Howard Soil Conservation District
14735 Frederick Road
Cooksville, MD 21723
410-313-0680
EVENTS/HAPPENINGS
Forest Management for Wildlife Symposium:
Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Young Forests, & More
Cacapon Resort State Park
818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Thursday, July 11, 2024, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
(possible field trip after)
Register here More information here
Why forest management?
Forests are the #1 land cover in Maryland and much of the mid-Atlantic, but many of our forests lack a healthy understory and the structural and age diversity that can help support a wide variety of wildlife. Sustainable forest management practices can significantly enhance habitat and provide habitat for a diverse array of wildlife species.
Objective
This symposium will provide landowners and land managers insights about how to implement forest management practices that can benefit a diversity of wildlife, including ruffed grouse, American woodcock, rabbits, wild turkey, golden-winged warblers, white-tailed deer, pollinators, and more.
Specialists in wildlife, forestry, and financial incentive programs will present practical and sustainable tips for forest management, timber harvests, and financial incentives available to benefit wildlife on your property.
Live Workshopping
We plan to dedicate the final 45 minutes of the symposium for our speakers and specialists to rotate around the room to meet landowners and provide ideas and suggestions for forest management on printed maps of interested participant’s properties.
If you own forestland and are interested in receiving live suggestions about your property as part of the workshop, please let us know in the registration page and we will reach out about printing a poster-size map of your property that can be workshopped live and in-person during the final session at the symposium.
Logistics
This symposium will be held live at Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs, WV, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm (possible field trip after lunch).
Lunch will be available to all, but we would welcome a $20 (or more) donation (cash or check only) to defray costs of venue and catering.
The event will be streamed live on Zoom and recorded for future viewing (you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link even if you choose to attend in-person).
Cost
Free of charge; $20 donations (or more, cash or check only) are welcome to defray costs.
8:30 - 9:00 am
Coffee, continental breakfast, and conversation
9:00 - 9:10 am
Introduction & Welcome
Luke Macaulay, University of Maryland Extension
Sheldon Owen, University of West Virginia Extension
Wildlife
9:10 - 9:40 am
Game Species & Forest Management. Reina Tyl, Pennsylvania Game Commission. Bob Long, Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Emily Boyd, Pennsylvania Game Commission.
9:40 - 10:10 am
Non-Game Wildlife & Forest Management. Richard Bailey, State Ornithologist, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
10:10 - 10:30 am
Break, Q&A, & Networking
Forest Management
10:30- 10:50 am
Forest Management Approaches: Dynamic Forest Blocks. Ben Larson, Ruffed Grouse Society.
10:50 - 11:15 am
Creating a forest management plan for your property: Practical tips and Implementation. Maryland Forest Service, West Virginia Forest Service, Pennsylvania Forestry.
Technical and Financial Assistance
Setting Objectives. Luke Macaulay, Ph.D. University of Maryland.
11:15 -11:20 am
Woodland Stewardship Network
Craig Highfield, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
11:20 - 11:25
Funding for habitat improvement: Edge feathering, Thinning, Timber Stand Improvements, Harvests. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
11:25 - 12:10pm
Workshopping Property Maps: Speakers and specialists will rotate around tables in the room to provide ideas for management and financial incentive programs on poster-size paper maps of landowner’s property. This will occur at a roundtable so everyone can watch, learn, and contribute to forest management planning on a property.
12:10 - 1:00 pm
Lunch, Q&A, & Networking
1:00-3:30 pm
Potential Field trip demonstrating various forest management practices.
Howard SCD had the privilege of hosting a farm and conservation tour on Friday, May 5th for the new Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary, Kevin Atticks. The tour included stops at Larriland Farm, Fine Idea Farm, Colmont Farm for lunch, Elioak and ended at Manor Hill Brewing.
As part of an Agriculture Initiative*, Howard SCD created raised beds for the vegetable garden at Swansfield Elementary, one of three Title I elementary schools that will be participating this year. Planning began more than a year ago, and we all know what happened next. So, as we pick back up, prepared and with momentum, we are excited to see these raised beds built and installed. Next will be planting and mulching. We cannot wait to see the student's excitement to participate, learn and be outdoors. Thanks to the school grounds and maintenance crew for clearing the area for the garden. They were quite helpful. A planting was also done at Cradlerock Elementary. We appreciate all who helped to support this initiative.
*The Urban Agriculture Initiative is a collaborative effort with Howard County Public Schools and the University of Maryland Extension - Master Gardeners Program to create vegetable gardens with Title I schools.
