Protecting Forests for the Long Haul

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Protecting Forests for the Long Haul

• Potomac Conservancys approach to improving water
  quality through forest conservation

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2006-2010 Strategic Goals

• Water Quality Reducing water pollutants,
  particularly sediment and nutrients, and
  preventing or reducing the impact of new
  pollution sources
• Scenic Beauty Protecting the most significant
  and threatened scenic landscapes
• Recreation Expanding and enhancing responsible
  river-based recreation

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2006 Objectives

• Identify the most critical watersheds for the
  purpose of reducing sediment and nitrogen
  pollution.
• Improve water quality by reducing nonpoint source
  pollution on working lands in targeted watersheds
• Identify and advocate for sustainable funding
  sources that support improvement and protection
  of water quality

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Water Quality and Working Lands

• Focus on highly threatened lands critical to
  water quality
• Work directly with landowners to develop a
  comprehensive management plan
• Catalyze local leadership in targeted
  sub-watersheds to ensure long-term oversight of
  projects (e.g. forest landowners informational
  cooperative)

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Goods from the Woods Approach

• Forest Stewardship Plan
• Restoration (funded primarily through State and
  Federal programs)
• Niche products marketing (e.g. ginseng)
• Permanent protection (working forest easements)

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Mt. Pleasant Farm

• 106-acre sheep farm
• 40 acres of forest, 64 acres of open pasture
• 1 mile of frontage on Cedar Creek
• Adjacent to Cedar Creek Battlefield
• Goals utilize best management practices for
  water quality and farm efficiency, protect for
  future generations, attract wildlife.

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Whole Homestead Management

• 8 acres in CREP, alternative watering source,
  fencing
• Forest managed through a Forest Stewardship Plan
• Purchased Easement (State, Federal and private)

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Working Forest Easements

• Encourage landowners to continue to manage or
  timber their forest in accordance with a Forest
  Stewardship Plan
• Incorporation of forest management goals (e.g.
  maintenance of forest canopy, maintenance of
  water quality, enhancement of wildlife habitat)
• Require protection of riparian forest for water
  quality

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Future of land conservation

• Sustained, secure funding for protection of
  working lands
• Incentives for management of working forests to
  benefit water quality
• Partnership and coordination between forestry and
  land conservation community

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