Forest Stewardship Extension Faculty  Jonathan Kays, Extension Specialist Natural Resources (presenting)  Nevin Dawson, Forest Stewardship Educator  Bob Tjaden, Extension Specialist Natural Resources  Ellen Green, Faculty Extension Assistant  Nancy Stewart, Faculty Extension Assistant Forest Sustainability & Nutrient Management

 Forests are the best land use to protect water quality and we need to encourage creation, enhancement, & longevity.  Forests cover 42% of Maryland but it varies widely.  76% of the forests are owned by over 150,000 private landowners What We Know!

 Most forests are in small parcels. 85% of ownerships are from 1-9 acres in size.  So… the future of our forests depend on the cumulative decisions of these many landowners!  How to address the challenge? What We Know!

 The Woods in Your Backyard: Creating and Enhancing Natural Areas Around Your Home Sale of over 5,000 self-assessment manuals  MD, VA, PA Extension collaboration since  Delivered to thousands of landowners through workshops & webinars  Acres of lawn converted to natural area. Natural areas enhanced. Nutrient reduction. Woods In Your Backyard Program Targeting small acreage owners

 Teaching volunteer woodland owners how to improve wildlife habitat and other forest benefits using sound forest management practices  Since 1990, trained 409 volunteers who own or manage 69,040 acres.  Information one-to-one to an average of 2,326 people per year.  Over 20 years, more than 40,000 hours in outreach & education Maryland Woodland Stewards Leveraging limited resources

 Organized by University of MD Extension & Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology  Annual program offered since 2007 for local government officials from 5 W MD counties  Create network of information sharing between local gov’t officials on land use & conservation issues  Built an engaged steering committee with credible impacts  Program being implemented on Eastern Shore W. MD Local Government Exchange Educating Local Gov’t officials

 Biosolids applied & buried in trenches on mine spoils  Hybrid poplar trees utilize the nutrients in 6-8 years  Produce forest products, wildlife habitat and restoration  After 10 years of research, nutrient losses less than that of a well-managed corn field using much smaller acreage Short Rotational Forests & Biosolids Trees solving environmental challenges

 Forestry Correspondence Course - online  GPS Training  Master Logger Training program  Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center Other Efforts!

For More Information: Jonathan Kays x323