Cornell is launching an online forestry seminar series for woodlot and forest owners. The nation's first direct and interactive link to experts on private forest-land issues will broadcast May 16 on "Key Forestry Concepts and Principles." Landowners can sign up for the series at http://www.ForestConnect.info.

"We want to provide unbiased and research-based information on forests and woodlot management directly and instantly to forest owners and others who are often too busy to attend workshops and forest tours," said Peter Smallidge, state extension forester in Cornell's Department of Natural Resources, who will present the May 16 seminar.

The ForestConnect 2007 Forestry Internet Seminar Series will teach participants via the Web strategies to enjoy and utilize their property. Each monthly one-hour seminar will cover a single, timely topic and allow for questions and answers with the presenter.

Future topics may include invasive forest insects, arranging a timber sale, managing weeds, working with foresters, vernal pool ecology and management, thinning trees in a forest, water quality during forest harvesting, regenerating hardwoods and firewood production. Presenters will be technical experts in forestry and natural resources.

The seminars will broadcast on the third Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m., with a repeat live broadcast later that day from 7 to 8 p.m. The noon-hour broadcasts will be accessible on the ForestConnect Web site. Participants must preregister once, without charge, at the Web site; e-mail notification of Internet URL details will be sent to all registrants prior to each session.

The seminar series is designed for forest owners and enthusiasts in New York and the Northeast but will be of interest to most forest owners.

The series is funded by Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Renewable Resources Extension Program. For more information, contact Smallidge at pjs23@cornell.edu or call (607) 592-3640.