BLACKSBURG, Va., March 14, 2007 - The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program announces an online Woodland Options for Landowners course. The purpose of the course is to provide an introductory level understanding of basic forest management principles and techniques.

Private forest landowners of any acreage are encouraged to enroll. The course is not intended for forest landowners who have substantial experience working alone or with natural resource professionals in the management of their forests. However, veteran landowners are welcome to enroll and may take the course as a refresher on basic forest management.

> . The cost is $65, payable online with a credit card.

Persons taking the course will receive two books, Common Forest Trees of Virginia and Forest Sustainability, in addition to the DVD, A Virtual Tour of the Forest, as well as online reading materials and assignments. A cadre of natural resource professionals and experienced landowners will serve as mentors for the students, assisting with questions and discussion topics.

Optional advanced assignments require a dendrology field guide, digital camera, compass with adjustable declination setting, topographic quadrangle map, aerial photograph, and soil survey (ordering information for all these supplies will be available in the Announcements Section of the course).

Participants will need a computer, web browser (e.g., Netscape or Explorer), internet service provider (ISP), and e-mail account. Access to a printer is desirable. In addition, participants should download the most current versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5.0 or newer) and RealOne(tm) (look for the free version link), both available free over the internet.

For further information on the Woodland Options for Landowners course, contact Jennifer Gagnon, Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program coordinator, at (540) 231-6391 or jgagnon@vt.edu <mailto:jgagnon@vt.edu> .

The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top five programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development.

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