involve the administration of: (1) forest
fire prevention and control; (2) forest man-
agement on private forest land including ad-
visory services and assistance to county for-
est conservancy district boards; (3) road-
side tree protection including administra-
tion of the Tree Expert Law; (4) forest
improvement and (5) State forest operation.
Some 2,600,000 acres of forest land are
located in Maryland. About 125,000 acres
of this total are State-owned, and comprise
the ten State forests administered by 'the De-
partment at Savage River, Cedarville, Don-
caster, Elk Neck, Green Ridge, Pocomoke,
Potomac, Swallow Falls, Wicomico and
Seth. These multiple-use forest areas pro-
duce wood fiber for industry and provide
hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, wild-
life habitat, soil and water protection and
areas for research and demonstration. 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 topographic regions. The
Appalachian Province of the State contains
588,000 acres. The Piedmont Province has
515,000 acres, and the Coastal Plain Prov-
ince, 1,535,000 acres. Since the initial gift
from the Garrett Brothers in 1906, the
Service has acquired, through gift and pur-
chase, approximately 175,000 acres of land.
Prevention and control of wildfire in the
forests of the State is an important function
of the service. Federal and State legislation
provide for a cooperative effort in this ac-
tivity. 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 co-
operation with the State Civil Defense and
Disaster Preparedness Agency, the U.S. For-
est Service, and the University of Maryland
Agricultural Extension Service, a system of
rural fire defense is provided. The Depart-
ment is a member of the Mid-Atlantic For-
est 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 war-
dens, registered crews and voldnteer 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.
The service is responsible for advice and
assistance to all landowners in the multiple
use development of their woodlands. This
service is available to individuals, munici-
palities and developers. Timber marking,
timber stand improvement, wildlife habitat,
tree design for subdivisions, and overall en-
vironmental aesthetics are some of the
areas covered in the service's program
known as Technical Forestry and Reforesta-
tion. Other projects include assistance in
environmental education, help to wood us-
ing industry in utilization and marketing,
and revegetation of stripped coal areas and
general reforestation throughout the State.
The Buckingham Forest Tree Nursery pro-
duces approximately 7,000,000 seedlings
each year for distribution in Maryland.
The service also works with County For-
est Conservancy District Boards in sharing
their concern for better environment and in
promoting forestry as a means to that im-
portant end.
The Forest Improvement Program is de-
signed to re-establish loblolly pine stands on
cutover tracts and the revegetation of coal
strip areas. These projects are self-support-
ing in that landowners and coal operators
pay the cost of such work, carried on under
local forestry personnel supervision.
The State Forest Management Program
is developed on the multiple use principle,
State Forests being used in many ways, for
timber production, watershed protection,
wildlife habitat and natural beauty. Protec-
tion and conservation of the natural environ-
ment is the prime basis in carrying out these
projects.
Since proper management of forest re-
sources represents a long term investment,
State Forests serve as guides to local wood-
land owners in the management of their |
