Keystone Publication for Forestry Community to be Updated

After more than 10 years, a keystone publication for New Hampshire’s forest landowners, both public and private, and an essential tool for resource professionals, is undergoing revision. The new version of Good Forestry in the Granite State: Recommended Voluntary Forest Management Practices for the State of New Hampshire (GFGS) will consider new scholarship in the field of natural resources and address issues raised by natural resource professionals, landowners and the public.

Public input is an important part of revising this publication. To that end, a newly-created Web site www.goodforestry.org will help inform the public of the status of the project, as well as collect public opinion on the first edition through an online survey.

Survey questions include asking the public about its use of the current Good Forestry in the Granite State publication, their assessment of the first edition, and suggestions for the revised document. The survey only takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and is available through December 15, 2008. The steering committee will consider all results, which will remain confidential.

The project steering committee represents stakeholders from all segments of the forestry community, including the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, N.H. Fish and Game, UNH Cooperative Extension, N.H. Timberland Owners Association, N.H. Tree Farm, the U.S. Forest Service, the forest products industry, and many other conservation organizations. The committee’s goal is to identify where the publication needs improvement and where information may be lacking. They will also identify technical teams to handle the writing and revision process.

Funding for the revision of Good Forestry in the Granite State document is provided by the Northeast Utilities Foundation, Inc. For more information on the Good Forestry Project and to take the survey, visit www.goodforestry.org. To receive a paper copy of the GFGS survey, contact Kristina Ferrare at (603) 862-3883 or email kristina.ferrare@unh.edu.

For more information on the Good Forestry in the Granite State project, contact Karen Bennett, Project Manager, UNH Cooperative Extension, (603) 862-4861 or email karen.bennett@unh.edu.

Posted September 2008