ITHACA, N.Y. -- So that future generations can enjoy New York's forests for the trees, Cornell University's Department of Natural Resources has received a $179,204 grant from the U.S. Forest Service to teach sustainable land stewardship to the state's small-forest owners.

Cornell's Forestry Extension program will coordinate its program activities with the Division of Lands and Forests, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The money for the first year is contained in the Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) in the federal 2002 Farm Bill, which appropriated $100 million, $645,000 of which went to New York.

In addition to Cornell's share of this allocation, the New York Woodland Stewards Inc., a non-profit group, will work with DEC in the distribution of $397,862 as financial assistance to implement sustainable forestry practices. Additional funding is expected through 2007.

In New York, private woodlands constitute 85 percent of the forests (about 62 percent of the state is woodland, or about 18.6 million acres out of 30 million total acres). About 8 percent of the state's forests are designated for industrial use and seven percent are public (not including Adirondack State Park.).

Peter Smallidge, Cornell senior extension forester in the natural resources department, notes that FLEP is important to New York because it provides education, technical advice and financial assistance to small-forest owners at a high level. "The use of sustainable practices provides the opportunity for people to keep forests healthy through time," he says.

Cornell will hire two foresters, based in Allegany and St. Lawrence counties, to work with existing New York DEC foresters who assist private landowners maintain their property. FLEP educational materials include a New York landowner's guide, the state priority plan for FLEP implementation and a private-sector forester guide. Other educational resources include articles on forest stewardship, lists of trained volunteers through the Master Forest Owner program and Cornell Cooperative Extension publications. For information on Cornell Forest Extension, visit .

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