How can Ithaca College best maintain its natural areas? What role does responsible logging have in developing a sustainable natural areas program; one that integrates economic, ecological and educational needs?
Please attend the Forestry Forum September 23, from 12:05 to 1:10 pm in CNS 115 and help the Natural Areas Stewardship Committee (NASC) find the answers to these questions.
Ithaca College owns approximately 550 acres of trees that could be logged. Approximately 432 acres of trees are located on South Hill, bordering the campus, and 128 acres of trees located in the Town of Newfield, about 10 miles from campus.
NASC was formed in March of 2004, charged with developing a workable plan for the sustainable management of the College's natural areas in a manner that appropriately balances their use for academic research and teaching with the provision of a financial return to the College from environmentally conscious timber management.
NASC must recommend a plan to the administration by December for cutting trees on the College's holdings in Newfield, so that timber management practices appropriate for the property can be implemented during the winter. The reports prepared by Mark Zubal of the NYSDEC and Dana Batley of Empire Forestry are on reserve in the library for members of the community to review.
Information on NASC, see Natural Areas Stewardship Committee.
Contributed by Mark Darling
