Who can I call for help?

This page provides links to individuals and organizations that are able to assist New York's nonindustrial private forest landowners.  These groups each have unique mandates and services, please select those you think will be most useful to your needs.  Also, see "Assistance for NY Forest Landowners" for a comprehensive look at who's available to help with forest land management. Below are helpful links.

---

Cornell Cooperative Extension County Associations

• Cornell Cooperative Extension County Associations provide the critical function of linking the land grant university to the citizens.  County associations provide a variety of educational programs, but the actual programs provided in a county reflect local needs and the availability of resources.  The county cooperative extension office is an ideal place to begin if you are not certain where to go, or if you are interested in a specific educational program, such as landowner workshops or 4-H.

Master Forest Owner/COVERTS Volunteers

• Master Forest Owner/COVERTS volunteers are part of Cornell Cooperative Extension program that trains private forest landowners to provide free NON-technical assistance to other private forest landowners.  Master Forest Owners (MFO) are a peer-counseling program, and have been effective in providing private forest landowners with a "neighbor" who has asked the same questions and had the same concerns.  MFOs will make a free visit to your property and help you focus you questions and determine where to look for technical advice.  There are over 150 MFOs throughout New York that can be contacted through your local office of Cornell Cooperative Extension.  If you have additional questions about the MFO program, you can contact the the MFO program director Gary Goff at (607) 255-2824.  The MFO program is funded in part by the Ruffed Grouse Society and the NYS DEC Forest Stewardship Program.
  A list of MFO volunteers is available on the web.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Public Service Foresters

• The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the state's lead agency for the delivery of technical forestry assistance.  In the DEC, the Division of Lands and Forests through their Bureau of Private Land Services, coordinates the Cooperative Forest Management program.  The CFM program provides free on-site visits to private forest landowners and assists in the delivery of technical needs.  For landowners who can clearly state their management objectives, or those who need assistance with technical questions of forest management or timber harvesting, the CFM program is an appropriate place to initiate your quest for assistance.  Contact your nearest regional office of DEC, or look in the government section of your phone book for a local office.

• Seedling Sales program at the DEC Tree Nursery in Saratoga

Forest Land Owner Associations

• Landowner associations are well established and very active in New York.  These landowner associations are dedicated to the needs of the private forest landowners, and are private organizations, comprised of private forest landowners.  Landowner associations typically have a newsletter or magazine that provides articles, calendars of events, and additional information of interest to landowners.  There are three primary landowner associations in New York:
  • New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA)     phone: (800) 836-3566
  • Catskill Forest Association (CFA)    phone: (914) 586-3054
  • Tug Hill Resource Investment for Tomorrow (THRIFT) phone: (315) 376-5595

Timber & Woodland Taxation

• Cornell Cooperative Extension conducts annual workshops for tax preparers and advisors. A listing of past attendees is also included at this link. We do not screen these people for competancy but the list provides a place for you to look for assistance with taxes.

---

Helpful Links

Cornell University

1. Arnot Teaching and Research Forest
2. Cornell University - Sugar Maple Research and Extension
3. CCE Natural Resources Publications Catalog
4. CCE of Greene County - Agroforestry Resource Center
5. Urban Horticulture Institute - Cornell University
6. Forest Land Best Management Practice in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS

Other Universities

1. SUNY – ESF
2. Penn State University - School of Forest Resources
3. Penn State University - Forest Resources Cooperative Extension
4. University of New Hampshire - Cooperative Extension
5. University of Maine - Assistance for Woodlot Owners
6. Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program, National Youth Education
7. Private Forest Management Team (Auburn University)
8. Ties to the Land (Oregon State University)

Organizations of Service Providers for Landowners

1. National Christmas Tree Growers Association
2. National Wild Turkey Woodlands
3. Ruffed Grouse Society
4. Society of American Foresters

Government Links

1. USDA - Coop. State Research, Education, Extension Service
2. DEC Bureau of Private Land Services
3. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Lands and Forests
4. US Forest Service NE Research Station at Warren, PA
5. US Geological Survey (USGS) - links to aerial photographs
6. USDA Forest Service – Northeastern Area
7. USFS Northeastern Area - Burlington, VT (NED Software Download)
8. Southern Extension Forestry
9. USDA Forest Service
10. USFS North Central
11. National Agroforestry Center
12. Natural Resources Conservation Service
13. Natural Resources Conservation Service - land cover and land use maps
14. USDA Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education
15. Soil Survey Information