Upcoming Meetings

No upcoming meetings.

View Meeting Calendar >> << View Past Meetings

Scope and Purpose

The Forestry Workgroup coordinates, develops and implements plans and projects which focus on the contributions of forest lands in restoring the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and in retaining their economic potential. The workgroup provides a forum to discuss issues and identify opportunities among the forestry community, interested individuals and organizations, and federal, state and local governments.

Objectives:

  • Enhance communication and education regarding forestry issues within the Bay watershed.
  • Identify the need and opportunities for demonstration projects and program development.
  • Promote the establishment and management of forests and trees in urban, rural, and developing areas to improve water quality, and aquatic and terrestrial habitats associated with the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
  • Promote forestry research and monitoring needed to evaluate forestcontributions toward protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Ensure that forest resource information pertinent to the Chesapeake Bay is available to individuals and organizations interested and/or involved in implementing the Chesapeake Bay Program.

The Forestry Workgroup also is pursuing the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement goal and outcomes to:

Vital Habitats Goal: Restore, enhance and protect a network of land and water habitats to support fish and wildlife and to afford other public benefits, including water quality, recreational uses and scenic value across the watershed. 

  • Forest Buffer Outcome: Continually increase the capacity of forest buffers to provide water quality and habitat benefits throughout the watershed.  Restore 900 miles per year of riparian forest buffer and conserve existing buffers until at least 70 percent of riparian areas throughout the watershed are forested.
  • Tree Canopy Outcome: Continually increase urban tree canopy capacity to provide air quality, water quality and habitat benefits throughout the watershed.  Expand urban tree canopy by 2,400 acres by 2025.

Projects and Resources

Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy

The Forestry Workgroup revised and updated the original Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy in 2020.  The Strategy lays out broad priorities and actions that will guide forestry partnership efforts in the years ahead and was the basis for a Shared Stewardship agreement signed in October 2020 by all of the watershed’s seven state foresters and the Chief of the US Forest Service. 

Natural Filters Restoration Program: Concept For the Chesapeake

Watch the recorded webinar on this proposed program, and view the presentation below. 

Buffers in the Farm Bill: What does CLEAR 30 mean for the Bay?

Webinar on CLEAR 30 with experts Terry Noto and Mike Linisinbigler. A new provision in the 2018 Farm Bill, CLEAR 30 is now open and the Chesapeake is a pilot region.  Expiring buffers can be enrolled in CLEAR 30 – it is a 30 year contract and maintenance is paid for. Watch the recording here. 

Forest Financing February

The Forestry Workgroup at the Chesapeake Bay Program hosted a webinar mini-series called Financing Forests February on emerging finance markets for restoration and conservation on (primarily) private forest lands.

You can view the recordings for each webinar below. 

 

February 7, 11-noon.  Conservation Finance 101.  Tim Male, Executive Director, Environmental Policy Innovation Center - This presentation will provide an introduction to conservation finance and why we need it. Watch the recording here. 

February 14, 11-noon.  Credit to Reforestation for Water Quality Benefits.  Jessica Fox, Senior Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute - Reforestation is credited for water quality benefits in the Ohio River Basin.  This presentation will explain how and why. Watch the recording here. 

February 21, 11-noon. An Overview of Creative Ways to Fund the Acquisition and Restoration of Forests.  Reggie Hall, The Conservation Fund- Learn from examples of how various financing mechanisms have been used to conserve and restore forests across the country. What have others done that you can use in your own region? Watch the recording here. 

February 28, 11-noon.  How Carbon Credits are Working for Forests in the Mid-Atlantic.  Dylan Jenkins, VP, Portfolio Development, FiniteCarbon.  This presentation will introduce listeners to current forest carbon markets relevant to the mid-Atlantic. Recording is unavailable, view the presentation below. 

CREP Webinar Series

Three webinars about CREP in the 2018 Farm Bill were sponsored by the Forestry Workgroup.  These Webinars featured two experts Terry Noto and Mike Linsinbigler. 

Terry Schley Noto an environmental attorney who has worked for a variety of government agencies, including EPA and DOJ as well as for several environmental organizations, including NWF and EDF. Terry served as EDF’s expert on CRP and CREP for many years. Mike Linsenbigler worked for USDA for over 30 years. First in the former Soil Conservation Service and then working for FSA Conservation Environmental Programs Division as the nation’s first CREP Manager and later, as the Deputy Division Director of CEPD.Terry and Mike formed Conservation Strategies Consulting to provide advice on conservation program innovation and implementation and have an array of agency and NGO clients.

Introduction and Discussion regarding CREP in the Farm Bill - August 28, 2019 Webinar 
Introduction and Discussion of Draft Interim CREP Rules - December 12, 2019 Webinar 
Summary and Compilation of Rules and Notices that were Issued Regarding CREP (slide deck only, recording not available) 

Guidance for Forestry Practices in Phase III WIPs

Guiding Documents

Updated Tree Canopy and Riparian Forest Buffer Workplans and Management Strategies.

Strategy Review System Materials

Forest Buffer Indicator Data (through 2017)

View All >>

Publications

View All >>