North East State Foresters Association launches new landowner engagement pilot project - (Funded by the USDA Forest Service)

Consistent with the US Forest Service landscape approach to improving stewardship, the purpose of this regional pilot project is to explore how most effectively to engage family forest landowners in contributing to three main goals: 1) strengthen markets for forest products, 2) strengthen forest stewardship, and 3) conserve the many values of the region’s forest landscape for future generations. Click here for more information.

North East State Foresters Association Regional Pilot Project: NY/NE Family Forest Owner Engagement launched in December, 2011:

On Dec. 7, 2011, the North East State Forester's Association launched the NY-NE Family Forest Owner Outreach Initiative with a full-day training workshop at Harvard Forest (see links to presentations and resources below) on the best methods for reaching and engaging landowners in forest management and conservation.

Overall, 70 people attended the training workshop representing the US Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the State Foresters in NY, VT, NH, MA, CT, and RI, and nearly 20 conservation organizations in four large interstate landscapes.

Four high priority interstate landscapes have been identified by the North East State Foresters Association as pilot project areas for this project. These include the Quabbin to Cardigan (NH and MA), the Southern New England Heritage Forest (RI, CT, and MA), the Green Mountain and Berkshire Hills (VT and MA) and the Taconics (CT, NY, VT and MA). The conditions and the characteristics of landownership within these areas vary dramatically; thus, different approaches to reach landowners effectively will be needed between pilot project areas. This effort will be a collaboration of the offices of the State Foresters, State Conservationists, USFS staff, local officials and regional conservation partnerships of conservation groups and agencies. 

 This project task involves identifying and testing the “best” methods to reach family forest landowners in the different pilot project areas around the region. Efforts will be directed at engaging these landowners in addressing three questions: should I manage my land; should I enroll in current use; and should I plan for the conservation or the development of my land? 

Dec. 7 Training Workshop Materials:

Dec. 7 Workshop Agenda

Workshop notes

List and contact info for attendees

Landscape Group Worksheet

The Sustaining Family Forest Initiative's Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively

Peer-to-Peer Trainings in:

• Pre-harvest Tours and Woods Walks by Si Balch, New England Forestry Foundation

• Conservation Restriction Monitoring Training by Pieter van Loon, Vermont Land Trust

• Forest Stewardship Projects Aggregated by Nathan Rutenbeck, Yale School Forests

• Keystone and Coverts Landowner Training Programs by Paul Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts Extension

• Municipal Training Programs by Holly Drinkuth, University of Connecticut Extension

• Landowner Assistance in Enrolling in Current Use by Jennifer Fish, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

• ACoORN - A Cooperative Resource Network Website by Paul Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts Extension

• Woods Forums by Paul Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts Extension and Jay Rasku, North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership

• Land Conservation Aggregation Steps, Southern New England Land Trusts Map by Keith Ross, LandVest

• Helping Municipalities Adopt Zoning Bylaws that promote Forestry and Forest Conservation by Jeff Lacy, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation