groups about trees and forests in Maryland.The program also will assist girl scouts and boy scouts of all ages in meeting level requirements and badges. The best part is the patches are free!!!!! 
  

• Urban Forestry Program promotes and coordinate the Maryland Community PLANT award program that officially recognizes communities planting and caring for trees, and to administer Grants to schools and communities through there local Forestry Boards that promote planting and care of trees.
  
• The Health of our Forest
  
• Education & Teacher Resources
• Legislation.
  The Maryland Association of Forestry Conservation District Boards recommends the Maryland Forests Association's analysis of current legislation. To view this analysis go to the MFA site. 
  
• Tree Farm Tours: provide demonstrations of good forest management practices in timber harvesting, sediment and erosion control. 
  
• "Greening" Programs: provide assistance to local communities in establishing and caring for street trees. planting trees and distributing free
  
• Arbor Day Activities: promoting Arbor Day by planting trees and distributing free seedlings. 
  
• Chesapeake Bay School Reforestation Project: planting a native forest by students and the community on school grounds to improve the quality of the Chesapeake Bay. 
  
• Workshops and Symposia: forest landowner workshops cover various aspects of federal and state laws as they pertain to forest lands. 
  
• Forest Resource Protection Initiative: inform landowners and the public about funding and measures available to protect Maryland's forests from the gypsy moth. 
  
• Poster Contests: involve local county schools in the preparation of posters designed to inform and educate the general public about forests, planting programs, fire prevention and other programs. 
  
• Master Woodland Manager Program: active training of woodland owners on forest management and silviculture practices. 
  
• Timber Harvest Reviews: review and approve specific timber harvest plans to ensure that protection is provided for water quality, wildlife habitat and other forest management goals.