Agriculture and Natural Resources
Brett Chedzoy, [email protected]
Forest Stewardship
Stewardship refers to the wise and intentional care of something deemed important. The concept of Forest Stewardship has grown over the past couple of decades out of the recognition of three factors.
The first is that woodlands are beneficial to both individual owners and the surrounding community. We all know that trees can provide valuable forest products, habitat for wildlife, attractive landscapes, and a variety of “ecosystem services” like clean air and water. In 1996, American Forests (www.americanforests.org) commissioned a study estimating that the value of storm water management benefits alone of America’s forests was over 400 billion dollars. That’s a lot of benefit! When I worked as a consulting forester in the mid-1990’s, one of our largest clients were the water companies across southern New England who invested in the intensive management of their forest watersheds. They believed that managemnet is the most practical and cost-effective way to maintain a quality water supply for large suburban populations. The same philosophy is used by New York City’s Watershed Agricultural Council and other large urban water supply collaborations across the country. However, the perceived benefits that often drive stewardship are not always tangible or quantifiable. In my 25+ years as a forester, I believe that most woodland owners still seek my expertise simply because they enjoy their woods and want to take care of it.
The second factor contributing to the rise in forest stewardship is an increased awareness of the growing number of threats to our woodlands. The “big three” are: Whitetail Deer; invasive organisms; and exploitative harvesting. This past Saturday, I attended a symposium titled “The Future of New York
Forests at Risk – Working Towards A Comprehensive Solution” at the NYS College
of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse. Despite the pleasant spring weather, nearly three hundred stakeholders convened on the ESF campus to address the problems and solutions for replacing our aging second-generation forests with a third generation that will meet our expectations and needs.
The third factor driving forest stewardship stems from the belief that there are solutions. Foresters have long believed that forests can be restored and rehabilitated with nearly negative impact. In many cases, natural processes and time will do the job as evidenced by the extensive second generation forests that now cover most of New York. The ethic of stewardship, coupled with the science of silviculture will continue to enhance these forests. One of the best publications that I’ve come across is: “The Place You Call Home”, available at: http://northernwoodlands.org/pdf/PYCHNY_Web.pdf This single-edition magazine is a collection of articles that highlight the values which drive our sense of stewardship for our woods. This summer and fall, we will partnerwith the NY Forest Owners Association (www.nyfoa.org) to offer several “woods walks” that focus on stewardship. The first will be held on May 30th at the Joseph Tree Farm in Willseyville (between Spencer and Candor). See the “events” page for details.