By Blake Jackson
New York is home to nearly 800,000 private woodland owners who collectively manage more than 10 million acres of forestland. These forests provide important benefits, including wildlife habitat, environmental protection, forest products, and support for rural communities. However, many landowners do not have formal forestry education and rely on trusted resources to make responsible management decisions.
To help meet this need, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Forest Owner Volunteer Program trains knowledgeable woodland owners to provide peer-based guidance and connect fellow landowners with research-backed information and forestry experts.
During the most recent program year, 142 trained volunteers delivered forestry education throughout New York. The program assisted 346 landowner requests covering nearly 11,929 wooded acres across 50 counties. Volunteers also completed 226 on-site woodland visits across 45 counties, offering recommendations based on each landowner’s goals and property conditions.
The program reached landowners across multiple regions of the state. In Tompkins County, volunteers conducted 17 visits focused on forest regeneration, thinning strategies, and habitat improvements.
Greene County volunteers completed 20 visits addressing topics such as deer impacts, vegetation management, and long-term ownership goals. Additional outreach in Saratoga, Wayne, and Allegany counties supported landowners with stewardship planning, forest health concerns, and sustainable woodland management.
Together, volunteers contributed 937 hours helping woodland owners access science-based information and professional forestry resources.
The most common topics discussed during visits included forest regeneration, woodlot health, biodiversity, deer-related challenges, and landowner objectives. Following their participation, many landowners reported plans to take additional steps toward better forest management.
These actions included contacting professional foresters, creating written forest management plans, defining ownership goals, and seeking financial assistance for conservation projects.
Landowners also identified future improvements they planned to make, including controlling invasive or unwanted vegetation, thinning forests, establishing tree plantations, improving firewood production, and enhancing wildlife habitat.
Through education, community connections, and hands-on support, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Forest Owner Volunteer Program continues to strengthen forest stewardship and help New York woodland owners make informed decisions for the future of their forests.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-paul-hartley
Categories: New York, Education, General, Rural Lifestyle