As part of its Open Lands Tree Planting Initiative, the
Virginia Department of Forestry has hired a mapping and outreach specialist to
work out of the Mecklenburg County Forestry Office. Tim Minich will analyze
land-use data from multiple sources, identify appropriate land for tree planting
and conduct some field forestry work in one of three outreach focus areas of the
Commonwealth.
The Open Lands Tree Planting Initiative is designed to
prevent the loss of forestland; increase the sustainability of the forest
resource, and improve water quality and diminished species concerns. The
strategies to tackle these issues are to: promote and enhance forested
watersheds; improve stewardship, health, diversity of forest products, and
conserve the forestland base.
Senior Area Forester Adam Smith said, “The opportunities
to consider in the open land outreach are to increase forests and benefits;
plant pine in the more than 71,000 acres each year that revert back to a natural
forest, and to overcome the natural reversion of forest stands that are under
stocked with undesirable species.”
Minich will be working with area VDOF employees who have
local knowledge and extensive county contacts, along with partner agencies, such
as the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the Farm Service Agency and Virginia Cooperative Extension. He will
send letters to land owners, conduct presentations for community groups and
develop landowner workshop opportunities.
Minich said, “The state target goals will be 200 new
sites and more than 2,000 acres of open land on which to
plant.”
Smith said, “We are confident the additional outreach
efforts will pay great dividends. The Virginia Department of Forestry will
provide the tools and the manpower to assist any interested landowner with
available cost-share funds from state and federal sources. It is a win, win
situation for all.”
Minich will focus his efforts in the counties of
Mecklenburg, Lunenburg and Brunswick but will also do some work in the counties
of Prince George, Sussex, Surry, Isle of Wight, Greensville, Southampton and the
City of Suffolk.
To learn more about the Open Lands Tree Planting
Initiative or to contact Tim Minich, please call
434.738.6123.
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