Forest Conservancy District Boards
For additional information on all Forestry Board activities or to access local Board web sites, visit the current Association website http://www.marylandforestryboards.org/.
Maryland's advocates for trees and forests since 1943
Maryland’s
2.6 million acres of forest land serve the needs of many. Our forests improve
water and air quality, provide wood, wildlife food and shelter, recreational
opportunities and beauty. As demands on our forests increase, people pressures
threaten our woodlands. Maryland is fortunate to have a network of individuals
who serve voluntarily on Forestry Boards as advocates for our forests with an
eye to the future.
Organization
Commonly referred to as Forestry Boards, the Forest Conservancy District Boards
function in all jurisdictions— 23 Maryland Counties and Baltimore City. The 24
boards are joined in a State Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards.
The Maryland Association provides a means of communication and exchange of ideas
among the local boards and acts as a channel to its parent agency, the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service (MDNR).
Purpose
The Forestry Boards were established in 1943 to assist the State’s Forest Park
and Wildlife Service with the promotion of rural forest management on privately
owned woodlands. Their original goal was to help assure a supply of wood fiber
products through scientific forest management. Today, the role of the Forestry
Boards has been expanded to help:
- Restore the Chesapeake Bay,
- Improve the environment in urban and suburban areas.
- Educate the general public about the wide range of forest benefits.
Board members work closely with their project foresters and primarily serve as advisory, educational, and facilitating bodies. Under the law, the Boards are required to review and pass on all timber harvest plans in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and approve all such plans in their counties if requested. They may also be called upon to play a role in the management of forest properties subject to easements acquired by local jurisdictions under the Forest Conservation Act. The State Association in concert with the boards previews proposed legislation and represents the interests of forestry with local, state, and federal Legislatures.
Mission
To promote the stewardship, conservation, and sustainable use of Maryland’s
Forest Resources
Forestry Board Membership
There are presently 217 members of the Forestry Boards who are volunteers
appointed by the Director of Maryland Forest Service on the recommendation of
the members of the Board and the local forester. The requirements for membership
are an interest in sustainable forestry and a desire to see our renewable
natural resource wisely used and managed. Local leaders, planners,
commissioners, tree farmers, forest product workers, arborists, educators,
farmers, forest consultants, loggers, forest landowners, and government
representatives are but a few of the interest groups represented on the Boards.
Objectives
The Maryland Forestry Board Association established these objectives of
volunteer service:
- Promote the stewardship, conservation and sustainable use of Maryland’s renewable forest resources, in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
- Assist the Boards and the Forest Service in the preparation and dissemination of educational material on the value of trees, forests for the Bay, Stewardship and Sustainable Forest Management Plans for small and large landowners, health of our forest, etc. through seminars and other means of communication to students, teachers, decision makers, land-owners, and general public.
- Serve as an advisory and advocacy board for the Forest Service.
- Promote cooperation with other forestry related organizations and to further mutually agreed upon objectives.
- Raise and distribute funds for scholarships, educational material, programs and board activities.
Committees
The Maryland Forestry Board Association primarily works through the following
committees:
Public Education. The committee works to increase public awareness of
environmental concerns, good sustainable forestry practices and the many
benefits of tree cover in rural, urban, suburban and Chesapeake Bay areas.
