Income From Your Woodlands—And Protect Rural Character To Boot!

By Christopher Duncan

From Issue 2: Spring 2009

Not long ago I had the opportunity to fly in a two-seater plane  over the eight-town area the Wallkill Valley Land Trust works to preserve.  Not only was this exciting and beautiful, it was instructive, making obvious the fact that Gardiner has far more woods and forests than it has farmland.

The Wallkill Valley Land Trust works with the community to preserve the rural character, the unique sense of place of each of our eight towns—including Gardiner, its hamlets and the outlying areas.  Economically productive land, especially in these economically difficult times, will likely stay scenic and contribute to the feel of our unique area.  This feel is what draws businesses, residents, weekenders, and tourists.

A qualified forester, can design a forest management plan that will continually regenerate the woods and produce income from the land virtually forever.   Foresters understand the complex issues of maintaining a healthy woods.  They can guide a logger on what trees to cut, and how to take and remove them so the forest stays healthy and productive—healthy for the many species that use the forest, and productive for the landowner.

For further information or help with your woodlands, contact Mike Greason (forest@mhcable.com) or Ryan Trapani (cfa@catskill.net).  Mike, a forestry consultant and retired Chief Forester for the Bureau of Private Land Services with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, has been a presenter at land preservation conferences produced by the Land Trusts of Ulster County.  Ryan is Education Forester for the Catskill  Forestry Association, and is available for consultation throughout Ulster County.