Follow up from the Feb 23rd kickoff meeting of the Forest Makeover Program

A heartfelt thank you to the Forest Makeover Participants who helped make the February 23rd kickoff meeting a success!

What happened at the meeting?

• Donnie Garman introduced the participants and project "leaders"
• David Richert discussed housekeeping and logistics details
• Zach Olinger gave an overview of the forestry courses we'll be offering as part of the forest makeover program
• Chris Sullivan made a presentation on what forest stewardship planning is, why it is important, and how a forest stewardship plan will "direct" the forest makeover process
• As a group, we reviewed the status of our forest stewardship plans
• As a group, we turned in our thoughts and suggestions about ideas to incorporate into the program

Missed the meeting?
For those of you who were unable to make it, we filmed the meeting, and we'll be making this DVD available if you'd like to catch up on what you missed. If you'd like to request a copy of the DVD, or if you'd like me to give you a brief update on what you missed, please contact me.

What's next?
1. Project leaders will be in contact with those participants who need to develop and/or revise their forest stewardship plans

2. The first course--Virginia's Forest Resources--A Local Natural History--will be offered in mid March. Please go to the following link to help us decide which evening to offer this course. http://www.doodle.com/det7s6zpdugfrfid

3. For those with up to date forest stewardship plans, be thinking of the 3 specific projects you would like to accomplish in the next 3 years.

Thanks, and I look forward to the next time I see all of you!

Announcement for First Participants Meeting

Dear Extreme Forest Makeover participant:

Congratulations on being selected as a participant in the New River-Highlands RC&D / Virginia Department of Forestry's Extreme Forest Makeover Program! On behalf of the project partners, I welcome you to this innovative forestry project. The project partners are looking forward to working with you over the next three years to help you achieve your sustainable forest management goals.

Based on the results of the poll, the first meeting for the Extreme Forest Makeover has been set for Tuesday, February 23rd from 6:30pm - 8:00pm, at the Matthews State Forest Office in Galax, Virginia.

Planned Objectives for this First Meeting?

• Welcome the participants to the program--introduce the participants and the project coordinators (Come prepared to share a little bit about yourselves and your forest.)


• Cover basic information about forest stewardship planning, and how the forest stewardship plan will help guide this "extreme forest makeover" program.


• Work as a group to develop the list of basic forestry courses we'll be teaching--Participants get to customize the program to best suit their interests / needs.


• Work as a group to develop the structure of the program--i.e. how often? and when to meet? small groups or large groups? how best to communicate? housekeeping details?
  

What to Bring?
If possible / applicable, please bring a copy of your Forest Stewardship Plan with you.

Need Directions to the Matthews State Forest Office in Galax, Virginia?
see attached directions--IF YOU PLAN TO USE an "on-board" navigational device please be aware that many on-board navigational devices do not have updated information for the Matthews State Forest location.

Weather Cancellation?
If this meeting has to be cancelled because of inclement weather, we will make this decision by 12:00noon on February 23rd, and will send out an email. Feel free to call the RC&D office if you don't have access to email on Feb 23rd.

Can't make the meeting?
If you can't make this first meeting--don't worry--we will work with you individually to keep you informed and involved.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any other questions or comments. Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:30pm.

The Extreme Forest Makeover Project-Introduction

In the fall of 2009, the New River-Highlands RC&D Council and the Virginia Department of Forestry kicked off the "Extreme Forest Makeover" project, an innovative forest landowner program, in the New River Valley of Virginia.

Funded by a $111,000 Conservation Innovation Grant from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the grant will be matched by in-kind contributions from VDOF and other project partners. The “forest makeover” will occur as participating forest landowners in the New River Valley design and then implement a forest stewardship plan, with assistance from a variety of natural resource professionals.

Sustainably managed forests produce a variety of public benefits—clean air, water, wildlife habitat, recreation, aesthetics and timber. Private landowners can increase their forests’ productivity to produce these benefits through forest stewardship planning and implementation.

Project partners have recruited approximately 35 New River Valley forest landowners to participate in this program. Program participantshave a minimum of 10 acres of forestland, and a strong interest in implementing sustainable forest management activities on their forestland.

In the spring of 2010, project partners will host a series of classroom programs that highlight the principles of forest management and the multiple benefits of sustainably managed forests. Not all of the learning will take place in the classroom, however, in addition to the classroom programs, participating landowners will use the Matthews Sate Forest as a field laboratory to gain valuable hands-on experience. Ultimately, participating forest landowners will implement forest stewardship management projects on their own land, using a combination of project funds; available cost-share funds, and in-kind contributions.”

This is a three-year project, and project partners are hoping the program will increase the acres of sustainably managed forestland in the New River Valley. Although three years is a short time, relative to the life cycle of a forest, it should be long enough to give participants a glimpse of the increased forest productivity that results from sustainable forest management.