New York citizens and visitors are blessed with a forested landscape; 62% of the state is forested and provides a variety of ecological and economic resources. Without these resources, our lifestyles and opportunities would be much different. Private forest lands account for 85% of the forests of New York. Private owners carry the costs of ownership, yet provide value and opportunities to everyone who lives in or near the state and all those who visit. New York’s private forest lands provide critical services. Examples of the services that private forest lands provide include:

• clean water
• clean air
• jobs for people in the forest products industry and ecotourism
• soil stabilization and soil enrichment
• habitat for rare and common wildlife species
• beautiful fall colors
• open space
• carbon sequestration
• recreational opportunities
• filtering of blowing winter snows
• forest products such as wood, paper, maple syrup, gourmet mushrooms,           firewood, and more
• scenic vistas

ForestConnect provides educational resources that will help people understand forest ecosystems and how private forests are managed. For those people who want to become an owner of forest land, resources here will help them understand the variety of topics to consider and the educational opportunities that exist once you become a forest owner. Specific ways that other forest users will benefit from ForestConnect include:

• Fact sheets and brochures that describe management concerns on private           forest land
• Newspaper articles and press releases that address current forestry issues in
          New York
• Frequently asked questions related to sustainable forestry
• Contact information for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators in your area           who can assist with questions that people have about forestry.