Forestry Links
Below is a list of web sites about forestry and land management in Massachusetts.
The list is by no means comprehensive, but many of the sites contain
additional links to other great sites. The Department of Conservation and Recreation has not reviewed the content of these sites for accuracy,
and it is always a good idea contact your
Service Forester for
information specific to Massachusetts.
About.com: Forestry
An all purpose forestry website that contains
thousands of links to a variety of forest topics including: tree identification,
insects, disease,
silviculture, logging, etc. Go to: http://forestry.about.com/mbody.htm
Conservation New England
(A website developed by Umass Boston graduate students in the course
Conservation Biology of New England). Contains useful information
on a variety of ecosystems in New England including old growth forests,
non-native and invasive species, history
of forest and land use in New England, community forests and wetland
and marine ecosystems. Go to: http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~conne/
EPA Surf Your Watershed: Massachusetts
Contains information on
all major watersheds in Massachusetts such as stream flow, citizens groups,
superfund sites, wetland restoration etc… Go to: http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/state.cfm?statepostal=MA
Forest Guild
In 1995 a handful of foresters were introduced to each other in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the "Forest Guild" emerged. The mission of the Forest Guild is to... "promote ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. The Guild provides training, policy analysis, and research to foster excellence in stewardship, to support practicing foresters and allied professionals, and to engage a broader community in the challenges of forest conservation and management." To learn more about the Forest Guild or to download/order available publications go to: http://www.forestguild.org
Forestry Index.net
The most complete collection of sites covering
every field of forestry, ranging from forest health and management
to policy, taxes, wildlife and urban forestry. Definitely check this
one out! Go to: http://forestryindex.net/
Harvard Forest
Go to this site to learn about Harvard Forests long-term ecological
research projects. Through the years researchers at the Forest have focused
on silviculture and forest management, soils and the development of forest
site concepts, the biology of temperate and tropical trees, forest ecology
and economics and ecosystem dynamics. Go to: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Lincoln Education Online (LEO)
“Introduction
to New England Forests” developed by Brian Donahue. A general overview
of the history and ecology of New England’s forests
for small landowners that includes information on stewardship, management
and protection of forests and links to resources about New England’s
forests. Go to: http://www.lincolneducationonline.org/ and
click on “Introduction to New England Forests.”
Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters
This website contains useful information on forestry laws in Massachusetts,
old growth and big trees, forest health news, native plants, Massachusetts
Forest Stewardship program, high-grading and coarse woody debris. Go to: http://www.massforesters.org/
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society is
the largest conservation organization in New England, concentrating its
efforts on protecting the nature of
Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Go to this site to learn about
Mass Audubon’s more than 29,000 acres of conservation land, educational
and environmental policy programs, and recent bird sightings throughout
the Commonwealth. Go to: http://www.massaudubon.org/
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Massachusetts
premier website on wildlife, hunting, fishing. Go
to this site to learn about the 100,000 acre wildlife management area
system. Go to: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htm
MassGIS Online Mapping
This
site contains an interactive mapping service that includes aerial photographs
of the state. Also contains links to MassGIS, which
has an extensive repository of GIS data layers for Massachusetts. Go to: http://www.state.ma.us/mgis/mapping.htm
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Explore
the biodiversity of the Commonwealth. This site includes
extensive information on the state’s biodiversity including threatened
and endangered species, unique natural communities, rare plants and animals,
vernal pools and maps of locations of high biological conservation value.
