The 2021 Family Forests Education Awards winners were announced during the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) General Assembly on November 3, 2021. The award is co-sponsored by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA).
The University of Maryland Extension (UME) program received the 2021 FFEA Comprehensive Program for programming most benefiting family forest owners over the last five years. The UME Woodland Stewardship Education (WSE) program connects woodland property owners to their land through education and outreach. Using varied Extension delivery, WSE enables woodland owners to make sound and informed decisions about managing their land by bringing forestry, wildlife ecology professionals to simplify and demystify natural resource management.
UME Natural Resource and Forestry work is led by Dr. William G. Hubbard Assistant Director & Program Leader Environmental, Natural Resources & Sea Grant in College Park.
This year’s Individual Project Award focused on exemplary educational programming responses to the 2020 pandemic. The University of Kentucky Extension program was selected for its From the Woods weekly webinar and podcast delivery system that is available live and recorded in concert with a local radio station and online. From the Woods Today is a weekly internet show co-hosted by Renee' Williams and Billy Thomas with UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension. From the Wood’s role in outreach has expanded throughout the pandemic and is a popular broadcast in multi-platforms.
The UK extension program is led by Dr. Jeff Stringer Chairman, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Extension Professor of Hardwood Silviculture and Forest Operations in Lexington.
Our sincere congratulations and thanks to these notable Extension programs, delivery staff, leaders, nominees and our fine partner NAUFRP.
Mark Megalos
Executive Director
National Woodland Owners Association
execdirector@nationalwoodlands.org
UME website: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/environment-natural-resources
UKY website: http://forestry.ca.uky.edu/home/woods-today
The National Woodland Owners Association mission is to use unbiased, research-based, objective and factual information to inform, educate and advocate for woodland owners, forest managers, natural resource agencies, media professionals, cooperating organizations, the general public, and policy makers to ensure a sustainable managed forest resource in the United States. Achieving together what we could not do alone. Our staff and Board of Directors are passionate woodland owners, foresters and advocates dedicated to the health, maintenance, and sustainability of all natural resources, especially those of America’s family woodlands. We strive to be responsive and model woodland stewards.