Learn How to Become a Steward of Your Forestland
ITHACA---Private landowners in the Northeastern U.S.-- who collectively own nearly 70 percent of the region's 170 million acres of forestland--hold the key to providing healthy forests for generations to come. A new book, Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170 ($18.75 plus S&H/sales tax; 84 pages; March 2006) provides forestland owners the information they need to make sound management decisions and realize their full potential as stewards of their land. This book has been named the 2006 Book of the Year by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA).
Forest Resource Management: A Landowners Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170, leads you through a series of considerations that will help you understand your forest and make informed decisions about its management. The first chapter covers how to develop a vision and a plan that is tailored to your objectives while conforming to the special attributes of your forestland. The next chapter, entitled "Exploring the Possibilities," explains how you can help shape the character of your forest; understand and enhance wildlife habitats; manage your enjoyment through natural beauty and recreation; and integrate agroforestry options. "Protecting Your Soil, Water, and Forest Resources" covers Best Management Practices (BMPs) for maintaining riparian buffers; controlling water on roads and trails; timber regeneration and harvest; and pesticide application. Economic issues, such as assessing the value of your land; timber harvest and timber theft; income taxes, estate taxes, and property taxes are covered in the final chapter.
This 84-page, coil-bound guide includes 36 color photographs and numerous diagrams to illustrate the text. Completing suggested activities and taking the quizzes will further help you develop a realistic plan to serve as a guide to achieving your objectives. Appendixes include a glossary, a description of web sites for forest owners; and sources of assistance, including land-grant university contacts, state forestry agencies, and forest owners associations. The guide will be useful to foresters, extension educators, and natural resources professionals, as well as to forest owners themselves.
Forest Resource Management: A Landowners Guide to Getting Started was published by NRAES, the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. It was written by Kristi L. Sullivan, Extension Associate-Wildlife Conservation, Cornell University; Peter J. Smallidge, State Extension Forester, Cornell University; James C. Finley, State Extension Forester, Penn State University; and Michael G. Jacobson, Associate Professor of Forest Resources, Penn State University.
Forest Resource Management: A Landowners Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170, is available for $18.75 per copy (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, NY 14852-4557. Shipping and handling for one copy is $4.25 within the continental United States. New York residents, add sales tax (calculated on both the cost of the book and the shipping and handling charges). If ordering more than one copy, or if ordering from outside the continental U.S., please contact NRAES for shipping rates and possible quantity discounts. Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds. Major credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made payable to NRAES. For more information or a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, by fax at (607) 254-8770, or by e-mail at nraes@cornell.edu.
