SITES AND MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES - For Non Timber Forest Products

(06/23/2001)
Submitted by Russ Richardson

On Wednesday, June 27, there will be a session for foresters on medicinal herbs at Crummies Creek Tree Farm. There will be a crowd including people from WVU, the Division of Forestry in Charleston and herbalists from Ohio. This will be one of the first programs of its kind ever done for foresters in West Virginia.

Crummies Creek Tree Farm

PO Box 206
Weston, WV 26452
Phone (304) 269-3964
Fax (304) 269-3964
E-mail ForestRuss@aol.com

RECOGNIZING SITES AND MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS:

UNDERSTORY MEDICINAL PLANTS, WOODLAND HERBS AND WILDLIFE FOOD PLOT DEVELOPMENT

DATE: 27 JUNE 2001 10:00 - 4:30

PLACE: CRUMMIES CREEK TREE FARM, ARNOLDSBURG, CALHOUN COUNTY

LOCATION: 1.4 MILES EAST OF WV 16, ON CALHOUN COUNTY ROUTE 16/25, (RIGHT FORK, CRUMMIES CREEK ROAD) 2.3 MILES SOUTH INTERSECTION OF WV ROUTE 16 AND US 33/119 IN ARNOLDSBURG. (ALSO, 1.4 MILES OFF WV 16, ABOUT 16.5 MILES NORTH OF I 79 EXIT 40.) Once you leave WV 16 bear to the right, crossing a low water bridge about 7/10 of a mile from WV 16 and follow Right Fork Road to the meeting point

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GENERAL OVERVIEW

The intention of the program is to show foresters and landowners how to evaluate and recognize timberland sites where understory plants of commercial value or ecological significance could be present. Program will include basic information on medicinal plant species identification and site requirements. Workshop location is in an area where representative examples of many of the most common medicinal herb species found in Central West Virginia are present in native populations. There will also be a presentation on wildlife food plot development and gamebird habitat enhancement.

TO REGISTER CONTACT: WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY, CHARLESTON, WV (304) 558-2788 OR BY E-MAIL: rwhipkey@gwmail.state.wv.us

THE ENTIRE PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN THE FIELD. COME PREPARED!

NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS

UNDERSTORY MEDICINAL PLANTS, WOODLAND HERBS AND WILDLIFE FOOD PLOT DEVELOPMENT

AGENDA

9:00 - 9:30 Sign in at Richardson Camp on Right Fork of Crummies Creek Road

10:00 - 10:30 Managing for and recognizing Non Timber Forest Products: Stepping beyond deer, squirrels and turkey or.... Why do the elm trees in Clay County seem to be missing their bark? (Dave McGill WVU Extension)

10:30 - 11:15 How past land uses impact productivity and understory plant diversity. Aspect considerations impacting plant populations. (Bill Grafton, WVU Extension)

11:15-12:00 Revegetating landings, skid trails and old fields to enhance habitat for game and wildlife species. Seed mixes for wildlife food plots. (Lawrence Beckerle, Adjunct Professor, GSC, Summersville)

12:00-12:30 Lunch (BRING YOUR OWN)

MEDICINAL PLANTS OF COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE TO WEST VIRGINIA

12:30 -1:30 Ginseng, where it grows, how it grows and what it needs to thrive. What sort of market is there for wild ginseng and how growth characteristics impact plant marketability and value. (Fred Hays, Center for Sustainable Resources)

2:30- 3:30 Plant ID walk. Cove site with multiple plant species. Impact of timber harvesting on woodland herbaceous plant populations. (Hank Huggins and Paul Neidhart United Plant Savers, Rutland, Ohio.)

3:30-4:30 Recognizing important plant populations during logging road planning and layout. What is a Plant Rescue? Medicinal plant relocation and transplanting. (United Plant Savers staff and interns).

General notes:

• The day will include a modest amount of walking on uneven ground to view the example areas. Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are recommended.

• There are no sanitary facilities in the woods, come prepared!