REGISTER
NOW for the General Forestry Correspondence Course Registrations are
now being accepted for the spring semester of the General Forestry
Correspondence Course which runs from February 1- May 20, 2007. Work
from the comfort of your home, using your own woodlot, a friend's
or a public forest while learning the basics of forestry, forest ecology,
and forest health in this non-credit course. Find out how to protect
your trees from insects, diseases and fire. Step-by-step procedures
walk you through a forest inventory and stand analysis. Explore the
details of the forestry business, including tax nuances and the sale
and harvest of forest products. Ultimately, the course exercises help
you develop a management plan for your forest.
As part of the $300 registration fee, you receive a General Forestry
Correspondence Course text notebook, separate appendices packed
with resources, plus additional supplemental readings. A certificate
of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed.
For more information contact Nancy Stewart at the Wye Research and
Education Center, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, P.O.
Box 169, Queenstown, MD, 21658; phone (410)827-8056 ext. 112; e-mail
nstewar1@umd.edu.
The spring
semester begins February 1 so register now!
GENERAL FORESTRY CORRESPONDENCE COURSE (non-credit)
University of Maryland Maryland Cooperative Extension
Wye Research and Education Center
Spring Semester February 1 - May 20, 2007
Accepting registration until February 14
Contact us NOW for information!
Phone: 410-827-8056, ext. 112
e-mail: nstewar1@umd.edu
Website: www.naturalresources.umd.edu
NOTE: e-mail address replaces the last "t" in Stewart with the digit
one (nstewar1)
The
General Forestry Correspondence Course is an excellent program
for someone who knows little or nothing about their forest or forestry.
There are no pre-requisites and all that is needed is access to a
woodlot and a desire to learn. Individuals will increase their understanding
of forests and forest management, particularly Maryland forest landowners.
However, participants from across North America have benefited from
the course. Since this non-credit course began, in the spring 2000,
nearly 300 participants have enrolled.
The General Forestry Correspondence Course is offered in both spring
and fall. The registration fee is $300 and all the materials are provided.
Materials consist of the text, appendices, and supplemental readings.
A wide array of subjects are covered, such as forest history, physiology
and ecology, tree identification, silviculture, forest health and
the use of fire, forest inventory, taxes, and the elements of a forest
management plan. Ultimately, you will design your own forest management
plan. A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments
are completed. For those preferring to use the computer, an internet
version of the course will be available in 2007. Based upon surveys,
response to the forestry course has been overwhelmingly positive and
participants have recommended this course to others. Additionally,
nearly three-quarters of the management plans have been initiated
or updated, potentially impacting over 5500 acres
more than half of the responding landowners changed or adopted
new forest management practices
over three-quarters of the participants talked with their family
about their forests and half sought the advice of a professional
forester
more than a third of the landowners either benefited or expected
to benefit financially from the course
.
Furthermore, participants expressed a desire to continue in their
pursuit of forest and forestry knowledge or, as one forest landowner
so eloquently stated, "The more I learned, the more I wanted to know."
Course Description
Through the years, as the University of Maryland Cooperative
Extension has developed and participated in forestry seminars
and workshops, many individuals have requested information in
greater depth. "General Forestry," a correspondence course, is
designed to fill this need.
The purpose of this course is to offer forest landowners
and others interested in forestry a better understanding of their
forests, of forest ecology, of forest management practices, of
forest policy and regulations, and of sources of technical and
financial assistance.
Course presentation takes the form of a notebook of
lessons and supplemental readings. Also required is the study of
a woodlot.
Course Objectives
Upon completing the course successfully, students will
be able to:
Describe the contributions the forest makes to society.