Efforts include Arbor Day ceremonies, school programs such as Schoolyard
Reforestation Wildlife Habitat, off-campus reforestation/buffer plantings, and
Project Learning Tree - a hands-on learning experience. The committee organizes
adult programs such as urban/suburban street tree planting, seminars on invasive
species, insect and disease control, best management practices, stewardship
plans, and sustainable forest management plans. They also provide communications
for newspapers, radio, TV and websites. Chairs Gabrielle Oldham, gabrielle@nchfoundation.org,
Peter Becker, pbecker@bartlett.com
Natural Resource Careers Camp (NRCC). This seven-day camp is
designed for high school students. The Forestry Boards are responsible for
recruiting two students from their counties, interviewing, and providing partial
scholarships. Students who have reached the age of 16 by the first day of NRCC
week may choose to earn two college credits from Allegany College of Maryland by
attending the entire week and complete an exam. The credits will transfer to
most community colleges in Maryland and several four year colleges and
universities. Natural resource professionals have developed the extensive and
relevant curriculum. Traditional Forestry is the main focus of this educational
experience with the inclusion of GIS and GPS technology, Urban Forestry,
Wildlife Habitat, Fisheries, and Watershed ecology are emphasized. This
co-educational camp provides an opportunity for high school students
interested in a career in Natural Resources to learn from industry professionals
and develop contacts for future employment and a career in natural resources.
Chair: John Dingedahl, jwdingedahl46@verizon.net
Scholarships. The committee administers the awarding of
$500 scholarships to second-year college students in the names of the donors
pursuing careers in one of the following categories: Bartlett Tree Experts -
Arborist, Maryland Forest Association - Traditional Forestry, Maryland
Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards - Natural Resources Career,
NRCC-General Natural Resources Career.
Chair: Glenn Ferenschak, sciencegf@msn.com
Envirothon. This is a program of the Soil Conservation District (SCD) for
high school students. High schools are encouraged to field six-member teams to
compete for local, state, and national recognition. One of the permanent
segments is dedicated to forestry. Many Forestry Boards have assumed the
responsibility for teaching and testing the forestry segment, which also
provides excellent candidates for NRCC.
Chairs: Forestry Board Chairpersons
Maryland Big Tree Program (MBTP). Started in 1925 by the Maryland State
Forester, the Big Tree Program became national in 1940 when adopted by American
Forests. The program is designed in part to thank owners, who protect and care
for their big trees that contribute thousands of dollars to the health of our
environment. In 2009, 44 Maryland volunteers measured over 200 trees across the
State, photographed, recorded GPS locations and registered these trees on the
State database. Each big tree owner received a certificate of registration,
thank-you letter, list of all the trees of that species registered in Maryland,
a county-specific brochure, and a bumper sticker proclaiming Proud Owner of a
Maryland Big Tree. Ninety percent of our big trees are “back yard trees,”
and each proud owner has a story to tell about his or her tree.
Chair: John Bennett, mdbigtreeprogram@aol.com
Herbarium. Part of MBTP, this new program is designed to collect
specimens from the trees listed in the Big Tree register for three herbariums at
Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, and Towson University with a
small unit at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Chair James Bardsley Jr. 5bardsley@verizon.net
Forest Stewardship - Rural/Suburban/Urban. The loss of forestland and the
rapid growth of development has resulted in a decline of large forested acres
into smaller lot sizes and fragmentation. Budgets that restrict the writing of
management plans to 10 acres and the purchase of forested acres by the public
with little or no knowledge of sustainable forestry strongly suggests that we
need to develop new procedures to attain a no net loss policy. We are now
working on methods to identify and contact large property owners suggesting they
have Forest Stewardship-Sustainable Forest Management Plans written for their
property. In addition, locating and servicing property owners with under five
acres that have either forested or acres that can be forested to our full
service of a mini-management plan. It must be recognized that the mini plan will
only serve as a guide for small size property owners to practice Sustainable
Forestry and will not provide the benefits of a regular plan but will help to
contain Fragmentation and forest loss.
Chairs: Forestry Board Chairpersons
Maryland Urban Community Forest Committee (MUCFC). This is an
Urban/Suburban street tree planting and maintenance program designed to provide
grants up to $1,500 through the Forestry Boards to communities, schools, and
organizations for the planting and maintaining of street trees in the urban
setting. This year 15 grants were awarded from funds provided by the Chesapeake
Bay Trust, Chaney Foundation, and USDA Forest Service.
