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University of Maryland Extension

 

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Use the tabs below to explore many useful resources related to forestry and wildlife.

  • University of Maryland Extension
  • Other State Extension
  • State and Federal
  • Non-Profit
  • Private
  • The University of Maryland Extension is a statewide, informal education system within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland College Park and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Educational programs and problem-solving assistance available to citizens are based on the research and experience of land-grant universities such as the University of Maryland, College Park. Extension services are part of a cooperative State, Federal, and local partnership.

  • University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) - The Center, located in Ellicot City, MD, provides publications and assistance to help Maryland homeowners solve horticultural problems. The Maryland Master Gardener Program is administered through the center. Horticulture consultants are available to speak to clients on the telephone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Callers can also access a wide range of audio tapes 24 hours a day. Residents of Maryland can call toll-free to speak to a horticulture consultant or access our library of audiotapes: 1-800-342-2507 (in Maryland only) From outside Maryland, call 410-531-1757.

    • Plant Diagnostic Website - Web Site operated by HGIC offers photographic keys to help diagnose and solve plant problems, using Integrated Pest Management principles. Sections available: Beneficial Organisms, Broadleafed Shrubs, Flowers/Herbs, Groundcovers, Houseplants, Lawns, Needled Evergreens, Needled Evergreen Shrubs, Pest Control, Shade Trees, Vegetables and Wildlife.

  • Maryland Agriculture Web Links is designed to help both farmers and consumers find resources related to all aspects of farming.

  • Maryland Center for Agro-Ecology - The Maryland Center for Agro-Ecology is a coalition of agricultural, environmental, forestry, business, educational, government and other leaders dedicated to enhancing Maryland's farms, forests and other "working lands" through research, education and policy programs.

  • Riparian Buffers - University of Maryland web page with access to fact sheets, links and other resources from many sources.

  • Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center - MREDC, a one-stop-shop for the 21st century agricultural/natural resource entrepreneur, provides successful rural business innovation strategies for your farm business plan, and your production and management techniques.

Other State Extension Links:

  • FORSite - Learn how to use Forestry Equipment, find out how a tree grows, learn about tree identification, ask the experts, and more.

  • The Pennsylvania Woodlands' Timber Market Report gives prices paid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for standing timber (stumpage) and for logs delivered to sawmills during the current quarter of the current year.

  • Special Forest Products Web Site is a place to learn more about the use and markets for special forest products.

State and Federal Agency | Legislation | Top

State Resources

Federal Reports on Maryland and U.S. Forest Statistics and Forest Health

  • Family Forest Owners Rule!; Brett J. Butler; Forest History Today; Spring/Fall, 2011

  • Family Forests in Maryland - 2006

  • Who Owns America’s Forests?  Forest Ownership patterns and Family Forest Highlights from the national Woodland Owner Survey. USDA / Forest Service.  May, 2008.

  • Family Forest Owners of the United States, 2006.  A Technical Document Supporting the Forest Service 2010 RPA Assessment; US Forest Service.

  • Trends in Maryland's Forests - (NE-INF-152-02) - this nine-page publication (in PDF format) summarizes all the current forest inventory data from 1999 and compares it with previous inventories to show trends and changes in Maryland's forests. This is the most concise document you can find. Developed by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station.

  • Forest Statistics for Maryland: 1986 and 1999 - (Resource Bulletin NE-154) - every decade or so the USDA Forest Service does an inventory of the forest resources of Maryland. This is the fifth inventory done of Maryland and provides statistics for forest area, numbers of trees, wildlife habitat, tree biomass, timber volume, growth, and change for the state and county level. A great resource. A hard copy is available from: Brett Butler, USDA Forest Service, 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200, Newtown Square, PA 19073. (610) 557- 4045. bbutler01@fs.fed.us

Reports on Maryland's Private Forest Landowners

  • Private Forest-land Owners of the Northern United States, 1994 - (Resource Bulletin NE-136) - this publication by the USDA Forest Service provides estimates of the numbers of private forest landowners, ownership objectives, expected benefits, harvest experience, intention to harvest, and management planning. This report reviews trends. Very useful information for those seeking to better understand those who own forestland. The actual information for Maryland for this larger study was collected in 1989. A hard copy is available from: Brett Butler, USDA Forest Service, 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200, Newtown Square, PA 19073. (610) 557- 4045. bbutler01@fs.fed.us;

  • New National Woodland Owners Survey - To gain insight into this vital component of our forest resource, a new National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) has been implemented in conjunction with the Forest Inventory and Analysis annual inventory program. Over 50,000 individuals and groups that own woodland will eventually be sampled.

