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In The News
Sustainable
Forestry
Information
For
more
than
fifty years, Maryland's Forest Conservancy District Boards
have been working to perpetuate Maryland's forest resource. As
volunteer
advocates for forestry, Forestry Board members focus their attention on
Maryland's trees and forests...our renewable natural resource.
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 also for all of us.
Programs: Each
of
the separate district boards has adopted a variety of programs designed
to
educate and inform the public and to promote good forest management
practices.
Basically the programs fall under two types: Urban and Community
Forestry and
Stewardship.
Urban
and
Community
Forestry promotes
and coordinates the Maryland Community PLANT award program that
officially
recognizes communities planting and caring for trees, and administers
Grants
to schools and communities through their local Forestry Boards.
- Natural
Resources
Careers
Conference - to educate high school students
interested in pursuing forestry and other natural resources careers.
Online Resources: Video, Power
Point Presentation.
- Patch
Program - In 2006, the Maryland Forest Service celebrated 100
years of assisting Maryland landowners with their forestry needs. A
patch program was one of the many projects created for that
celebration. The DNR, along with the Maryland Forestry Boards, are
happy to continue offering the program as the Maryland Junior Forest
Ranger Patch Program.
- Education
& Teacher Resources
- "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.
- 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. (http://www.baltocfb.sailorsite.net/BCFB.html)
Poster
The Forest
Stewardship Program is the wise
management and use of forest resources.
- Workshops
and
Symposia: forest landowner
workshops cover various aspects of federal and state laws as they
pertain to forestlands.
- Forest
Resource Protection Initiative: inform landowners and
the public about funding and measures available to protect Maryland's
forests from the gypsy moth.
- 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.
- Tree Farm Tours: provide demonstrations
of good forest management practices in timber harvesting, sediment and
erosion control.
- The
Health
of
our Forest
- Maryland
Forest
Association: It’s mission is to promote the
maintenance of a healthy and productive forests land base so as to
enhance the
economic, environmental, and social well-being of all who live in
Maryland.
- Legislation: The Maryland Association
of Forestry Conservation District Boards recommends the Maryland
Forests Association's analysis of current. To view this
analysis go to: http://www.mdforests.org/bills.html
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