Forestry Workgroup Projects

A guide to familiarize new members with the Forestry Workgroup.

This storymap uses new high-resolution land use and land use change data to provide an updated understanding of Chesapeake forests and how they are changing.

The Timber Harvest Task Force has identified multiple opportunities to improve the mapping and modeling of forest harvest activities.

These updated modeling tools will be used by the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership to inform decisions related to the nutrient and sediment reduction goals outlined in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

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.

The proposed Riparian Forest Buffer Outcomes Fund would help overcome barriers and create new incentives to plant more buffers.

This evaluation of public outreach and engagement for tree planting and maintenance was designed to lift up best practices employed by tree-related campaigns and identify gaps in campaigns’ ability to carry out effective outreach.

This workshop was designed to discuss state strategies for increasing forest buffer restoration and identify roles for the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership in advancing buffer goals.

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.

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

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.

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.

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)

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