Reports on Maryland's Forest Industry & Economy

  • At Maryland Forest Association, Inc., you can find information about forest resource issues, forest land ownership, management, community and industry.

  • Maryland State Fact Sheet developed by USDA Economic Research Service - This 2002 publication contains frequently requested data for Maryland. These include current data on population, per-capita income, earnings per job, poverty rates, employment, unemployment, farm and farm-related jobs, farm characteristics, farm financial characteristics, top agricultural commodities, top export commodities, and the top counties in agricultural sales. Since most forest properties are a mix of farm and forest, this information can be relevant to forest landowners. State fact sheets for other states can be accessed as well.

In-State Reportsand Publications on Maryland's Trees & Forests

  • Forest Conservation Act

  • Maryland Forestry Task Force Final Report - On February 24, 1998 Governor Parris N. Glendening signed an Executive Order which created the Maryland Forestry Task Force. The Task Force developed a result-oriented report with recommendations that was submitted in December 2000. This report is filled with useful information.

  • Maryland Working Landscapes: A Common Vision For 21st Century Farms, Forests, and Local Communities - On May 6, 2002 a conference was sponsored by the Maryland Center for Agroecology, Inc. that convened a select group of more than 100 agricultural, environmental, government and other leaders. The goal was to: 1) Increase awareness, educate, and elicit innovative ideas from participants on working landscapes. The proceeding highlights the ideas shared at the conference.

  • Maryland Big Tree Program - Maryland State Champion List
    Maryland's Forest Conservancy District Board; various linked reports.

  • Maryland's Strategic Forest Lands Assessment - Maryland faces many challenges in sustaining health, ecologically functional and economically viable forests in the face of rapid urban development. This report was printed October 2003. This publication is very large and will require a long time to download on most servers.

  • Riparian Forest Buffer Survival and Success in Maryland - this report has useful information on the riparian buffer planting program. This publication is very large (10mg) and will require a long time to download on most servers.

Maryland's Forest History

  • Maryland's Forests: Past, Present, & Future - this publication (fact sheet 627) includes information on the following topics: 1) The Past: History of Maryland's Forests: Forest Clearing, Cycles of Use and Abuse; 2) The Present: A Patchwork of Forest Ownership and Management; Forest Coverage; Forest Zones and Types; Forest Ownership; Forests, Population and Development; Forest Health; and the Forest Products Industry; and 3) The Future:Putting Forest Stewardship into Practice References

  • The Importance of Maryland’s Forest: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - This publication is a primer on the history of our forest, its environmental and economic importance, its scientific management, and the challenges facing our continued stewardship This publication is very large (879KB) and will require a long time to download on most servers.

State and Federal Agency

 

  • The Online Nursery shows the status of seedlings that may be ordered from the state nursery. To assure a good selection consider ordering seedlings in the fall for the following spring.

  • Maryland Tree Laws - forest conservation act, seed tree law, regulation of forestry, tree expert law, roadside tree law

  • Forest Service Programs - water quality, forest stewardship, forest fire protection, urban & community forestry.

  • The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Division has the mission of striking the necessary balance between the ecological needs of Maryland's wildlife and heritage resources, and the societal needs and desires of Maryland's citizens. Activities range from managing biodiversity and rare, threatened and endangered species or habitat, as well as educating all Maryland citizens interested in the conservation of our state's natural and hunting heritage.

 

  • Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) actively works with about 50 local land trusts to protect Maryland's landscapes using conservation easements, which permanently protect your land from development, without giving up ownership. Conservation easements are voluntary agreements by which a landowner agrees to preserve his or her land from development or subdivision forever. In return, the landowner usually receives significant reductions in income, property and estate taxes.

  • Maryland Environmental Trust's Land Conservation Center - This online Center is meant to guide users through the abundance of programs, activities, and resources at the state, local government and private land trust level to help individual landowners save their lands for future generations.

  • Maryland Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a Federal Agency that works together with our conservation partners at the local, State, and Federal levels to conserve natural resources on private lands.

  • USDA Farm Service Agency - Administers many farm and forest programs that provide loans, credit, financial assistance, and other resources to help farmers conserve land and water resources and deal with disasters.

  • USDA National Agroforestry Center is a partnership of the USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Center's purpose is to accelerate the development and application of agroforestry technologies to attain more economical, environmental, and socially sustainable land-use systems. They offer a variety of publications and other resources.

