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MARYLAND MANUAL 121 habitat, soil and water protection and areas for research and demon- stration. Such studies encompass projects on insects and diseases, plant genetics, site studies, and various elements of timber management. Maryland's forest acreage is distributed among the three topo- graphic regions. The Appalachian Province of the State contains 588,000 acres. The Piedmont Province has 515,000 acres, and the Coastal Plain Province, 1,535,000 acres. Since the initial gift from the Garrett Brothers in 1906, the Service has acquired, through gift and purchase, approximately 175,000 acres of land. Prevention and control of wildlife in the forests of the State is an important function of the service. Federal and State legislation provide for a cooperative effort in this activity. This program is vital not only to the continuance and expansion of the timber industry but also to the general welfare of the public by providing protection for water- sheds, wildlife, park and recreation areas, farms, industries, homes and the air. In cooperation with the State Civil Defense and Emer- gency Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and the University of Maryland Agricultural Extension Service, a system of rural fire de- fense is provided. The Department is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Forest Fire Compact which involves sending or receiving help over State lines in areas of fire emergency. Fire preparedness involves maintenance of a forest fire organization of forest wardens, registered crews and volunteer fire companies, and providing training and equipment to combat these emergencies. Acquisition of new and modern equipment and maintenance of fire fighting tools for instant readiness, is a constant job. Fire suppression consists of prompt detection and accurate location of all forest fires as well as burning operations which might reach woodlands, dispatch of adequate suppression forces to such fires; direc- tion of these suppression efforts; investigation of each fire to deter- mine the cause and fix responsibility; prosecution of responsible per- sons; collection of suppression costs; and complete reporting on all phases of each forest fire which occurs. In recent years the State has been among the leaders in its programs of forest fire prevention and control. On only one occasion during the past decade has more than 2,000 acres burned in any single year. And another evidence of the effectiveness of the program lies in the fact that annual losses from forest fires have been kept well below the national average for eighteen consecutive years. The service is responsible for advice and assistance to all land- owners in the multiple use development of their woodlands. This serv- ice is available to individuals, municipalities and developers. Timber marking, timber stand improvement, wildlife habitat, tree design for subdivisions, and overall environmental aesthetics are some of the areas covered in the service's program known as Technical Forestry and Reforestation. Other projects include assistance in environmental education, help to wood using industry in utilization and marketing, and revegetation of stripped coal areas and general reforestation throughout the State. The Buckingham Forest Tree Nursery produces approximately 7,000,000 seedlings each year for distribution in Mary- land. The service also works with County Forest Conservancy District Boards in sharing their concern for better environment and in pro- moting forestry as a means to that important end. The Forest Improvement Program is designed to re-establish lob- lolly pine stands on cutover tracts and the revegetation of coal strip |
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Maryland Manual, 1973-74
| Volume 176, Page 121 View pdf image (33K) |
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