In partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service, 24 Forestry Boards (http://www.mdforest.sailorsite.net/) strive to promote appreciation and concern for forests and trees. Board members support the concept of wise conservation , management and use of trees and forests in Maryland. The Boards, one in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City, together function as the State Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards. Forestry Boards provide leadership for improvement of the environment in urban, suburban and rural areas, and educate people about the variety of benefits trees and forests provide.

Although Board membership varies by county, the common requirements include an interest in the future of our trees and forests, a willingness to work and a desire to see our renewable forest resource used wisely. Local leaders from planning and zoning, tree farmers, loggers, arborists, educators, farmers, foresters, engineers, environmental planners, forest landowners and government representatives are but a few of the interest groups serving on the Boards. Members are appointed by the Director of the DNR Forest Service, after recommendation by the local board.

The Maryland Forestry Board Foundation is a non-profit corporation that funds action oriented, educational activities which promote the wise stewardship of our natural resources, in particular, those that involve teaching individuals about forests and the renewable resources they provide. For information about funding opportunities write the Foundation.

The Natural Resources Careers Conference is a one week coeducational summer camp program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in forestry or other natural resource management that combines classroom and field activities. Tree identification, forest ecology, reforestation, forest measurements, soil and water conservation, wildlife habitat improvement, urban forestry and fisheries management are just some of the subjects covered. Field trips explore a paper mill, fish hatchery and state forest. The program is held at Hickory Environmental Education Center, in Garrett County. Two students are sponsored by each Forestry Board, at no cost to the students. Camp fees are paid by local conservation organizations, civic groups and businesses. Forestry Board members coordinate camp promotion, solicitation of sponsors, and student selection.

Tree Farm Tours Many Boards, including Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, St Mary’s Washington, Worcester and Somerset Counties conduct tours of local tree farms for landowners and local government officials. Good forest management demonstrations show timber harvesting, sediment and erosion control practices for water quality maintenance, wildlife habitat enhancement and reforestation. The Howard and Montgomery County Boards jointly host a dinner to honor their counties’ Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.

"Greening of YOUR TOWN" Program Initiated by the Baltimore County Forestry Board, "Greening" programs provide assistance to local communities in establishing and caring for street trees. Through this program hundreds of trees have been planted in various communities. Forestry Boards across the state assist towns in the planting, care and inventory of street trees and in developing a systematic tree care program.

Arboretums and Arbor Day Activities Forestry Boards promote Arbor Day by planting trees, distributing free seedlings to schools and local citizens and by establishing arboretums. The Carroll County Board is developing a unique arboretum at Fairhaven Retirement Community, where plans call for a tree from every state in the Union.

Newsletters and Newspaper Columns The State Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards publishes a quarterly newsletter. Several local Boards including Baltimore City, Baltimore, Calvert and Frederick Counties, publish their own local newsletters to landowners. The Anne Arundel County Board sponsors a bi-weekly "Tree Talk" column in The Capital to stimulate public interest in trees and forests within the county.

Chesapeake Bay School Reforestation Project and School Forests A native forest is planted by students and the community on school grounds to improve the quality of the Chesapeake Bay, local streams and waterways, to enhance wildlife habitat and to demonstrate the many benefits of forests and trees in overall environmental protection. The project is a cooperative effort among local and public schools, including students, teachers, parents, Forestry Boards, the Department of Natural Resources, local governments and the private sector. Each school develops environmental education programs that are integrated with existing school curricula. Follow-up care and maintenance demonstrated ownership and commitment to the success of the project. School forests have been established in every Maryland county and Baltimore City. Forestry Boards in Wicomico, St. Mary’s Charles, and Calvert Counties have provided "School Forest" signs for the environmental education areas at the schools.

Workshops and Symposia Boards organize and sponsor forest landowner workshops covering various aspects of federal and state income taxes, including incentives for tree planting and timberstand improvement, record keeping and planning for estate taxes. Project Learning Tree and Project Wild workshops are sponsored by the Boards to enhance environmental awareness for educators.

