Forests
Sustainable Forestry
Since 1997, our Sustainable Forest Economies Program has been working to develop
a sustainable forestry sector in the region, through innovative strategies
that provide a transition toward sustainable utilization and marketing of
forest resources.
Forestry 2002 accomplishments:
The 2-day, Fourth Annual Landowner's Conference was attended by 185 people
and included workshops on medicinal herb production, land stewardship, and
small business development.
Three workshops: one on Value-Added Herb Production in August, an introductory
ginseng workshop in September, and the Southern Ohio Ginseng Conference in
October, which was co-sponsored by the Ohio State University Cooperative Extension
Service. Total attendance at all the workshops was over 100.
Publication of two issues of The Grapevine newsletter
Publication of two articles by Rural Action's Sustainable Forestry
Coordinator, Scott Bagley, for "Under the Canopy" in the Ohio
Woodland Journal, a quarterly educational publication of the
Ohio Tree Farm System.
Creation of the Welcome Wagon Initiative that sends a free landowner resource
packet with information about land and forest management to any new landowner
of 10 or more acres in any of three Appalachian Ohio counties.
Site visits to 17 landowners in 12 counties to provide technical assistance
on selection of growing sites for medicinal herbs and other issues.
Completion of a video titled 'Sang: The Future of Farming about ginseng
cultivation, which is sold for $14.95.
Sale of 200 pounds of ginseng seed (double last year's sales), 125 pounds
of black cohosh root, and 50 pounds of goldenseal root. The ginseng alone will
have a value of $350,000 at harvest.
Supported the Roots of Appalachia Growers' Association (RAGA) to increase
their board's ability to work together, increase membership to 70, begin the
process
of gaining 501c(3) status and develop their funding applications. Funding received
by RAGA will be used to conduct a market study for domestic herbal practitioners.
The Rural Action
Research
& Education Center
(formerly known as the National
center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs)
The Frontier Natural Products
Cooperative donated this 68-acre research and education center, located in
Meigs County, to Rural Action in 2002. There are more than 40 research trials
ongoing at the Center to determine the best organic methods for cultivation
of medicinal herbs.
Recent accomplishments include:
Mobilizing hundreds of volunteer hours to conduct trail work projects,
tree planting and research harvest and analysis.
Conducting harvest and initial analysis of research trials examining cultivation
practices for black cohosh, blue coltsfoot, stoneroot and wild yam. Receiving
Organic Certification of 12 acres of the farm, including all the herb research
beds.
Attending the Natural Products Expo East Tradeshow to continue to develop
relationships and link with supporters and markets for growers in the region.
Increasing the donor base of natural products retailers supporting the
NCPMH.
Much of the research work will be integrated into the research mission of the
Appalachian Forest Resource Center, and the education and outreach work has
already been integrated into our Sustainable Forestry program.
Appalachian Forest
Resource Center
In 2002, Rural Action launched the Appalachian Forest Resource Center (AFRC),
a cooperative effort of Rural Action, the National Network of Forest Practitioners
and the Southern Appalachian Center for Cooperative Ownership. The AFRC identifies
communities in the Central and Southern Appalachian mountains that are developing
innovative local solutions that lead to healthy forests, healthy communities
and healthy economies and supports them in learning from other such communities
and conducting research activities that move their projects along. Activities
include:
Support for communities conducting participatory research;
Research on themes common to communities across the region;
Answering questions and serving as a resource center for forested communities
in the region.
AFRC 2002 Accomplishments:
Formation of a 10-member Advisory Council with representatives from states
from Alabama to Pennsylvania.
Organizing a workshop on participatory research in North Carolina.
Co-organizing a workshop on "Creating Jobs in Restoration" with participants
from West Virginia and Ohio.
Establishment of a draft web site at www.appalachianforest.org.
Establishment of a southern office in Asheville, North Carolina in cooperation
with the Southern Appalachian Center for Cooperative Ownership.
Establishment of a 40-member listserv for discussion of issues in the region
and for sharing ideas, news and calendar events.
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