munity forestry constitute the main thrusts of Serv-
ice programs Through urban and community for
estry, the Service carefully plans development and
large-scale forestry projects with developers, build-
ers, architects, and cit) and county planners Super
vision of utility trimming and municipal tree care is
an important part of urban and community for-
estry The urban forestry concept includes granting
individual shade tree consultations to private land
owners, as time permits

FOREST ADVISORY COMMISSION

John E Brodie, Chair

Contact Patricia Luchansky (410)9743776

Formerly the Forest and Park Advisory Corn
mission, the Forest Advisory Commission was cre-
ated in 1988 (Chapter 178, Acts of 1988)

FOREST CONSERVANCY DISTRICT BOARDS
Michael B Grant, Executive Director
(410) 974 3776

Forest Conservancy District Boards function in
all twenty three Maryland counties and Baltimore
City The Boards started as District Forestry Boards
in 1943 to assist the then Department of Forests
and Parks by promoting forest management on
privately owned woodlands Their original goal was
to help assure a continuous supply of wood fiber
products through scientific forest management
Today, Forest Conservancy District Boards work
to improve the environment in urban and suburban
areas and educate people about the benefits of forests
Board members work closely with foresters through-
out the State The Boards primarily serve as advisory,
educational and facilitating bodies In the Chesapeake
Bav Critical Area, they approve all forest management
plans The Boards also review proposed laws and
represent the interests of forestry with local. State and
federal legislatures (Code Natural Resources Article,
sees 5 601 through 5 610)
Board members are appointed by the Assistant
Secretary for the Resource Management Service
on the recommendation of the local forester in
consultation with Board members The chief re
quirement for membership is an interest in for
estry and a desire to see resources used wisely and
renewed Meeting at least four times a year, each
board has five or more members

FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Steven W Koehn, Associate Director
(410) 974-3776
To improve the management of private forest
lands, the Forest Stewardship Program was
formed in 1991 by the Forest Service in coopera
tion with other natural resource conservation
agencies, foresters, and forest advocacy groups
Through the Forest Stewardship Program, Re-

source Conservation Plans are prepared fornonm
dustnal private forest landowners Cooperating
agenciesprovidetehmcal assistance topnvateland-
owners for all their forest resources, including
water, recreation, and wildlife This State program
is part of a nationwide effort initiated by the Na-
tional Association ofState foresters in cooperation
with the State and Private Forestry Program of the
U S Department ofAgnculture
The Program also oversees forest fire suppres-
sion and the State Nursery at Preston

URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM
Ginger P Howell, Associate Director
(410) 974-3776
Urban forestry is the planning for, and manage
ment of, a community's forest resources to enhance
the quality of life The process integrates the envi
ronmental, economic, political, historical and social
values of the community with the management plan
for the urban forest
The Urban and Community Forestry Program
began in 1984 (Chapter 543, Acts of 1984) It
implements ecosystem management strategies to
enhance urban forests and associated vegetation
The Program tracks forest loss and gain by county
and by subwatershed through the inventory man
dated by the Forest Conservation Act of 1991
(Chapter 255, Acts of 1991) The Program also
oversees Tree Mendous Maryland, a cooperative
effort by citizens, community groups, and busi
nesses to plant trees on public lands

WILDLIFE & HERITAGE DIVISION
Joshua L Sandt, Director
(410) 974 3195

In 1996, the Wildlife Program combined with the
Natural Heritage Program to form the Wildlife and
Heritage Division The Division apphes wildlife man
agement techniques to control and assure continuing
wildlife, while affording optimum public recreational
opportunities compatible with the welfare of wildlife
resources The Division conducts field surveys and
research to evaluate public demands on wildlife re
sources, populations, harvesting parameters, and rele
vant environmental factors It plants food and cover
vegetation and constructs ponds (primarily waterfowl
habitat) It also manages and protects birds, land
based reptiles and amphibians, and mammals Under
its protection are game and nongame species, and
threatened and endangered wildlife
The Division develops and manages thirty six
State Wildlife Management Areas (public hunt-
ing areas) It also manages and administers rec-
reational use of cooperative wildlife areas and
some State park areas
Under the Division are Heritage and Biodiversity
Programs, and tour programs Game Management,