Forest Resource Protection Initiative This initiative is a collaborative effort among the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and the Western Maryland Forestry Boards, which has made money available on a 50/50 match to spray gypsy moth-infested acres in Allegany, Frederick and Washington Counties. This affordable gypsy moth spray program for private woodland owners assists landowners who are not eligible to be part of the free state program. The boards act as liaison between the landowner and the Department of Agriculture. The Caroline County Forestry Board administers a similar program.

Legislative role Forestry Boards, acting locally, or as a state association, review proposed legislation affecting forestry and represents the interests of forestry with local, state, and federal leaders. Board members have been influential in getting many forestry-related laws passed by the General Assembly including the Forest Conservation Act, the right to Practice Forestry and the State Board of Licensing for Foresters.

Poster contests Many Boards, including Carroll, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties, conduct poster contests in county schools to promote the themes of Arbor Day, Tree Planting, Forest Fire Prevention, and Forests as a Renewable Resource. Some prizewinning posters are printed on T-shirts; others are displayed on highway billboards and in educational folders that are distributed to students.

Master Woodland Manager Program The Cecil County Forestry Board developed the Master Woodland Manager Program which consists of 32 hours of intensive classroom and field training. The program helps to create a network of highly-motivated, well-trained woodland owners in Cecil County who can improve forest management on their own lands. The first class was offered for a small fee to decision- makers at the county and town levels. Future class participants will pay no money but agree to 32 hours of community service, local tree planting and/or maintenance during the year.

Local Forest Conservation Ordinances Forestry Boards have assisted county governments and local jurisdictions in developing plans for conserving and protecting the forest and tree resources, as required by the forest conservation act. Even before the Forest Conservation Act of 1991, Anne Arundel, Harford, and Prince George’s County Boards worked closely with their county governments to develop local ordinances for tree protection.

Timber Harvest Plan Review Forestry Boards, under specific circumstances in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and Frederick County, review and approve timber harvest plans. The Boards must assure that plans provide protection measures for surface and groundwater quality, wildlife habitat and threatened and endangered species and provisions for maintaining a sufficient number of desirable trees to ensure future productivity.

Goals have been set by the State Association of Forestry Conservancy District Boards to help local Boards and members focus on their objectives.

• Public Education-To increase public awareness of environmental concerns and good forestry practices.
• Self-Education-to assure that board members stay informed of new forestry programs and practices.
• Forestry/Conservation and Natural Resource Week-to continue to educate high school students interested in pursuing a career in natural resources on the importance of forests and other natural resources for environmental quality.
• Chesapeake Bay School Reforestation Project-to enable Boards to work with local school systems in educating students on the benefits of trees, especially watershed protection.
• Forestry Board Newsletter-to publish a quarterly newsletter in an effort to keep Association members informed of Board activities.
• Funding for Boards-to encourage Boards to seek funding from their local governments or from private foundations in order to accomplish a wider range of activities.
• Timber Harvest Plan Approval-to increase the Boards role, where required, in order reviewing local timber harvest plans that will ensure quality forests for the future.
• Legislative Network-to coordinate activities of Boards in promoting good forest management through the legislative process.

Maryland DNR Forest Service Offices
Headquarters
580 Taylor Ave, E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401-2397
(410) 260-8531

Western Region
3 Pershing Street, Room #101
Cumberland, MD 21502-3048
(301) 777-2137
Allegany Frederick, Garrett and Washington Counties

Central Region
2 S. Bond Street
Bel Air, MD 21014-3772
(410) 836-4551
Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery Counties

Southern Region
Carter Building, Box 653
Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-4755
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s Counties

Eastern Region
Salisbury Multi-Service Center
201 Baptist Street, Suite 22
Salisbury, MD 21801-4979
(410) 543-6745
Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties