To determine cooperator accomplishments, an annual survey was
mailed in November, 2006 to cooperators from 1990 to 2006 (no
cooperators were trained in 1996 when the project leader was
on sabbatical).
The results reported are for 57 of the cooperators.
The survey responses represent cooperators who live in 16 of
Maryland's 23 counties, Delaware, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Cooperators are involved in organizations that carry out forest-
and wildlife-related activities and report that the Coverts
Project not only has greatly improved their knowledge and effectiveness
in these organizations but also was a stimulus for becoming
involved, particularly with county forestry boards.
Results from Survey
• 11 percent of the cooperators prefer to not use email
as primary means of communication.
• When asked if Coverts Project should be changed to another
name, of 54 respondents, 46% preferred Maryland Woodland Stewards,
39% preferred Maryland Forest Stewards, 9% sought no change,
and 6% thought the name should be changed to something else.
Some other name suggestions included Maryland Preservation of
Forests, Maryland Preservation of Trees, and MD Woodland and
Wildlife Stewards.
• 43 percent of those surveyed reported having organized
some event that included forestry or wildlife information. Audiences
included international forestry delegates, other Coverts Cooperators,
4-H youth, school children, individuals, RGS members, seniors,
garden clubs, international forest policy group members, friends,
neighbors bird watchers, forestry students, a reporter, landowner
association members, and MD Forest and Parks Centennial ceremony
attendees.
• 45 percent had participated in field tours or other
activities related to forestry and wildlife.
• 34% of respondents used some form of media to inform
others about forestry/wildlife issues during the past year.
25% of all respondents used newspaper or newsletter articles,
13% wrote in articles/publications, 15% published information
on a website, and two people (3%) appeared on TV.
• Many items were distributed by cooperators. 23% of respondents
reported handing out their Coverts Cooperator business cards,
10% distributed Coverts reference materials, 30% shared Coverts
brochures, and 5% shared the Coverts/Natural Resources website.
• 77 percent of cooperators took steps in managing their
own land. These activities included crop tree release, thinning,
removal of invasive species, revising and following management
plans, planting natives, fencing land to prevent deer browse,
clearing fire trails, selective cuts, salvage timber, creation
of brush piles, timber stand improvement, improving logging
trail and roads, habitat improvement, gypsy moth control measures,
pruning, mowing, surveying, creating soft edge, plant food plots,
install nesting boxes, harvested firewood, donation to conservation
easement, and implement rotational grazing.
• Cooperators spent more than 9,000 hours managing their
own land or on related activities over the last year.
• Cooperators spent over 2,000 hours on outreach to friends,
neighbors or community.
• 20 cooperators reported that other property owners had
sought professional management assistance because of their efforts,
affecting at least 468 acres.
• 43 percent were interested in attending a spring refresher
course. Some topics they would like to have covered include
wildlife management, maintaining new plantings, planting chestnut
trees, working with the tree farmer system, renting equipment,
selecting and purchasing forest land, forest cycles, controlling
invasive species, new laws, educating others, statewide control
of gypsy moth, and watershed management.
• 42 percent are willing to host a field tour on their
property, showing practices such as clear cutting, planting
trees with shelters, cover crops, windrow slash, erosion and
weed control, pre-commercial thinning, crop tree release, providing
wildlife habitat, creating trails, protecting riparian buffer,
selective cut, natural regeneration, soft edges, food plots,
and timber stand improvement.
Success Stories
• Used my knowledge to locate other landowners and spread
the word about impending legislation that would affect all PG
landowners. Also used my knowledge while improving/managing
my own property.
• My Coverts training is used for everything I do as CEO
of WindStar Wildlife Institute
• Does being overrun with deer even after hunting season
apply as a success story? We not only plant food source near
forest for deer, etc. but the forest property beside our property
has grown 22 acres of corn for several years that the deer indulge.
• I encouraged a person on the Havre de Grace Tree Commission
to take the UMD General Forestry Course. She did her
tree identification, measurements and other field work at my
tree farm. She expressed great satisfaction at what she learned
from the course.
• Influenced dozens of people to try growing ginseng this
year and provided seeds and transplanting stock.
• I take the Coverts brochures with me to any outdoor/nature
event I go to and give them out to anyone who has an interest.
• We are seeing increased numbers of herbaceous plants
developing throughout our farm including "running cedar,"
pink lady slipper, partridge berry, highbush blueberry. We have
very steep grade to Hunting Creek but in spite of heavy rain
have had no or minimal erosion.
• A woman called concerned about some logging in the Emmitsburg
watershed. I was able to provide "expert" insight
that allayed her concerns over the forestry practices.
• Neighbors are not ignoring gypsy moths. We are also
grouping together to purchase and plant trees. So, we are no
longer acting as individuals, but as a group.
• Collected saw tooth oak acorns from trees we grew from
acorns - second generation acorns for next generation of trees
- gave acorns to visitors.
• The program on the condition of pollinators and a program
on diseases of trees - oaks especially. Awakened an interest
in the subject of plant health which was flagging.
• Convincing the community to work on being more aware
of wildlife management.
• The wildlife on our tree farm is 10 fold!
• The cuckoo was spotted nesting and two owl species were
identified on the property. The DNR person took home a leaf
of a plant species she thought was endangered. We have seen
several plant species increase since grazing animals are no
longer present because of our forest management plan.
• Field trip & seminars to the Caribbean nation of
Haiti was so successful that we were interviewed by the second
largest newspaper on ideas and program. We are currently planning
a symposium on forestry and reforestation for next year.
• Recommended [someone] to attend a Coverts training which
he did in 2006.
• The harvesting of large white oak tree from our forest.
See Mountain Discoveries fall 2006 issue.
Contact
Information
To learn more about becoming a Coverts volunteer contact:
The Ruffed Grouse
Society has a listing
of contacts in the other states which have Coverts Projects.
If you live in another state check on the status of the program.
Educational Programs
