1. Maryland DNR Forest Service Managing Marylands Forests for the Future Steven W. Koehn, Director / State Forester Gov. Comm. On Sustainable Forestry USFWS, Annapolis July, 2005

2. As We Approach the Centennial… Founded in 1906 Founded in 1906 Land Gifted by Garrett Brothers Land Gifted by Garrett Brothers Gifted Land Must be Scientifically Managed Gifted Land Must be Scientifically Managed Pinchot selected Fred Besley to be First MD State Forester Pinchot selected Fred Besley to be First MD State Forester Besley Hired Forest Wardens and Inventoried States Forest Resources Besley Hired Forest Wardens and Inventoried States Forest Resources

3. Existing State Policy on Forestry It is the policy of the state to encourage economic management and scientific development of its forests and woodlands to maintain, conserve, and improve the soil resources of the state so that an adequate source of forest products is preserved for the people. [Section 5-602 of the Natural Resources Article, Annotated Code of Maryland] It is the policy of the state to encourage economic management and scientific development of its forests and woodlands to maintain, conserve, and improve the soil resources of the state so that an adequate source of forest products is preserved for the people. [Section 5-602 of the Natural Resources Article, Annotated Code of Maryland]

4. To restore, manage, and protect Marylands trees, forests, and forested ecosystems to sustain our natural resources and connect people to the land. Our Mission:

5. Maryland Today Approximately 2.1 Million Acres of Forestland 40% Forested Over 130,000 Forest Landowners Average Woodlot is 17 Acres

6. Percent Forest Land, by County > 70 % < 30 51-70 % 30-50 % Percent Forested 71 78 37 30 27 22 35 37 33 24 28 55 67 47 39 48 52 42 State Average = 40%

7. Change in Distribution of Land Class Steady loss of rural forests Increase in other forests Increase in urban forests

8. Area of Timberland Forest-type Group Oak/hickory largest group at 58+ percent Loblolly pine at 12 percent Loblolly/Shortleaf Elm/Ash/Red Maple Northern Hardwoods 11.9% Oak/Pine 9.7% Oak/Hickory 58.5% Oak/Gum/Cypress 5.3% 4.6% 8.8% Other 1.3% Area of Timberland by Forest-Type Group

9. Distribution of Timberland Area, by Ownership 79% of timberland in private ownership In 1986, 90 % was privately owned

10. Number of Forest Landowners From 1976 to 1998, a 29% increase in the number of owners From 1976 to 1998, a 29% increase in the number of owners Increased fragmentation Increased fragmentation Fewer workable parcels Fewer workable parcels

11. Increased parcelization Increased parcelization Fewer workable parcels Fewer workable parcels -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 Acres/owner Delaware New Jersey New York North Carolina Pennsylvania Virginia Maryland Change in acres of forest land per owner between 1978-94

12. The Economic Importance of the Maryland Forest Products Industry Marylands Forest Industry was over $2 billion in 1996. Provides nearly 14,000 jobs. Secondary wood manufacturing provides the most employment opportunities. Primary wood-manufacturing sectors have higher employment multipliers. Primary wood-manufacturing sectors are, on average, higher than other average multipliers of industries in the state.

13. Forest Service Workforce 92 full time equivalent employees (includes 11 recent transfers for SF) 92 full time equivalent employees (includes 11 recent transfers for SF) Six long term contractual employees Six long term contractual employees Three vacancies Three vacancies Total number of positions: 101 Total number of positions: 101 FY02 – FY06 FY02 – FY06 40 FTEs lost 40 FTEs lost (-31.37%) (-31.37%)

14. Forest Service Workforce

15. Forest Product Utilization & Marketing DRider

16. FY06 Budget Cuts 9 Positions (5 vacant/4 filled) 5% Overall; 12% GF Total = $475,723 (salaries/operating)

17. Private Land Forest Stewardship Provides technical/financial assistance to 130,000 private forestland owners covering 76% of MDs forest resource. Services include Forest Stewardship Plans, cost- share incentive programs, reforestation, riparian buffer establishment, forest harvest BMPs; Seed Tree Law, Critical Area Law, and Strip Mine Site Reclamation.

18. State Nursery/ Seed Orchard Operations Produces 5 million bare- root tree seedlings annually for conservation, reforestation and Bay restoration purposes. State-of-the-art facility services over 2,000 orders annually from Forest Products Industry, local jurisdictions, conservation organizations, and private landowners.

19. Wildfire Operations Responsible for the suppression of approx. 625 wildfires annually (avg. 3,000 acres burned). Maintains only fleet of specialized fire suppression dozers in the state, 40 fire suppression patrol trucks. Includes interagency agreements with federal/state agencies to provide emergency resources for national/multi-state emergency incidents.

