Product Description | News Release | Table of Contents

Forest landowners hold the key to providing healthy forests for generations to come. Landowners can realize their full potential as stewards of their forests by using this book. Forest stewardship means setting and achieving objectives for land while maintaining its integrity for future generations. Chapters include developing a vision and a plan; exploring the possibilities; protecting your soil, water, and forest resources; economic issues; and summary of action steps. Also includes appendixes, activities, and quizzes. Winner of National Woodland Owners Association -- Book of the Year -- Best Forestry Book 2006.

Note: A brief "new book announcement" is also available; scroll down after the news release on this page.

Learn How to Become a Steward of Your Forestland

For Immediate Release
July 2006

Private landowners in the Northeastern U.S. -- who collectively own nearly 70 percent of the region's 170 million acres of forestland -- hold the key to providing healthy forests for generations to come. A new book, Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170 ($18.75 plus S&H/sales tax; 84 pages; May 2006) provides forestland owners the information they need to make sound management decisions and realize their full potential as stewards of their land. This book has been named the 2006 Book of the Year by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA).

Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170, leads you through a series of considerations that will help you understand your forest and make informed decisions about its management. The first chapter covers how to develop a vision and a plan that is tailored to your objectives while conforming to the special attributes of your forestland. The next chapter, entitled "Exploring the Possibilities," explains how you can help shape the character of your forest, understand and enhance wildlife habitats, manage your enjoyment through natural beauty and recreation, and integrate agroforestry options. "Protecting Your Soil, Water, and Forest Resources" covers Best Management Practices (BMPs) for maintaining riparian buffers; controlling water on roads and trails; timber regeneration and harvest; and pesticide application. Economic issues -- such as assessing the value of your land, timber harvest and timber theft, income taxes, estate taxes, and property taxes -- are covered in the final chapter.

This 84-page, coil-bound guide includes 36 color photographs and numerous diagrams to illustrate the text. Completing suggested activities and taking the quizzes will further help you develop a realistic plan to serve as a guide to achieving your objectives. Appendixes include a glossary; a description of web sites for forest owners; and sources of assistance, including land-grant university contacts, state forestry agencies, and forest owners associations. The guide will be useful to foresters, extension educators, and natural resources professionals, as well as to forest owners themselves.

Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, was published by NRAES, the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. It was written by Kristi L. Sullivan, Extension Associate -- Wildlife Conservation, Cornell University; Peter J. Smallidge, State Extension Forester, Cornell University; James C. Finley, State Extension Forester, Penn State University; and Michael G. Jacobson, Associate Professor of Forest Resources, Penn State University.

Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170, is available for $18.75 per copy (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, NY 14852-4557. Shipping and handling for one copy is $4.25 within the continental United States. New York residents, add sales tax (calculated on both the cost for publications and the shipping and handling charges. Click here for more information.) If ordering more than one book, or if ordering from outside the United States, contact NRAES for shipping rates and possible quantity discounts. Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds. All major credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made payable to NRAES. For more information or a free book catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, by fax at (607) 254-8770, or by e-mail at NRAES@CORNELL.EDU. To learn more about NRAES and browse through our entire catalog, visit our web site at WWW.NRAES.ORG.

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New Book Announcement

Learn How to Become a Steward of Your Forestland

For Immediate Release
July 2006

Forest landowners hold the key to providing healthy forests for generations to come. Landowners can realize their full potential as stewards of their forests by using a new resource, Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170 ($18.75 plus S&H/sales tax; 84 pages; May 2006). Chapters cover developing a vision and a plan; exploring the possibilities; protecting soil, water, and forest resources; economic issues; and summary of action steps. Also includes activities, quizzes, puzzles, worksheets, diagrams, color photos, sources of assistance by state, and more. This book was named the 2006 Book of the Year by the National Woodland Owners Association (NOWA).

Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started, NRAES-170, costs $18.75 plus $4.25 shipping and handling (within the continental U.S.) Make checks payable to NRAES; all major credit cards accepted. New York residents, add sales tax (on both the cost of the book and the shipping and handling charges. Click here for more information.) Contact NRAES for other shipping and handling rates and possible quantity discounts: NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, NY 14852-4557; phone (607) 255-7654, fax (607) 254-8770; e-mail NRAES@CORNELL.EDU; web site WWW.NRAES.ORG.

Note: See also the more descriptive news release above.

Written by

Kristi L. Sullivan
Extension Associate -- Wildlife Conservation
Cornell University

Peter J. Smallidge
State Extension Forester
Cornell University

James C. Finley
State Extension Forester
The Pennsylvania State University

Michael G. Jacobson
Associate Professor of Forest Resources
The Pennsylvania State University

I. Introduction

You and Your Forest
Forests are Important
Forests are Constantly Changing
QUIZ: Forest Ecology

II. Developing a Vision and a Plan

Seek Professional Assistance
Working with a Forester
Engaging Other Natural Resource Professionals
SIDEBAR: Choosing a Forester
Selecting a Logger
Get to Know Your Forest
Determine Your Objectives and Goals
Formulate a Ten-year Activity Schedule
Review Your Plan
SIDEBAR: Stewardship Planning Summary
ACTIVITY: Pacing
ACTIVITY: Get to Know Your Property
ACTIVITY: Discover Your Ownership Priorities
ACTIVITY: What to Ask Your Forester
QUIZ: Forest Stewardship Planning

III. Exploring the Possibilities

Shaping the Character of Your Forest
Managing a Mature Stand
SIDEBAR: High-grading
Tending a Middle-aged Stand
Renewing a Forest
Enhancing Habitat for Wildlife
Benefits of Wildlife
Wildlife Basics
Understanding Wildlife Habitat
Succession and Wildlife Habitat
SIDEBAR: Habitat Complexity
Setting Your Wildlife Objectives
Species of Special Concern
Featured Species
Groups or Guilds
Species Richness
Managing for Your Enjoyment: Aesthetics and Outdoor Recreation
Enhancing the Beauty of Your Forest
SIDEBAR: Controlling Public Access
Increasing Recreational Opportunities
Agroforestry Options
Producing Maple Syrup
Forest Farming
Alley Cropping
Riparian Buffers
Windbreaks
ACTIVITY: Your Forest Resources
ACTIVITY: An Eye For Wildlife
ACTIVITY: Agroforestry
CROSSWORD: Forest Management
QUIZ: Wildlife Management
QUIZ: Aesthetics and Outdoor Recreation
CROSSWORD: Agroforestry as an Option

IV. Protecting Your Soil, Water, and Forest Resources

Riparian Buffers
SIDEBAR: Riparian Buffer Best Management Practices
Controlling Water on Roads and Trails
SIDEBAR: Road and Trail Best Management Practices
Timber Regeneration and Harvest BMPs
Regeneration BMPs
Harvest BMPs
BMPs for Pesticide Application
ACTIVITY: The Quest for Water
QUIZ: Water Management

V. Economic Issues

Does Money Grow on Trees?
Timber Taxation
Income Taxes
Estate Taxes and Planning
SIDEBAR: Three Steps to Estate Tax Planning
Property Taxes
SIDEBAR: Preventing Timber Theft
ACTIVITY: Economic Issues
QUIZ: Economic Issues

VI. Summary of Action Steps

VII. Appendices

Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Web Sites for Forest Owners
Appendix C: Sources of Assistance (by State)
Appendix D: Glossary of Forest Stewardship Terms
Appendix E: Keys to Quizzes and Puzzles