Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Program

Forests for the Bay

Educating Landowners about Healthy Forests and Clean Water

The Alliance coordinates Forests for the Bay, an education and outreach program for landowners who are interested in actively managing their woodland and/or restoring woods on their property.

Forests for the Bay training, events, newsletters, and workshops actively encourages woodland owners to continue providing natural benefits for themselves and their neighbors through management, easing access to conservation funding, and developing educational initiatives. Workshops include “Your Woods and Your Wallet,” “Real Forestry for Real Estate,” “The Woods in Your Backyard,” “Discover your Woods,” and “Family Succession Planning.”

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Forests for the Bay serves as a clearinghouse of information and resources to help landowners improve the vitality of the woodlands, increase wildlife habitat and protect water quality, generate income, and overall enjoyment of their property.

Forests for the Bay Blogs

Spring Means Snow

The snow goose (Anser caerulescens) migration is an annual event that many of us within the Chesapeake Bay region look forward to each year.

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Our Forests and Climate Change

Our forests have always endured natural stresses and disturbances like fires, storms, drought, etc. The impacts of climate change in our region will certainly exacerbate these stresses and alter the composition of our forests in various ways.

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Fallen Leaves: A Tree’s Gift to the Stream

Do you understand the important role fallen leaves play in our ecosystems? After the season of fall foliage, leaves of our deciduous trees brown, fall, and start the second half of their lives, giving back to the ecosystem that formed them!

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Happy Holloween: The Sweet Treat of Finding Tree Cavities

Tree cavities come in all shapes and sizes. Each tells a story related to that tree and the wounds it has endured. Dive into what causes many tree cavities and what spooky things can happen as a result of them this “Holloween.”

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The Fall Bounty and Beauty of Shagbark Hickory

Did you know that in addition to its vibrant fall foliage, shagbark hickory provides important habitat and food for wildlife like black bears, raccoons, squirrels, bats, and more?

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Volunteer Opportunity: PA Fall Tree Plantings

Our Pennsylvania Forests Team is seeking volunteers to help plant nearly 5,000 trees across the Commonwealth this spring!

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Visit a Meadow for the Best Free Fireworks Show This Summer

The best fireworks in the world don’t hold a Roman candle to a native grassland in mid-summer. Grasslands (also known as meadows) are not only beautiful, but are important habitats in our region which are often misunderstood and overlooked.

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Fishing Spiders: Tickly Water Walkers

“Hey Rob, can you write an article for the newsletter? Maybe something that showcases the wildlife of the watershed. Something that makes people feel good, gives them warm and fuzzy feelings.” Hmm fuzzy… I know just the thing!  Spiders!  Everyone likes spiders!   Now before you say “Nope” first of all, think of something original to …

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For Our Forests: Over 10,000 Trees Planted This Spring

Each Spring and Fall, Alliance staff work tirelessly to plant thousands of trees throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The goal is to reforest as much of the watershed as possible for our forests, for our streams, and for our future. Many of these reforestation projects are riparian forest buffers, which are the area of land adjacent to a stream containing native, perennial trees and shrubs.

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How you can help support recently planted forests within the watershed

The Alliance’s Riparian Rangers volunteers are helping ensure our watershed gets reforested, one site check at a time. Here’s how you can join the movement.

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Learn More About Our Forests

A large part of this collaborative effort to educate and provide resources for forestry landowners is the Forests for the Bay newsletter. This monthly newsletter is bursting with stories, regional events, trivia, and more! Sign up or read past newsletters by clicking the links below.

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