  • USDA Forest Service State & Private Forestry - Northeastern Area provides online information and resources on forest stewardship, health, utilizations and more for landowners in the NE. Through partnerships with State forestry organizations and many others, Federal funding is leveraged to help produce a variety of forest-based goods and services

  • The National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP)- a federal interagency effort coordinated by the USGS to provide updated aerial photography of the US every 5 to 7 years. Only paper prints and film products can be searched and ordered on this website. They can not be viewed online. Current and past aerial photos are best viewed and ordered from the local USDA Farm Services Agency office in your county.

  • The U.S. Geological Survey is a site that provides many different types of maps. Download free topographic maps using Map Locator. Visit the Maps, Images and Publications page to see other resources, including printed maps, interactive maps and and find local map vendors.

  • Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) hosts the directory of land-grant universities which are state partners of the CSREES. Also included is the CSREES Online Directory of Professional Workers in Agriculture, the State Extension Service Directors and Administrators Directory as well as links to the websites of the schools of forestry, higher education, human sciences, veterinary science, and state extension services and state experiment stations.

  • ForestryIndex.net - This site is a partnership of the Cooperative Extension, the USDA Forest Service, and the Southern Group of State Foresters. This web-based tool organizes and displays publications, websites and internet resources for ready viewing and/or printing. It focuses on forestry and natural resource sites in the south that were university, state forestry agency, state forestry association or Extension related.

  • Southern Regional Extension Forestry Homepage - A listing of publication for 13 of the southern states and hotlinks to the websites of university extension, USDA Forest Service and others are available.

  • National Timber Tax Website - you can find the most up-to-date information on this web site developed by the USDA Forest Service and Perdue University. Download forms, get answers to frequently asked questions and much more.

State and Federal Agency | Legislation | Top

Federal and State Legislation and Representatives

Forestry | Wildlife | Top

    Forestry

    • American Chestnut Cooperators' Foundation is a nonprofit scientific and educational foundation dedicated to restoring the American Chestnut to its former place in our Eastern hardwood forests. Priorities include the development of blight-resistant all-American chestnuts and economical biological control measures against chestnut blight in the forest environment.

    • American Forest and Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry. AF&PA acts as the clearinghouse for statistical information, as the leading force in technical, regulatory and policy issues, and as the national voice for the forestry, wood and paper industries.

    • American Forest Foundation has a clear and certain mission: to help assure the productive, responsible, and sustainable stewardship of our nation’s resources. Project Learning Tree and the American Tree Farm System are the two core programs AFF uses to realize its goals.

    • American Loggers Council was formed in 1994 to serve as a unified, national voice for professional loggers across the United State.

    • American Paulownia Association is dedicated to the advancement of Paulownia as a forest crop in the United States. Paulownia wood has been used in Japan for centuries primarily as a furniture wood. The association organizes an annual meeting and has a regular newsletter.

    • Forest Landowners Association is composed of thousands of independent forest landowners throughout the United States. Its mission is to support, through advocacy, education, and information, forest landowner's responsible management of their private property.

    • Forest Resources Association has the mission to promote the best interests of wood fiber suppliers and consumers in the economical, efficient, and sustainable use, and stewardship, of forest resources to meet wood fiber needs through private enterprise.

    • Forestry for the Bay

    • Izaak Walton League is a diverse group of 50,000 men and women dedicated to protecting our nation's soil, air, woods, water, and wildlife.

    • Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards are county-based Boards that act as volunteer advocates for forestry in their communities. With support from the MD DNR Forest Service, they are involved in public education, self education and legislative networks.

    • Maryland Association of Forest Industries, Inc. is an association interested in protecting the interests of Maryland's forest products industry and forest landowners. The association is actively involved in legislative issues. Members receive a newsletter and other updates. There is no website but they can be contacted by e-mail or at (410) 414-2515.

    • Maryland Christmas Tree Association is an association of growers and retailers that have a common interest in promoting the Christmas Tree Industry. Members receive four newsletters per year and can learn about changes in laws, chemicals, seedling varieties, equipment, and trends in the Christmas Tree market. The association invites all citizens to participate in the tradition of displaying a real Christmas Tree in the home. The public can call 800-935-MCTA to locate the nearest Maryland Christmas Tree farm in your county or go to the website.

    • Maryland Forests Association is a nonprofit, tax-exempt citizen's organization for forest landowners, foresters and other natural resource professionals, hunt clubs and recreational groups, logging and trucking companies, the forest products industry, related businesses and individuals concerned about the wise-use of our forest resources. Members receive the bi-monthly newsletter the Crosscut, as well as legislative updates.

    • Maryland Tree Farm Program - The Maryland Tree Farm Program is part of the American Tree Farm System, a nationwide organization which recognizes landowners for quality forest management on their property. The reality of a tree farm is not straight rows of trees, but a diversity of woodlands of every shape and form. In Maryland, there are over 1500 tree farms totaling over 269,000 acres. It is sponsored by the Maryland Forests Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Maryland Extension Service.