20. Wildfire Prevention & Preparedness Includes wildfire training, fire apparatus/equipment build- up, pre-suppression planning/ risk analysis, fire prevention, promotion of Firewise concepts; Prescribed fire/hazard mitigation, fire weather monitoring; Technical/financial assistance to VFDs via federal grants, training for volunteers, management of the Federal Excess Property Program.

21. Community Tree & Forest Protection Protects the urban forest through the Roadside Tree Law, the Forest Conservation Act, the Reforestation Law; Containment/mitigation strategies for potentially catastrophic pests such as Emerald Ash Borer and Sudden Oak Death, and; Ensures compatibility of green infrastructure to minimize tree related conflicts with electric reliability.

22. Urban Resource Enhancement Provides financial/technical assistance through Small Community Grant Program, TREE- MENDOUS Maryland, federal initiatives/grants, national community recognition programs (TreeCity USA); Assistance/specialized training to local governments, hazard tree ID/mitigation, and regulates commercial tree care (Tree Experts).

23. Public Lands Management Management and dual third-party certification (FSC and SFI) of Chesapeake Forest (soon to include all DNR State Forests); Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI); Timber sale review/admin.; Management of various recreational activities on both Chesapeake Forest, State Demonstration Forests (soon all State Forests).

24. Forest Resource Planning & Analysis Development of integrated modeling and spatial analysis products to assist with forest ecosystem decision making; Geographic data collection/analysis/tracki ng for use in forest management/monitoring / certification/wildfire risk applications, technology support for GIS applications; Liaison to USDA Forest Service and national forestry workgroups.

25. Forest Products Utilization & Marketing Provides technical assistance/liaison to forest industry and local government with forestry related policy issues; Develops strategies to achieve higher utilization of forest resources; Improves environmental quality protection for industry activities, and; Provides required professional education for those who work in the forestry sector.

26. Our Boards, Commissions and Committees Forestry Boards (24) Forestry Boards (24) Forest Advisory Commission Forest Advisory Commission Gov. Commission on Sustainable Forestry Gov. Commission on Sustainable Forestry State Stewardship Coordinating Committee State Stewardship Coordinating Committee Chesapeake Forest Citizens Advisory Committee Chesapeake Forest Citizens Advisory Committee

27. Our Stakeholders (customers): Landowners Landowners Communities Communities Local Government Local Government Forest Product / Tree Care Industries Forest Product / Tree Care Industries Volunteer Fire Departments Volunteer Fire Departments Youth Youth Sportsmen Sportsmen

28. Co-chaired by Jim Mallow (former State Forester) and Gary Allen (former Chairman of the Governors Forestry Task Force), the Partnership consists of the following entities: Co-chaired by Jim Mallow (former State Forester) and Gary Allen (former Chairman of the Governors Forestry Task Force), the Partnership consists of the following entities: Association of Forest Industries, Inc Black Walnut Council Forest Landowners Association, Inc Forest Resources Association, Inc. Forum for Rural Maryland Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards Maryland Christmas Tree Association Maryland Eastern Shore RC&D Council, Inc. Maryland Legislative Sportsmens Foundation Maryland Forests Association, Inc Maryland Tree Farm System Pawlonia Society The Conservation Fund Society of American Foresters Partnership for Sustainable Forestry

29. Opportunities, Looking to the Future……. Capitalize on Farm Bill. Fragmentation/Parcelization. Preserve Working Landscapes. Innovate Public Forest Mgmt. Efficient Wildfire Response. Implement C2K Agreement Support Livable Communities. Expand Partnerships/ Volunteer Efforts. Effectively use available tools and programs… Learn, monitor, innovate, and adapt… Link people and forests from the headwaters to the bay. We must be more than careful stewards of the land; we must be constant catalysts for positive change. - Gifford Pinchot

30. State Foresters Expectations & Desired Outcomes n Define long-term strategies and focus for the use of Marylands forest resources. n To promote outcome-based stewardship of our forest resources. n Identify and elevate the importance of working forests to Marylands economy and environment in every county of the state. n Utilize and emphasize the need for cooperative support from other agencies, local jurisdictions, private organizations, and policy makers. n Serve as the fundamental framework for decisions regarding forest issues. n To address the overall extent, health and condition of Marylands forest resources. n To use the science and art of forestry to balance the ecological and economic needs of Marylands citizens to realize forest sustainability. Social Benefits Economic Benefits ForestSustainability Environmental Benefits