Forestry Workgroup Publications
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.
Forestry Workgroup BMP Verification Guidance
Published on May 1, 2018This section describes guidance on how to verify the existence and performance of forestry BMPs in the Bay watershed. It has been revised since the 2014 version to incorporate comments and also to reflect the high-resolution imagery data that has become available.
View detailsWIP Forestry BMP Packet
The Forestry Workgroup created “A Guide for Forestry Practices in Chesapeake TMDL” to help localities, conservation agencies, community groups, states, and others planning and implementing best management practices (BMPs) during the Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) process. Forests are the best land use for protecting water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and forest BMPs are some of the most cost-effective for Bay restoration. This guide will show the value of forest retention and tree plantings, convey information about the various forest BMPs in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model, and provide examples of forest BMP scenarios in the Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) to show partners what information is available, where to find it, and how to use it.
View detailsRiparian Forest Buffer Management Strategy
Published on January 1, 2018This management strategy identifies approaches for achieving the following outcome: Continually increase the capacity of forest buffers to provide water quality and habitat benefits throughout the watershed. Restore 900 miles per year of riparian forest buffer and conserve existing buffers until 70 percent of riparian areas throughout the watershed are forested.
View detailsUrban Tree Canopy BMP Expert Panel Recommendations
Published on November 7, 2016 in ReportUrban Tree Canopy Management Strategy
Published on June 30, 2015This management strategy identifies approaches for achieving the following outcome: Continually increase urban tree canopy to provide air quality, water quality and habitat benefits throughout the watershed. Expand urban tree canopy by 2,400 acres by 2025.
View detailsChesapeake Working Lands Conservation Strategy
Published on September 1, 2014A joint publication of the U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
View detailsForest Buffer Status Paper
Published on May 12, 2014A report on the progress and challenges of restoring riparian forest buffers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
View detailsRecommendations of the Expert Panel for Riparian Forest and Grass Buffers Best Management Practices
Published on April 20, 2015Restoring a Bay Resource - Riparian Forest Buffer Demonstration Sites
Published on January 1, 1997The use of demonstration sites for riparian forest buffer establishment is one way to help accomplish the objectives of communication, education, and monitoring. The riparian forest buffers in this document are located in agricultural, rural, and urban settings. An effort was made to locate restoration efforts in all three of these settings thereby showing the buffer's applicability in different land uses.
View detailsConserving the Forests of the Chesapeake: The Status, Trends, and Importance of Forests for the Bay
Published on March 1, 1996This report reviews the most current data on the status and trends of forests in the states of the Chesapeake watershed. The report begins with an historical perspective of land use changes in the basin from the time of European settlement to today. It then proceeds with the status of the forests in the Bay watershed in 1996 and trends of forest changes from the mid 1970's to early 1990's. This information is examined in light of its importance to them Bay. Fianally, we present recommendations for an effective forest conservation program for the Chesapeake Bay region.
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