Linking Land & Water, Riparian Forest Buffer Initiative

Publication date: 1/1/1998 | Type of document: Report

This is a report on Linking Land 7 Water, Riparian Forest Buffer Initiative.

Adoption Statement - Riparian Forest Buffers (18 KB)

Publication date: 10/10/1996 | Type of document: Adoption Statement

In 1996, the Chesapeake Executive Council signed an adoption statement on riparian forest buffers agreeing to accept the report of the Riparian Forest Buffer Panel, adopt the definition of riparian forest buffer, adopt additional riparian forest buffer goals, and adopt the five policy recommendations from the Panel.

Forests and the Bay (103 KB)

Publication date: 11/11/2000 | Type of document: Fact Sheet

How riparian forests contribute to the protection, restoration, and stewardship of the Bay Watershed

Forests for the Bay

Publication date: 10/1/2000 | Type of document: Report

This study recommends the adoption of forest landscape policy goals and recommends a variety of specific improvements and additions to existing tax, acquisition, forest management, land use and urban forest programs that would improve the forests for the benefit of the public, landowners, and the environment.

Status and Trends of Chesapeake Bay Forests

Publication date: 11/11/2001 | Type of document: Fact Sheet

Overview of trends in the Bay's forests, land use in Bay watershed

Riparian Forest Buffers and the Chesapeake Bay

Publication date: 10/1/2001 | Type of document: Fact Sheet

This fact sheet overviews the importance of riparian forest buffers to the Bay and what the Chesaaapeake Bay Program's efforts in restoring buffers.

Restoring a Bay Resource: Riparian Forest Buffer Demonstration Sites (363 KB)

Publication date: 1/1/1997 | Type of document: Report

Demonstration sites for riparian forest buffer establishment: Helping to accomplish the objectives of communications and monitoring

Directive 06-1 Protecting the Forests of the Chesapeake Watershed (96 KB) (Order hard-copy)

Publication date: 10/22/2006 | Type of document: Directive

Retaining and expanding forests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is critical to our success in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. Forests are the most beneficial land use for protecting water quality, due to their ability to capture, filter and retain water, as well as absorb pollution from the air. In Chesapeake 2000, we committed to "Permanently preserve from development 20 percent of the land area in the watershed by 2010" and "conserve existing forests along all streams and shorelines. 

The Role and Function of Forest Buffers in the Chesapeake Bay Basin for Nonpoint Source Management

Publication date: 2/1/1993 | Type of document: Report

This paper primarily discusses elements of the relationship between forests and water quality in the context of the forest buffer.

Riparian Forest Initiative (370 KB)

Publication date: 11/11/2001 | Type of document: Fact Sheet

Represents recent actions of the Forest Service S&P-NA taken in support of riparian forest buffer protection and restoration and stream corridor enhancement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Riparian Forest Buffers: Restoring and Managing a Vital Chesapeake Resource: Proceedings from the Oct 5-6, 1994 Conference in Ellicott City, MD

Publication date: 10/1/1994 | Type of document: Report

This document contains a variety of abstracts from the 1994 conference on riparian forest buffers entitled "Riparian Forest Buffers: Restoring and Managing a Vital Chesapeake Resource"

Conserving Forest in the Developing Landscape (381 KB)

Publication date: 11/11/2001 | Type of document: Fact Sheet

Overview of forest conservation issues: Growth management; distribution and fragmentation, integration in land use planning, regional perspective, riparian forests, and economic viability

Recommendations on the 2003 Directive on Expanded Riparian Buffer Goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (838 KB)

Publication date: 12/1/2003 | Type of document: Report

The report addresses the 2003 Directive on Expanded Riparian Forest Buffer goals. It presents the history and findings, and recommends goals and policies on the expanded riparian forest buffer goals.

Conserving the Forests of the Chesapeake: The Status, Trends and Importance of Forests for the Bay's Sustainable Future (966 KB)

Publication date: 1/1/1996 | Type of document: Report

Overview of the historical background, environmental significance, and current status of forested areas in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Forest and Riparian Buffer Conservation: Local Case Studies from the Chesapeake Bay Program (138 KB)

Publication date: 8/1/1996 | Type of document: Report

Collection of case-studies that highlight accomplishments of local governments and citizen organizations to recognize the importance of forests to their communities and to take action to retain and restore those forests. Features innovative riparian buffer and forest conservation programs initiated and implemented locally by community members

Adoption Statement - Riparian Forest Buffers (26 KB)

Publication date: 3/7/2006 | Type of document: Adoption Statement

Overview of the Directive 94-1 which called upon the Chesapeake Bay Program to develop a policy which would enhance riparian stewardship and efforts to conserve and restore riparian forest buffers.

Forestry Best Management Practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Tracking Accomplishments (120 KB)

Publication date: 12/1/1996 | Type of document: Report

Documents current levels of monitoring carried out by Bay jurisdictions for the purpose of tracking forestry Best Management Practices implementation and effectiveness

Final Report of the Riparian Forest Buffer Panel (36 KB) (Order hard-copy)

Publication date: 10/1/1996 | Type of document: Report

Contains principal findings and recommendations of Chesapeake Executive Council-appointed 31 member-panel to increase the focus on riparian stewardship and to enhance efforts to conserve and restore riparian forest buffers

The State of Chesapeake Forests (37.26 MB)

Publication date: 9/1/2006 | Type of document: Report

This first-of-its-kind report synthesizes more than a decade's worth of data from public and private sources, highlights current forest conditions, forecasts future trends, and outlines key goals and strategies necessary to conserve and restore the forests of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The report calls for a strategic, long-term approach that identifies and focuses on forests with the highest environmental, economic, and social values. Together, public and private partners can help preserve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its residents through a concerted effort to protect its forests.

Protecting the Forests of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed - A Response to Directive 06-1 (150 KB)

Publication date: 12/5/2007 | Type of document: Directive

In 2006, the Chesapeake Executive Council recognized that retaining, expanding, and sustainably managing forest lands is essential to restoring a healthy Chesapeake Bay by signing Directive 06-01. This implementation document responds to Directive 06-1 by identifying specific actions we will take to conserve and restore forests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.