Go to: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/
"MassWoods" (UMASS EXTENSION'S FOREST CONSERVATION PROGRAM)
MassWoods.net was developed to help landowners make informed decisions at critical decision making times. The goal is to provide accurate information to woodland owners when they need to make two critical decisions about the future of their land: 1) the potential sale of timber and 2) planning for the future of the property. The site features an interactive map to direct landowners to local resources to help them with their decisions. Service foresters, local land trusts, statewide land trusts and conservation organizations are all listed for each town across the state. We will be expanding this list of resources to include licensed foresters and community members that can also help landowners. Each month a new update will be posted aimed at delivering timely and relevant information about landowner decisions, issues, programs, opportunities and successes. This site will also serve as the main portal for UMass Extension’s Forest Conservation Program. Look for information on our programs and research including: Coverts, A CoOperative Resource Network (ACORN) and Cases of Conservation. Licensed foresters will find links relevant to licensing and continuing education. We are also developing a web based database for the Southern New England Stumpage Survey. Landowners looking for information on forestry programs will also be able to find information and links. The web site also encourages landowners to consider the role their properties plays in their landscape and communities as they make decision about their land. It also encourages community members and municipal officials to value private woodland owners for the many public benefits they provide to the community with relevant links and PDFs such as: AFT's "Cost of Community Services", MA Audubon's "Losing Ground", and Harvard Forests "The Illusion of Preservation". Go to:
http://MassWoods.net
Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative
Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative is a forest landowner management,
processing and marketing cooperative organized by and on behalf of forest
landowners in western Massachusetts. The mission of the Cooperative is
to maintain the environment and character of western Massachusetts through
the protection, enhancement and careful economic development of one of
the region's most plentiful resources, the forest. The work of the cooperative
is based on specific values, guided by clear principles, and directed
toward business goals identified and supported by its membership. Go to: http://www.masswoodlands.coop/
Nature Conservancy Conserve Online
This site contains an extensive
library of forest related topics including: wildlife management, ecological
management, forest management, climate
change, birds, botany and conservation. The site also provides
a variety of interactive and general mapping resources as well as discussion
groups and list servers focused on natural resource issues. Go to: http://www.conserveonline.org/
Nature Conservancy’s Last Great Places: Berkshire and Taconic Landscape
An
excellent site describing the ecological value of the Berkshire landscape
and the Conservancy’s efforts to protect this special place. Includes
detailed sections on the regions forests, wetlands, biodiversity, human
history and geography. Contains excellent maps of the area and
an interactive mapping tool that allows you to view layers of your choice
and scale. Go to: http://lastgreatplaces.org/berkshire/explore/index.html
New England Forestry Foundation
Learn about one of the oldest
conservation organizations in New England dedicated to the region’s forests. This
site contains useful information on land protection, education, sustainable
forest management, foundation
forests, exciting, large-scale conservation easements and links to other
organizations involved with forestry in New England. Go to: http://www.newenglandforestry.org/neff/home/index.asp
Northern Woodlands
Northern
Woodlands’ contributors
include many of the Northeast’s leading experts on forestry, conservation,
and wildlife. Skillfully written and illustrated, the magazine
captures the beauty and spirit of the forest and will keep you
up-to-date on natural events and informed about developments
in the environmental community including:
- Tips on identifying the trees, plants, and animals in your woods.
- Ways to manage your forest for wildlife and timber.
- The latest on the region’s contentious environmental and economic
disputes, from a refreshingly balanced perspective.
- Profiles of people who work the forest.
- Ways to work safely in your woods from cutting trees and chopping
firewood to clearing trails
- Updates on standing timber prices, pending legislation, and the activities
of environmental and business organizations.
- Go to: http://www.northernwoodlands.com/
Private Forest Landowners: A brief introduction to forest management and links to other
organizations. Go to: http://www.privateforest.org/
TerraServer
TerraServer contains 3.3 terabytes of high-resolution USGS aerial
imagery and USGS topographic maps. You can locate imagery by entering
a city or town name in the "Search TerraServer" form at the
top of the page, or entering a U.S. street address. Go to: http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/
Trustees of Reservations
This website is your window into the
diverse work of the Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest private,
statewide preservation and conservation organization. Since 1891,
they have worked to protect over 46,000 acres in Massachusetts, including
91 public reservations. Go
to this site to search for a reservation to visit, learn about their
history and mission. Go to: http://www.thetrustees.org/
USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis
Contains information on the
species composition, growth and mortality rates, volume, quality and
extent of Massachusetts’s forests. Go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/fia/index.html USDA Forest Service
“A Forest Landowner’s Guide to Internet
Resources: Northeast.” This website contains an extensive list of
links to information on a variety of forestland topics including: wildlife,
silviculture,
sustainability and certification, forest sampling and inventory, timber
sales, biodiversity and endangered species, maps and geographic information
systems, and estate planning. It also contains a list of forest
resources by state. Go to: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/ir/index.htm
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