Chair: Wayne Lucas wplucas@co.pg.md.us
PLANT Award— People Loving And Nurturing Trees. This program complements
the MUCFC program. In a news release on February 19, 2010 Governor O’Malley
stated that “Trees and Forests are one of Maryland’s most valuable resources,
offering protection from erosion and wind while improving air and water quality
in our State. I commend these communities for serving as an example to become
involved to improve the quality of life and health of the Chesapeake Bay.” The
2008 PLANT Awards honored 129 communities across Maryland for tree-related
activities such as plantings, beautification projects, maintenance and care,
education, creation of tree inventory or horticulturist or arborists
collaboration for community improvement. The awards are given on four
levels-bronze, silver, gold and green-as determined by involvement in
organizing, planning, care and citizen action, This year, 40 communities earned
the most coveted, green-level awards. We encourage all communities to become
part of this awards program and to work each year, to increase their efforts and
grow to the next award level. Chair: Heather montgomery-hmontgomery@frederickcounty.md.us.gov
.
Legislation. In these changing times the Forestry Boards have increased
their activity in the legislative process. We took a highly visible role in the
development and passing of the award winning Sustainable Forestry Act of 2009,
supporting and testifying in support of No Net Loss and several other
legislative issues and plan to continue to be very active.
Chair: Mel Noland, mlnoland1@msn.com
Return of the Chestnuts. We are coordinating with the American Chestnut
Society in planting American Chestnuts and soon Hybrids in locations around the
state. The nuts are supplied by the Society and are grown out at the State
Nursery and distributed by the committee to participating boards. The seedlings
are planted in groves of 50 and data collected on a yearly basis as to survival
rate, health, and height are sent to the society. This year 900 seedlings were
planted and this will continue each succeeding year.
Chair: Glenn Ferenschek sciencegf@msn.net.
The Health of Our Forests. Due to the severe defoliation in recent years
by the Gypsy Moth, Hemlock wooly adelgid, other insects, disease, and
invasive species this committee has and will sponsor seminars and cooperate with
various groups in addressing these problems.
Chair: Charles Hoffedtiz, cnhoffedtiz@comcast.net
Bio-Mass. The use of forest products as a renewable resource and the
challenges of the environment it is essential that we increase our promotion of
Bio-Mass. We are working with the Baltimore Zoo and State Agencies on
feasibility studies for possible installations for the burning of wood chips and
advocating the use of wood pellets in the home and industry.
Chair: Thomas Vorac, tom_vorac@live.com
Maryland Forestry Board Foundation (MFBF). The Foundation, a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization, is a member of and responsible to the Maryland
Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards but by its nature must act
independently. The Foundation’s mission is to act as the fiduciary agent and
fund-raising manager for specific projects of the Association or the Forestry
Boards.
Foundation Board President: Gary Allen, gallenbay@aol.com
Marylandforestryboards.org. The Foundation has registered this website,
which is now under contract for development. We look forward to its preview in
March 2010. This interactive website will enable the Association and Forestry
Boards to more efficiently and effectively disseminate information to the
public, process programs, grant and other applications, and maintain a database.
Chairs, Gary Allen, gallenbay@aol.com
Sandy Sparks, srsparks@verizon.net
2012 Forestry Board Chairpersons
Forest Conservancy District Boards & Forestry Board Foundation
Post Office Box 4205
Annapolis, MD 21403-9998
Maryland DNR Forest Service Offices
Headquarters
580 Taylor Ave, E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401-2397
(410) 260-8531
Western Region
3 Pershing Street, Room #101
Cumberland, MD 21502-3048
(301) 777-2137
Allegany Frederick, Garrett and Washington Counties
Central Region
2 S. Bond Street
Bel Air, MD 21014-3772
(410) 836-4551
Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery Counties
Southern Region
Carter Building, Box 653
Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-4755
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s Counties
Eastern Region
Salisbury Multi-Service Center
201 Baptist Street, Suite 22
Salisbury, MD 21801-4979
(410) 543-6745
Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties