Master Forest Owner/COVERTS Program

	The Master Forest Owner (MFO)/COVERTS Program provides private forest owners of NY State with the information and encouragement necessary to manage their forest holdings wisely.
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Over 140 experienced and highly motivated volunteer MFOs are available statewide, ready to assist neighbor forest owners with the information needed to start managing their forests. All MFOs are graduates of a 4-day training program, where they learn about sawtimber and wildlife management, forest economics, and ecology. The MFOs continue to receive information updates, attend refresher classes and maintain contact with natural resource managers from private, public, and academic organizations.
The term “Master” Forest Owner implies education as in “School-Master”. The training the volunteers receive complements their experience as forest owners.     COVERTS– (pronounce like cover) meaning good ruffed grouse habitat, refers to a similar program funded by the Ruffed Grouse Society, and is symbolic of the importance of habitat to all wildlife.

Sponsors:  USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry
                 The Ruffed Grouse Society
                 Renewable Resources Extension Program
                 New York Forest Owners Association
                 NY Woodland Stewards, Inc.
                 Robert H. Wentorf Foundation, Inc.
With cooperation from: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation - Div. of Lands and Forests
                                  Cornell Cooperative Extension