THE PLAINS, Ohio – Rural Action has announced that two major grants from the US Department of Agriculture are currently underway, enabling the organization to provide free site visits and technical assistance to landowners and landholders in 44 Ohio counties, including all Appalachian Ohio counties. Landowners in the focus area can receive a free site visit for advice on agroforestry and wildlife habitat practices such as forest farming, silvopasture, reforestation, wildlife habitat and water quality protection through Rural Action’s Sustainable Forestry and Watersheds Programs.

The Sustainable Forestry team is working with the US Forest Service on a Forest Landowner Support project to provide technical assistance on forest farming, silvopasture, invasive species removal and opportunities for sustainable forest management. The Watersheds team has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to help landowners plan streambank and floodplain reforestation, invasive species removal and other opportunities to benefit water quality and wildlife habitat. The shared goal of these projects is to help landowners develop management plans and access funding for the implementation of agroforestry practices, sustainable forest management and water quality protection.

“Non-timber forest product species such as American ginseng, black cohosh and goldenseal are becoming increasingly rare in the wild due to overharvesting and habitat loss,” said Andrea Miller, Sustainable Forestry program director. “Unfortunately, as these species are declining, the demand for herbal products containing these species is steadily increasing. Forest farming provides landowners with the opportunity to sustainably cultivate these species in their forests, generate supplemental income and reduce harvest pressure on wild populations.”

Ryan Gilliom, Watersheds Project Specialist, said that “Healthy forests are key to healthy watersheds, and we see the most benefit to water quality and wildlife habitat with forested areas next to water. In the transitional zone between a waterbody and the surrounding land, vegetation forms a buffer that shelters wildlife, slows stormwater and floodwater and captures sediment and pollutants. ”

During a site visit, landowners will have the opportunity to walk their property with Rural Action staff to discuss their property goals and challenges and identify opportunities for sustainable forest management and wildlife habitat such as tree plantings and invasive species removal. In addition to the site visit, landowners will receive literature outlining what was discussed during the visit to help facilitate implementation. This type of planning assistance can help landowners better understand their existing forest and water assets, identify new management opportunities or expand an existing enterprise. With the Sustainable Forestry team, the organization will evaluate potential non-timber forest production sites and silvopasture sites, and with the Watersheds team it will evaluate wildlife habitat, erosion/flooding and water quality concerns. If interested in both Forestry and Watershed technical assistance, complete the intake survey.

Landowners who are interested in the program can get in touch a few ways:

To request a site visit, submit information at https://tinyurl.com/ra-land-intake

For information about Forestry contact Andrea Miller at andrea@ruralaction.org

For more information about Watersheds contact Ryan Gilliom at ryan@ruralaction.org