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
On average, there are around 250 Forestry Board 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.
Programs
The Maryland Forestry Board Association primarily works through the following
committees:
Public Education. Forestry Boards work 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. Boards organize 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.