In the Southeastern Ozark region of Missouri more than 1,800,000 acres of timberlands are privately owned. These resources receive little management for sustained production and environmental protection.
Indiscriminant harvesting practices with little regard to forest health, viability or future production have often been dictated by current economic conditions. The economy of this entire region could be dramatically affected if these forest resources are properly managed for sustainable production and marketed effectively. In 1999, a cooperative effort began between private landowners, local, state and federal agencies and is now the Eastern Ozarks Community Forestry Advisory Council (EOCFAC). The overall goals of this council are to provide programs on forest management to private landowners, to increase community and youth awareness of forest values and to create economic changes of benefit to individuals and communities, leading to employment opportunities and retaining the population in the area. Members of the EOCFAC got together and identified key issues associated with the area's forest resources, one of which was the importance of landowner education programs. They felt there is a need to create an awareness of the current economic potential of proper timberland management and its benefits to environment and community. To address this need, during 2000 the EOCFAC plans to expand the local Master Tree Farmer program. Landowners participate in classes that teach basic forest management, marketing, economic planning and environmental awareness for long-term sustainable resource production. Upon completion of the course, each landowner "student" volunteers to work with neighbors to create awareness of the value of timber management. This program originally began as a cooperative project of University Extension and Missouri Department of Conservation and generated a lot of landowner interest in forest management. Forty- three landowners have taken the course. A number of these landowners now host informational programs and tours, talking about their forestland successes. Additionally, the EOCFAC hopes to assist in establishing local steering committees, for landowners in interested counties, to deal with local forest land issues.
The Council is composed of representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation, local and regional foresters; Lincoln University small farm educational assistants; University of Missouri Outreach and Extension state forester, agronomist and community development specialist; private landowners; private forest consultants; as well as Resource Conservation and Development, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It is also expected that primary and secondary timber users and environmental representatives will soon join the effort.
Other initiatives planned are landowner clubs, marketing co-ops, school programs for both students and teachers, and methods for meeting short term income needs before trees are harvested. The EOCFAC plans to secure funding through grants to eventually impact the forestland community in the Eastern Ozarks.
- Gerald Bryan, agronomist and Celeste Vanderbrugen, community development specialist, University Outreach and Extension, Jackson and Fredricktown
Another forest landowner class will begin in February. Also, EQIP cost- sharing funds are available in Bollinger, Wayne and Madison counties for forest management activities that address water quality and wildlife. For more information on both, please contact Gerald Bryan at University Outreach and Extension, Jackson office, (573) 243-3581.