    • National Ag Safety Database - Chainsaw Safety

    • National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) is a nationwide organization of non-industrial private woodland owners. NWOA is affiliated with state and county woodland owner associations throughout the US. Members receive 4 issues of National Woodlands Magazine and 8 Issues of Woodland Report with late-breaking news from Washington, D.C. and state capitals.

    • Save Our Streams (Isaak Walton League) has been recognized as the state's leading advocate for protecting and restoring Maryland's 17,000 miles of streams since 1970.

    • Society of American Foresters is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States.

    • The Walnut Council is an international association found in 45 states and seven foreign countries. There are links to the Maryland Walnut Chapter that offers regular programs and a state newsletter. The purpose is to promote sustainable forest management, conservation, reforestation, and utilization of American black walnut and other high quality hardwoods.

Forestry | Wildlife | Top

    Wildlife

    • Internet Center for Wildlife Damage: The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management is a non-profit, grant funded site that provides research-based information on how to responsibly handle wildlife damage problems. Provided by Cornell University, Clemson University, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and Utah State University.

    • Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is a non-profit organization that collects cash donations from churches, foundations, businesses and individuals and will pay approved deer processors to process the deer that you bring to them during Maryland's bow, muzzleloader and firearms seasons and will also process deer farmers kill damaging their crops. This outreach ministry of God's people transforms a renewable God-given resource into food for the hungry among us.

    • National Wild Turkey Federation is a grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 other foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

    • Quail Unlimited was established in 1981 to battle the problem of dwindling quail and wildlife habitat. It is the only national, non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the wise management of America's wild quail as a valuable and renewable resource.

    • Quality Deer Management Association is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable future for white-tailed deer and white-tailed deer hunting. Membership includes a subscription to Quality Whitetails, the quarterly journal of the QDM Association, and a subscription to Hunt Club Digest, the twice-yearly publication of Vulcan Outdoors and Forest Landowners Association.

    • The Ruffed Grouse Society is a nonprofit nationwide organization committed to the conservation of wildlife habitat to enhance the environment for the ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other forest wildlife that require or utilize thick, young forests.

    • The Wildlife Society is the non profit scientific and educational society of nearly 9,000 professionals and students. The mission of The Wildlife Society is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society.

    • Windstar Wildlife Institute - Windstar is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization established in 1986 with the objective of providing sound wildlife and wildlife habitat information for property owners. They offer a free e-mail newsletter, WindStar's Wildlife Garden Weekly, and a membership with associated benefits. They offer a "Wildlife Naturalist" certification program that is offered as an Internet home study course.

Forestry | Wildlife | Top

     

Other Useful Forestry Links:

  • Forestry.about.com - This commercial site is operated by Steve Nix, a professional forester and provides balanced and objective information. It contains lots of practical information on chainsaws, selling timber, portable sawmills, tree planting, tree ID, taxes, and more. It also provides links to state forestry agencies, extension foresters, conservation groups, and other sources of information in the 50 states.

  • Forestry.about.com - Chainsaw Safety: Use this link to view many resources for using a chainsaw and felling trees safely.

  • Husqvarna - Chainsaw Safety First

  • Insurance for Hunt Clubs - Selected Sources of Liability Insurance for Hunt Clubs and Other Recreational Enterprises are provided in this list. Provides contact information and sample rates.

  • Mapquest.com - Driving directions. You can also find aerial photos for many locations free of charge.

  • Sawmill & Woodlot Management Magazine - How-to magazine for small woodlot owners and sawmillers. Good source of information on sawmills, firewood processors, mills for sale, and more.

  • Silvics of North America, a publication of the U.S. Forest Service, describes the silvical characteristics of about 200 forest tree species. (The paper version is 2 volumes and 877 pages.)

  • Stihl: Chansaw Safety Video

  • Terraserver - You can find satellite images of your property here (and purchase if you wish.)

  • Timber Tax Accountants - landowners who have sold forest products or manage forestland can use this list to locate a Certified Public Accountants to help them with complete their taxes. Accountants on this list have attended a continuing education seminar on timber taxes in 1999 or 2000, sponsored by University of Maryland Extension, Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, and the USDA Forest Service.

  • Topozone has USGS maps for the whole country. You can look up aerial photographs for your property.

 

 

 

 

 

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to
race, color, gender, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental
status, or national origin.

For more information about this website, please contact Ellen Green
Last Updated: May 1, 2012