From Disaster Response to Stewardship: Building a Forest Landowner Network Through Extension Education
Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources
Emily Beach
Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
University of Florida
Mayo
Abstract
Following multiple hurricanes impacting North Florida, forest landowners faced urgent needs related to damage reporting, debris cleanup, and reforestation. These events created an opportunity for Extension to serve as a trusted connector between landowners managing more than 20,000 acres of woodland in the county and available recovery and management assistance programs. The objectives were to (1) provide timely education on hurricane recovery resources, (2) develop an engaged network of forest landowners, and (3) transition disaster-response programming into ongoing educational programs addressing forest management, markets, and financial considerations. UF/IFAS Extension conducted a series of in-person educational meetings beginning with a hurricane recovery workshop focused on damage reporting, debris cleanup, and reforestation assistance programs. Subsequent programs addressed pine straw and timber market outlooks, herbicide selection and fertilization for pine management, and financial and tax considerations for forest landowners. Programming was delivered in partnership with the Florida Forest Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and UF/IFAS specialists to provide technical guidance and direct access to available assistance programs. A total of 108 participants attended across four meetings. Participant evaluations were collected to assess knowledge gain and intended behavior change. Evaluation results indicated that 100% of participants increased knowledge of disaster recovery and reforestation assistance programs, 92% improved understanding of forest management options, and 96% increased knowledge of herbicide selection and timing for pine management. All participants in the tax session indicated planned changes in tax filing practices related to forest management. In follow-up surveys, 12 landowners reported implementing management changes as a result of the program. Disaster response programming can serve as an effective entry point for sustained landowner engagement. Strategic partnerships and responsive Extension programming created a scalable model for transitioning short-term hurricane recovery efforts into long-term forest stewardship education.
Authors: Emily Beach
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Emily Beach Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Florida, 32066