Forest
Stewardship News Release
August
11, 2006- For Immediate Release
Contact: Allyson
Muth , Phone: 814-863-0401 E-mail: abm173@psu.edu
Forests for Life Jubilee
Written by Allyson Muth, 814-865-3208, abm173@psu.edu
Pennsylvania has over 17 million forested acres out of its total land area (59%). Over half a million private individuals own the majority of this forested land. In celebration of private forest landowners and their contribution to the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association is hosting the 2006 Forests for Life Jubilee at the Wyndham Harrisburg-Hershey on Saturday, September 23, 2006. The event focuses on enhancing education and awareness of Pennsylvania's private forest landowners. Presentations, exhibits, and contributors will share the wealth of resources available to support private forest landowners and their care of the land.
Who should
attend?
If you are a private forest owner, this program is for you. If you know
of other landowners who may not be involved with resource professionals
or woodland owners’ groups, invite them to join you. We are fortunate
in Pennsylvania to have many opportunities to learn about the use and
management of forests. However, many forest landowners are not aware of
all these opportunities. Beyond the educational talks, attendees will
have exhibits to visit, and most importantly, they will meet other forest
owners who share their interests in trees, woods, wildlife, water, and
recreation – the great outdoors. So come, connect with others, and
celebrate Forests for Life.
Agenda
To maximize your learning experience, the day’s program offers 12
presentations designed to introduce you to thought-provoking useful ideas
that will help you become a better forest steward. Topics include:
- Why should I manage
my land and do I need help?
- Who will care for your woodland after you? Planning for a successful
ownership transition
- The art and science of managing your forest
- Wildlife and the private forest landowner
- What to do with mature timber and other marketable forest products
- Annual income from your forest: Why you need it; how to get it
- Forest stewardship from a private landowner’s point of view
- Virtual forests and real decisions: Computer web learning for private
owners
- Herbicides and competing plant control
- Land ethics and landscape level considerations
- Water and its connection to forestry
- Taxes - property, income, and Clean & Green
Each attendee can attend four different presentations. When you arrive at the event, you will have the opportunity to choose one presentation during each of the four 45-minute sessions.
Unfortunately, due to space limitations, each presentation will happen only once during the day. Speakers have been asked to provide information about their presentation; these materials will be available to all attendees.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and is followed, at 9:30, by a keynote address by Dr. Jim Grace, DNCR Bureau of Forestry, State Forester. The first of four concurrent sessions begins at 10:15 a.m. Lunch is from noon to 1 p.m. The day ends after a 3:00 p.m. closing address. Cost is $25.00 per person and covers materials and lunch. Registration is due by September 8, 2006.
Questions? Contact Linda Finley, 814-234-9028.
The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management for private landowners. For a list of free publications, call 1-800-235-WISE (toll-free), send e-mail to , or write to: Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 320 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in partnership with the Penn State's Forest Resources Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.
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