On Thursday, August 20th at 7pm, a free webinar entitled “Farmland Assessment on Woodlands: Multiple Benefit Activities” will be presented as part of the “Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes” online program. The presenter, Andrew Kimm, is the President of New Jersey Forestry Association (NJFA). This session discusses the implementation of Farmland Assessment on woodlands and the many benefits derived from the active devotion practiced on those lands. Farmland Assessment was introduced to New Jersey in the mid-1960’s to combat the alarming loss of open space to development. Over the past fifty years the program has been successful in saving thousands of acres of agricultural and forested lands from development.
Generally accepted practices include growing trees and forest products on the land that are produced for sale within a reasonable period of time, that is managed in compliance with a written woodland management plan approved by the State Forester. State guidelines have been developed in several categories, from aquaculture to woodland, to identify “generally accepted agricultural & horticultural practices” to assist in determining “active devotion” as required to qualify for farmland assessment.
Proper management of New Jersey’s more than 228,000 acres of private woodlands currently under the Farmland Assessment Act will not only help eliminate excessive and unnecessary cutting of one of the state’s valuable natural resources, but also will enhance the benefits of properly managed woodlands, such as improved air and water quality and wildlife habitat.
Here is a checklist for preparing a NJ Farmland Assessment Woodland Management Plan, along with a list of NJ Approved Consulting Foresters.
“Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes” is a free educational program series sponsored by NJFA, NJ State Forestry Services, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The program, now online, takes place on the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Registration is available online under the “Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes” heading. Following the presentation, NJFA is hosting a “Happy Half Hour” virtual meeting. A separate link will be emailed to those who register for this session, should you choose to attend.
This program has been approved for:
1 Licensed Tree Expert/Licensed Tree Care Operator credit
1 NJ Urban and Community Forestry credit
This program has applied for:
1.5 Category 1, Society of American Foresters CFE credit
The New Jersey Forestry Association was founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1983 to promote forestry and forest management on public and privately owned woodlands throughout New Jersey.
