Forestry is important in Maryland, and a local group is trying to promote it

MARYLAND. – The forestry sector is one of the most important in the state of Maryland. A local group is also trying to promote forest management. The Executive Director of the Maryland Forests Association is looking to change the perception of state residents.

“That’s one thing that MFA is looking to change. We’ve been working for several years on a public perception campaign, called Faces of Forestry. There we highlight people who are doing great things in the forestry sector.

According to the MFA, forest land is the second largest land use in the entire state with 2.5 million acres. The forestry sector supports jobs and provides ecological benefits like clean water and air. Hill said management practices are essential.

“Faced with all the stressors on our forest these days, whether it’s climate change, past human interference, or invasive species. It’s more important now than ever to be active in our forest and to have management practices happening so that our forestry can be resilient.”

Matt Hurd, an eastern regional forester for MD Forest Services, believes animals that live in the forests are just as important. “I think for forest management, people, regardless of whether they have a small amount of land or a large amount of land, it’s all about what’s best for wildlife in your native systems.”

Forests aren’t just important for ecosystems, they’re also important for the economy. The sector bolsters Maryland’s wallet by $3.3 billion annually –
Hill asserts it’s for these reasons that community members should do what they can to help.

“Planting trees, milling trees into a product, reusing trees, or re-purposing them. All of those kinds of things we think are very important.”