Master Forest Owner regional coordinators appointed

Master Forest Owner regional coordinators appointed

A corps of 12 volunteers are now regional coordinators for the New York Master Forest Owner Volunteer Program. The newly established Master Forest Owner (MFO) Advisory Committee (comprised of NY Forest Owner Association members, Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators and MFO volunteers) has recruited 12 of the 13 volunteers needed to fill "MFO Regional Coordinators" across the state. The regions generally coincide with the NYFOA Chapter regions. The primary objectives of creating the regional positions are to help improve program communications and administration, and improve coordination of regional activities such as recruitment and promotion of MFO volunteer services.

The program provides private forest owners in New York with the information and encouragement necessary to manage their forest holdings. More than 135 experienced MFOs are available statewide, ready to assist neighbor forest owners. All MFOs are graduates of a four-day training program conducted by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The initial and refresher trainings included practical information on saw timber and wildlife management, forest economics and forest ecology.

Forest owners interested in contacting a local MFO volunteer to arrange a visit to their forest can obtain a listing of MFOs at www.cornellmfo.info or by calling their Cornell Cooperative Extension County Association. Forest owners interested in becoming a volunteer can complete an application form also at that website, or can obtain an application by calling Diana Bryant at 607-255-2115. The 2007 MFO training will take place at Cornell's Arnot Forest September 19-23. Applications must be received by August 27.