Appalachian Ohioans Can Get Free Agroforestry Technical Assistance

Landowners and landholders of Appalachian Ohio counties interested in agroforestry practices such as forest farming & silvopasture, and other methods of sustainable forestry management can get a free site visit through Rural Action’s Sustainable Forestry Program. The goal of this project is to help landowners develop goals that support the implementation of agroforestry practices and sustainable forest management. “Non-timber forest product species such as American ginseng, black cohosh and goldenseal are becoming increasingly rare in the wild due to overharvesting and habitat loss,” says Andrea Miller, Sustainable Forestry Program Director. “Unfortunately, as these species are declining, the demand for herbal products containing these species is steadily increasing. Forest farming provides landowners with the opportunity to sustainably cultivate these species in their forests, generate supplemental income, and reduce harvest pressure on wild populations.” During the site visit process, landowners will have the opportunity to walk their property with Rural Action Sustainable Forestry Staff to evaluate potential NTFP production sites and silvopasture sites, and opportunities for sustainable forest management such as tree plantings and invasive species removal. In addition to the site visit, landowners will receive literature outlining what was discussed during the visit to help facilitate implementation. This type of planning assistance can help forest landowners better understand their existing forest assets, identify new management opportunities, or expand an existing enterprise. Landowners who are interested in the program can get more information by contacting Andrea at andrea@ruralaction.org. There is no minimum acreage to qualify for a site visit, and the property can be located in any Appalachian county. Rural Action is a regional community development organization working with members and community leaders on a range of quality of life, environmental, and economic projects across rural Appalachian Ohio. Its mission is to build a more just economy by developing the region’s assets in environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways. Learn more about Rural Action at www.ruralaction.org