​​Information

The Savage River State Forest is located in the northwestern portion of Maryland. Owing to high rainfall and certain topographic features, Savage River State Forest contains many excellent quality growing sites stocked with superior trees. The forest contains approximately 4,000 acres of conifer plantations, established in the 1940’s following state acquisition. Red pine is the dominant tree species within these plantations but other conifers include white pine, Norway spruce, larch, and Scotch pine. These plantations were established as nurse crops to rehabilitate abandoned and depleted farm fields, with the long-term goal of conversion back to native hardwoods, as appropriate.

Forest harvest operations are undertaken to utilize mature and dead/dying/diseased trees; to thin overstocked stands; to improve and diversify wildlife habitat; to effectively correct public safety concerns and issues; to reduce the forest vulnerability to insect attack, disease or wild fire hazard; to facilitate certain approved research needs; to improve certain aesthetic aspects of the forest and improve the age class and specifies diversity within stands and management blocks.

The benefits of managing the forest include improved wildlife habitat diversity, improved forest health by ridding the forest of gypsy moth and emerald ashborer, reduced fire hazard and the considerable financial benefits to the state and local economies as well as the employees in the forest products industry.