2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 2

Glenn R. Glover, Private Forest Management Team, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, AL 36849; 334.844.1019; glover@forestry.auburn.edu

The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System have initiated a new forest landowner support program. The program?s goal is to educate forest landowners and non-landowners (stakeholders) in the personal, social, environmental, and economic values that can be derived from forestland, and how to achieve these benefits in a sustainable manner. This program, called the Private Forest Management Team (PFMT), is a coordinated team effort among several groups and agencies that work with or support forest landowners in Alabama. The PFMT is supported financially by and has partnered with the forest industry through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee (Alabama Forestry Association) and Alabama River Woodlands.

PFMT programs include a World Wide Web site (www.pfmt.org); an education, motivation and recognition program called Forest Masters; and development of a statewide database of forest landowners? names, addresses, and number of forested acres owned. The structure and format of the website has been designed and new information is regularly being added. The site is organized like a book, with ?chapters? or topics related to forest resource management. Topics include Planning and Objectives, Best Management Practices, Stand Establishment and Management, Forest Roads, Wildlife Management, Economics, Aesthetics, Services by County, Visit My Forest (slide/video and audio tour of TREASURE forests in Alabama), and others. The site has a glossary to help landowners understand forestry terminology.

Forest Masters is a program similar to Master Gardeners for forest landowners and other stakeholders (see www.pfmt.org/fm). This program utilizes numerous ongoing educational programs and service opportunities and will develop new educational opportunities, as needed. Participants earn Forest Masters Credits (FMC) similar in nature to professional forestry continuing forest education (CFE) units. All programs that address appropriate technical forest resource topics qualify for FMC?s. Meeting organizers submit an agenda to the Forest Masters Coordinator for assignment of credits in 1 of 6 topic groups. Participants build credits with each educational activity in which they participate. When a participant earns a specified number of credits across a range of topics, they receive a certificate recognizing them as a Forest Master-Bronze Level, Silver Level or Gold Level. Recognition beyond the Bronze Level requires service hours such as teaching or mentoring other forest landowners, working with school children, serving as forest landowner organization officers, etc.

The PFMT and the Alabama Forestry Commission are cooperating to develop a statewide forest landowner database. This database will allow analysis of the number of landowners by size class, implementation of forest resource-related surveys, and distribution of educational materials. The database will be a valuable tool for forest landowner education.

The PFMT is working to improve forest landowners? and the many publics? understanding of the importance of Alabama?s forests and the value of actively managing a forest for objectives appropriate to each landowner.