Cornell Forestry Extension

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Cornell Forestry Extension

• Partnership with County CCE
• Master forest owner
• Forest owner awareness
• Articles
• Web page
• Brochures
• Forest owner knowledge and skills
• Workshops
• Bulletins
• Maple syrup
• Tree to tongue

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A Landowners Guide to the Forest Land
Enhancement Program (FLEP) in New York
www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestrypage

• Source
• Cornell Cooperative Extension
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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2002 Farm Bill

• Signed May 13, 2002
• Goals Agricultural
• Produce food and fiber
• Steward agric lands and waters
• Market farm products
• Enhance rural economy
• Research for efficiency and innovation
• 9 titles

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Title VIII - Forestry

• Forestry Title defines FLEP
• The Forest Land Enhancement Program
• State-level implementation
• USFS administers through state forestry agency
  (NYS DEC)

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What Will FLEP Accomplish?

• Establish, restore, protect, manage,maintain,
  and enhance the health and productivity of
  private forest lands.
• Specifically.
• Improve forest tending and reforestation efforts
• Enhance timber and non timber resources, water
  and air quality, riparian zone effectiveness
• Minimize and mitigate risks of insects and
  disease, invasive species, and damaging weather

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Why FLEP?

• Mandated within the 2002 Farm Bill
• Private forest lands important to the nation and
  NY
• History of federal programs in support of private
  forests
• SIP, FIP, etc.

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How Does FLEP Work?

• State Forest Stewardship Steering Committee
• Balance among existing investment
• Technical Assistance
• Cost Share Assistance
• Educational Programming
• 100 million nationally over 5 years

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Technical Assistance

• Goal provide guidance to private forest owners
  on technical issues.
• Public Service Forestry through DEC
• Private Sector Foresters
• Supplements Forest Stewardship initiative

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Cost-Share Assistance

• Goal provide financial assistance, through
  reimbursement, as incentive to initiate
  appropriate forestry practices
• DEC pre-approval required
• Specific practices emphasized
• 50 or 75 maximum reimbursement - through
  NYFOA
• 6 month window for completion

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Educational Assistance

• Goal increase awareness among landowners and
  foresters to opportunities within FLEP
• Education is the 2nd greatest motivator for
  landowner activity (behind tax reform)
• Multiple activities
• Widespread awareness vs. focused skill/attitude
  enhancement
• Through Cornells Forestry Extension program

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Cost-Share Practices

• FLEP
• 1 - Forest Stewardship Planning 75
• 2 -Afforestation or Reforestation 50
• 3 - Forest Stand Improvement 75
• 4 - Agroforestry Implementation
• 5 - Water Quality Improvement 75
• 6 - Fish and Wildlife Habitat
  improvement 50

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Cost-Share Practices Continued

• 7 - Forest Health Practices 75
• 8 - Invasive Species Control 50
• 9 - Wildfire and Catastrophic Risk
  Reduction
• 10 - Wildfire and Catastrophic Event
  Rehabilitation 50
• 11 - Special Practices

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Landowner Qualifications

• Non-industrial private forest
• 5 acre min. ownership (practices have thresholds)
• Must have a Landowner Forest Stewardship Plan
  (LFSP) for the tract, Oct 2000 standards
• Plans cost-shared for tracts up to 1000 acres

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Landowner Qualifications

• Treat up to 50 acres per year (5,000)
• Maintain practice for 10 years
• Advance approval of practice by DEC

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Who Helps with FLEP

• Technical Assistance
• Technical Service Providers
• NYS DEC Bureau Private Land Services -
  Application
• Public Service Forester
• Private Sector Forester
• Cost Share Assistance
• DEC Regional Foresters
• New York Forest Owners Association
• Educational Programming
• Cornell Cooperative Extension
• New York Forest Owners Association

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Steps for Cost-Share

• Application
• DEC approval and submission
• Funds obligated, paid upon completion
• Without funds
• Notification of short-fall
• 6 month window for completion (1 potential
  extension for unique circumstances)

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Your Next Step?

• Contact DEC for confirmation, up-grade, or
  development of a stewardship plan.
• Review working with foresters.
• Identify ownership objectives.
• Select a forester.
• Clarify work schedule and apply for obligation of
  funds for approved cost-share practices.

www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestrypage
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Questions ?Comments ?Discussion ?