Forestry Workgroup Projects and Resources

The Forestry Workgroup coordinates, develops and implements plans and projects that focus on the contributions of forest lands in restoring the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and in retaining their economic potential.

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Strategy Development for Innovative Finance of Riparian Forest Buffer Programs

The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Trust, and Chesapeake Bay Program, developed an innovative financing strategy to incentivize greater riparian forest buffer planting to meet the Forest Buffers goal in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The proposed Riparian Forest Buffer Outcomes Fund would help overcome barriers and create new incentives to plant more buffers.

Identifying Communications Needs for Tree Planting and Maintenance

This evaluation of public outreach and engagement for tree planting and maintenance was undertaken by OpinionWorks with support from the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The goal of this work was to lift up best practices in public outreach employed by tree-related campaigns, and to identify the gaps that exist in tree campaigns’ ability to carry out effective outreach.

Chesapeake Riparian Forest Buffer 2022 Leadership Workshop

The Chesapeake Bay Program convened the 2022 Chesapeake Riparian Forest Buffer Leadership Workshop at the request of the Management Board’s Outcome Attainability Team. The objectives of the workshop were to 1) discuss state RFB Action Strategies for increasing the rate of forest buffer restoration and 2) develop recommendations for specific roles for the Partnership in advancing buffer goals.

To view the Chesapeake Riparian Forest Buffer 2022 Leadership Workshop page use this link.

To view Webinar 1: Technical assistance, outreach and social science for Riparian Forest Buffers use this link.

To view Webinar 2: Policy and funding/financing for Riparian Forest Buffers use this link.

Phase 7 Model Development

Evolving plans and related documents can be found on the Chesapeake Bay Program's Phase 7 Model Development webpage.

Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy

The Forestry Workgroup revised and updated the original Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy in 2020. The Strategy lays out broad priorities and actions that will guide forestry partnership efforts in the years ahead and was the basis for a Shared Stewardship agreement signed in October 2020 by all of the watershed’s seven state foresters and the Chief of the US Forest Service.

Buffers in the Farm Bill: What does CLEAR 30 mean for the Bay?

Webinar on CLEAR 30 with experts Terry Noto and Mike Linisinbigler. A new provision in the 2018 Farm Bill, CLEAR 30 is now open and the Chesapeake is a pilot region. Expiring buffers can be enrolled in CLEAR 30 – it is a 30 year contract and maintenance is paid for. Watch the recording here.

Forest Financing February

The Forestry Workgroup at the Chesapeake Bay Program hosted a webinar mini-series called Financing Forests February on emerging finance markets for restoration and conservation on (primarily) private forest lands.

You can view the recordings for each webinar below.

February 7, 11-noon. Conservation Finance 101. Tim Male, Executive Director, Environmental Policy Innovation Center - This presentation will provide an introduction to conservation finance and why we need it. Watch the recording here.

February 14, 11-noon. Credit to Reforestation for Water Quality Benefits. Jessica Fox, Senior Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute - Reforestation is credited for water quality benefits in the Ohio River Basin. This presentation will explain how and why. Watch the recording here.

February 21, 11-noon. An Overview of Creative Ways to Fund the Acquisition and Restoration of Forests. Reggie Hall, The Conservation Fund- Learn from examples of how various financing mechanisms have been used to conserve and restore forests across the country. What have others done that you can use in your own region? Watch the recording here.

February 28, 11-noon. How Carbon Credits are Working for Forests in the Mid-Atlantic. Dylan Jenkins, VP, Portfolio Development, FiniteCarbon. This presentation will introduce listeners to current forest carbon markets relevant to the mid-Atlantic. Recording is unavailable, view the presentation below.