The Woods in Your Backyard is available for purchase through the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service at: www.nraes.org Financial support provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Forestry, and The Potomac Watershed Partnership The Woods in Your Backyard: A Growing Issue and New Approach Downing*, A.K. 1 ; Kays, J.S. 2 ; Finley, J.C. 3 1 Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Northern District; 2 Extension Specialist, Maryland; 3 Extension Specialist, Pennsylvania In the United States, 60% of private forest ownerships are in 1-10 acre parcels – 4% of the total forest acreage. In urban states, this is as high as 75%. By the year 2030, as much as 11% of private forest acreage will be fragmented into smaller parcels of less than 10 acres as a result of the increasing number of housing developments. Why be concerned about these small properties? People live and work in developed areas where nearby forests play a critical role for water quality, wildlife, recreation, quality of life, and other benefits. Managed woods, large or small, best serve society. Contents:  Part I: Introduction  Part II: Inventory Your Property  Part III: Ecological Principles  Part IV: Put Your Knowledge into Practice Appendices include:  Characteristics of various tree species & their relative value as wildlife food  Wildlife habitat, food sources, & management opportunities  Tree and shrub uses & site requirements  A self-assessment workbook WHO ARE THE VOLUNTEERS AND HOW ARE THEY TRAINED? Who = Natural Resource Professionals and volunteer citizens such as Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists How = Train-the-trainer model to disseminate technical material & delivery tools WHAT IS IT? An approach to educate and equip small acreage landowners (1-10 acres) to better manage their property Tool = Manual includes a self-assessment workbook Goal = Informed decision making to positively impact clean water, wildlife, recreation, and forest health Delivery = Trained professionals and volunteers WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MANUAL? Each of the four-parts includes a series of subject matter lessons, activities, and relevant information Lessons: articulating objectives, mapping, inventory, planning activities, and converting lawn to forest A step-by-step process resulting in a personalized management plan following a case study example A variety of diagrams, illustrations, color photographs, tables and landowner profiles emphasis key points IS ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HELP LANDOWNERS IMPLEMENT THEIR GOALS? No. Traditional forestry assistance targets larger landowners. As demand continues to increase, potential service providers will emerge. Professionals from forestry, arboriculture, landscaping and others need training to help landowners meet their goals in ways that maintain or improve ecosystem integrity. Creating Natural Areas Two 3-acre properties 2 acres natural area No natural area As populations expand into rural areas, the Eastern United States, particularly, is experiencing forest fragmentation and parcelization. This process creates major challenges for natural resource managers, as rural forest and agriculture land convert into suburban developments. Meeting the diverse ownership objectives on these smaller forestland parcels, which do not often focus on timber production, requires innovative and sophisticated methods of communication to convey both the benefits and responsibilities associated with land stewardship. Landowners with less than 10 acres of forest own 59% of forest properties in the Eastern United States. While the overall acreage of this audience is still relatively small (8%), they represent a growing underserved audience and a significant political base that could provide support for forestry programs. Forests in this changing landscape can provide myriad environmental benefits to society as well as raw materials for forest industry. Landowners who believe non-management is the best management practice do not think about their connection to natural resources, or they have insufficient information for making informed decisions about improving the ecological function of this evolving urban landscape. As a result, landowners do not understand the intrinsic benefits gained from managing their forestland, no matter how small. A new educational tool and approach entitled, “The Woods in Your Backyard” is available to encourage small acreage landowners to understand their role in conserving forest values and to lead them to more active involvement with their natural resources. ABSTRACT

WHO ARE THE VOLUNTEERS AND HOW ARE THEY TRAINED?

Who = Natural Resource Professionals and volunteer citizens such as Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists

How = Train-the-trainer model to disseminate technical material & delivery tools

WHAT IS IT?

An approach to educate and equip small acreage landowners (1-10 acres) to better manage their property

Tool = Manual includes a self-assessment workbook

Goal = Informed decision making to positively impact clean water, wildlife, recreation, and forest health

Delivery = Trained professionals and volunteers

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MANUAL?

Each of the four-parts includes a series of subject matter lessons, activities, and relevant information

Lessons: articulating objectives, mapping, inventory, planning activities, and converting lawn to forest

A step-by-step process resulting in a personalized management plan following a case study example

A variety of diagrams, illustrations, color photographs, tables and landowner profiles emphasis key points

IS ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HELP LANDOWNERS IMPLEMENT THEIR GOALS?

No. Traditional forestry assistance targets larger landowners.

As demand continues to increase, potential service providers will emerge.

Professionals from forestry, arboriculture, landscaping and others need training to help landowners meet their goals in ways that maintain or improve ecosystem integrity.