Describe the history of both forest policy and the conservation
movement in the United States;
Characterize Federal, state, and local government agencies,
professional organizations, and other nonprofit conservation
groups that regulate forests, lobby for various forest-related
interests, or provide educational or technical assistance to
forests owners;
Understand the basic concepts of tree biology and forest ecology;
Explain basic forest management concepts, including sustainable
resource management, ecosystem management, silvicultural systems,
best management practices, and protection of forests from fire
insects, and disease;
Understand how to conduct a forest inventory and the process
of developing a written forest management plan;
Make informed decisions regarding the sale of timber from
private land; and
Describe the industry of forest products and the industry’s
operations, outputs, and contributions to the economy.
Course Overview
This course is designed for individuals wishing to increase
their understanding of forests and forest management. Specifically,
the course targets Maryland forest landowners and other citizens
with an interest in the principles and practices of forestry. There
are no prerequisites. However, owning or having access to a forest
is necessary for completing the framework of a forest management
plan.
The course is divided into six units, with each unit
containing several lessons. Questions appear at the end of each
unit, for review. Resource information follows in the appendices. Unit 1 offers an overview of worldwide forest resources,
including ecotypes, quantity, and ownership. This section also discusses
the importance and economic contributions of Maryland's forests,
a brief history of forestry, and a description of the governmental
agencies that regulate and manage these forests. Unit 2 covers basic tree physiology, tree identification,
forest ecology, and the distribution of the various types of forest
cover. Unit 3 discusses the art and science of silviculture, forest
health, and protection of the forest from insects, disease, and
fire. Unit 4 explains the process of conducting a forest inventory
and a stand analysis and interpreting the data. Unit 5 highlights elements of a forest management plan and
the management choices available to the forestland manager. In the
course of learning how to prepare a forest management plan, students
will develop the framework of a plan for their property. Unit 6 describes the business of forestry-the sale, the harvest,
and the manufacture of forest products.
Table of Contents - Course Description
Unit 1: The Forested Landscape
Lesson 1: Introduction; Lesson 2: The World’s Forests; Lesson
3: America’s Forests: Lesson 4: Maryland’s Forests;
Lesson 5: History and Policy; Lesson 6: Key Players
Unit 2: The Forest and the Trees
Lesson 7: Tree Identification; Lesson 8: The Tree and How It Grows;Lesson
9: The Forest Community; Lesson 10: Natural Cycles in Our Environment;
Unit 3: Forest Care
Lesson 11: Silviculture-The Art and Science of Forestry; Lesson
12: Forest Health; Lesson 13: Fire and Forest Protection
Unit 4: Forest Inventory and Analysis
Lesson 14: Inventory-An Introduction; Lesson 15: Planning and Inventory;
Lesson 16: Forest Inventory-In the Field; Lesson 17: Interpreting
the Data
Unit 5: The Management Plan
Lesson 18: Elements of a Management Plan; Lesson 19: Managing Forests
for Wildlife; Lesson 20: Managing for Forest Products; Lesson 21:
Managing for Outdoor Recreation; Lesson 22: Managing for Aesthetic
and Ecological Benefits
Unit 6: The Business of Forestry
Lesson 23: Financial and Legal Considerations; Lesson 24: The Harvest;
Lesson 25: Site Preparation; Lesson 26: The Manufacturing of Forest
Products
Texts (Provided at registration)
General Forestry Correspondence Course
A Sand County Almanac
The Woodland Steward: A Practical Guide to the Management
of Small Private Forests
American Forests: A History of Resiliency and Recovery
Assignments
Students are required to read each lesson, answer questions,
and complete additional exercises at the end of each lesson. Students
are also required to write the framework of a forest management
plan.
Certificate of Completion
Students will be awarded a certificate of completion.
Schedule & Fees
Fall Semester: September 1 to December 15
Spring Semester: February 1 to May 20
$300 includes all required texts
Instructor (contact to register)
Nancy Stewart
Maryland Cooperative Extension
Wye Research & Education Center
P.O. Box 169
Queenstown, MD 21658
(410) 827-8056 x140 nstewar1@umd.edu
Educational Programs
