Forestry and Natural Resources

Programs

Selling Your Timber

Over the course of their lives, most forest owners only have one or two opportunities to sell their timber. Learn how to do this in an environmentally and economically sound manner in this short course. Topics covered include: planning a harvest, working with a professional forester, silviculture, riparian buffers and Best Management Practices, preparing and conducting the sale, contracts, taxes on timber income, and reforestation.

Woodland Options for Landowners

This short course, which is also offered on-line each spring, is designed for landowners new to forest management. Participants will leave with a strong foundation for understanding their forest management options. Topics covered include: developing goals and objectives, working with a professional forester, writing a forest management plan, locating and marking boundary lines, silviculture and forest ecology.

Forest & Farmland Conservation Strategies

Participants in this short course will learn about the numerous tools available to help Virginia landowners conserve their forest land. Topics covered include: planning tools, Virginia's Right-to-Practice-Forestry law, bargain sales, purchase/transfer of development rights programs, Agricultural & Forestal Districts, Use Value Taxation, and conservation easements.

Investing in Sustainable Forestry

This short course provides forest owners with options for investing in their forests now to provide economic and environmental benefits in the future. Topics vary by location, but typically include: Best Management Practices, ecosystem services, and cost-share programs.

Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours (“Fall Bus Tours”)

have been offered 36 consecutive years
will be held again in October 2013 (schedule posted in July)
involve landowners, state, federal, and forest industry natural resource professionals and representatives of environmental non-governmental agencies
inform participants about practical forest and wildlife management techniques which are currently being used in their area
share information on current cost-share programs
are a great opportunity for networking with other landowners and natural resource professionals

***The Fall forestry & Wildlife Field Tour Series is the longest running program of its type in Virginia!

Real Forestry for Real Estate Classes

Two 4 hour classes or one eight hour class for real estate professionals who sell rural land or Commissioners of the Revenue in Land Use counties. All classes have been approved for PLE, CE, appraiser, and COR continuing education credits. These classes will help familiarize sellers with their product (rural land). Upcoming classes will be listed on the Events Calendar. Click the course below for a detailed agenda.

Real Forestry for Real Estate Part 1 (qualifies for 4 PLE/CE credits)
Real Forestry for Real Estate Part 2 (qualifies for 4 PLE/CE credits)
Real Forestry for Real Estate 8 hour program (qualifies for 8 PLE/CE credits)

Presentations will be given by forestry professionals from Extension, state agencies, and forest industry.

Spring Venture Outdoors Programs

Spring landowner program consisting of morning classroom and afternoon field tour to highlight forestry and natural resources “hot topics” that are beneficial to forest landowners.

Natural Hardwood Charcoal Value-Added Project

Short-course to take a look at invasive plant and insect species in Virginia of economic importance to forest landowners. Identification and control methods are given.

The Annual Landowner Weekend Retreats

are hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension
are geared towards landowners who are new to forest management
provide information on both hardwood and pine forest management
offer chances for interaction with natural resource professionals from various agencies in Virginia, as well as with other landowners
provide information on estate planning, management planning and certification
provide hands-on experience with tree identification, forestry equipment, and more...

SHARP Logger Education Programs

Offerings to Loggers in the areas of Safety, Best Management Practices, GPS, Business Management, and more…loggers remain in good standing by earning 12 SHARP Continuing Education Credits every three (3) years. This allow them to market their forest products to larger and more organized Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Companies. See www.sharplogger.vt.edu

Spring District Youth Hardwood Tree Seedling Grant Project

Growing Kids and Trees - For Virginia's Forests

This year new partners at Old Dominion Electric Cooperative and Virginia's Customer Owned Electric Cooperatives join the VA Forestry Educational Foundation and Virginia Department of Forestry to provide FREE hardwood and pine seedlings to schools and youth groups – first come first served. Please contact your local VA Dept. of Forestry office for ALL PINE ORDERS. All hardwood seedling orders must be complete and submitted to the below information by the specified deadline.

The purpose of this project is to improve water quality by restoring forest cover to residential and stream areas. Students should be encouraged to take seedlings home to plant with the help of a parent or youth leader, or students may plant seedlings as a group at a designated project area location.

Virginia Youth Hunter Education Program Volunteer

Jason serves as a Senior Instructor to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Hunter Education Program that works in cooperation with the Hunter Education Association (HEA) to provide trained instructors to teach youth the basics in hunter safety, landowner ethics and wildlife management techniques to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to become safe and successful in the field. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/education/