The Changing Face of Forestry Extension Bill Hubbard SESAF Mobile, AL

Change from all directions New audiences Traditional audiences with new needs Decreasing resources ($$, FTE’s, Etc) Infrastructure Institutional Technological

“New” Audiences Fragmented forest landowners (1-9 acre owners) Urban residents Communities Policy and decisionmakers

Traditional Audiences with New “Needs” Changing markets Alternative enterprises Certification and environmental issues Forest health issues

Decreasing Resources State budgets have decreased substantially FTE’s allotted to state Extension Forestry/Natural Resources are decreasing

Infrastructure Few forestry/natural resource agents at county level (around 5% of total workforce) Downsizing at the county level “Clustering”, sharing and regionalizing positions at the county level

Institutional The Quest for “Scholarship” –Innovation –Grant driven The “Engaged Institution” –More involvement of the university at the community level

StateForestry Continuin g Education Urban Forestry Environment al Education Wood ProductsWildlifeTotal AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC OK SC TN TX VA Total FTE's Average Table 1. Full Time Equivalent Natural Resource Extension and Outreach Specialists (Fisheries and Aquaculture not included due to inadequate data sources). Current as of March 2003.

StateFaculty Professional non faculty Area AgentsCounty AgentsTotal AL71008 AR FL GA KY LA MS NC OK SC TN TX VA Total FTE's Average Table 2. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) by type of employment (Fisheries and Aquaculture not included due to inadequate data sources). Current as of March 2003.

Extension Forestry Response to Change Innovative educational programs Technology Multi-state & Regional Initiatives

Satellite-based programs The “Masters” series: –Master Tree Farmer I –Master Tree Farmer II –Master Wildlifer Urban forestry training Introduction to forest certification

Web-Based Solutions National Web-Based Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners USDA funded National in perspective

Web-based solutions Forest Encyclopedia Forest Service, Extension and Land Grant Universities assisting Synthesized research Peer reviewed Multi-author

Web-Based Solutions

Traditional Approaches with “new” spins Forest*A*Syst –Self assessment tool Woodlands Correspondence Course –In cooperation with Forest Landowners Association Regional publications and programs

Conclusions Extension Forestry is adapting to change through –Innovation –Technology –Multistate, multiagency initiatives