Woodland - Spring 2013 - (Page 27)

forests and families Wisconsin’s Driftless Area (opposite page) is ecologically important, but faces many challenges. Woodland owner Doug Duren (above) is playing a crucial role in efforts to help conserve this area. CoURTeSY DoUg DUReN nonproductive acres that have been broken off from farm properties in 40-, 80- or 100-acre parcels. They want to have a beautiful piece of property, but don’t necessarily understand that it requires work. The challenge right now is to help them bridge the gap between their idyllic vision of the land they purchased, and the realities of owning rural property.” Helping new landowners in the Driftless Area become active managers of their woodlands has been a focus for Duren and the American Forest Foundation (AFF). In 2010, AFF helped create the Driftless Forest Network. The network’s partners—including the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association and the Nature Conservancy—are working together to help landowners meet their own goals, while helping restore oak, protect clean water and increase wildlife habitat. Duren is one of several “Woodland Advocates,” offering neighborto-neighbor advice to landowners as a first step in helping them appreciate what owning ground in the Driftless means. “Almost every new landowner wants to do the right thing by the land that they bought. I help them understand that when it comes to forests, conservation means active stewardship,” Duren says. “Doug is a stellar example of good stewardship, meeting his family’s goals by working with a professional forester from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to implement strong forest management practices,” says Jerry Greenberg, AFF’s Senior Vice President of Conservation. “He regularly leads hiking tours of his land for landowners, foresters and anyone else interested in learning how to protect the Driftless Area through active forest management.” “Part of my education process was to learn from my father, who really understands this land and these woods,” Duren notes. “My dad, Vincent, who is now 88, taught me a lot about the woods and is still very involved.” When he took on the role of managing the property after his brother died, Duren completed programs in woodlands stewardship and leadership, and wildlife management, offered by the University of Wisconsin. With his combination of education and hands-on management experience, Duren was a natural choice to serve as a Woodland Advocate. “I got involved because I care about the area where I grew up,” says Duren. “I’m really concerned about my little part of the Driftless Area. Landowner-to-landowner outreach allows me to convey my understanding of woods to other landowners. I’ve become a liaison for information, to connect them with appropriate professionals, help them develop a management plan for their land.” The Big Woods plays a central role in that process. “We have a full range of management challenges and a wide range of management projects going on, so I can show people “here’s some before, during and after management work, here are some areas we have yet to work on, or mistakes we made, and here’s what we’re trying to do to correct it.” Which brings Duren back to the subject of those old trees he needs to cut. “On a woods walk recently, one landowner said, ‘I was afraid to do management on my land, but now I’ve seen what it looks like to do regeneration and understand the science, I’m not afraid anymore.’” He looks forward to the day when some future Duren will point to the oak trees being planted today with awe and pride. “I won’t see that day, but I’ll at least have it pointed in the right direction when I pack it in.” For more information on this innovative partnership go to www.mywisconsinwoods.com woodland • Spring 2013 27 http://www.mywisconsinwoods.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Woodland - Spring 2013

Woodland - Spring 2013
Contents
Overstory
On the Ground
Faith and Forestry
Take a Hike!
Tools and Resources
Forests and Families

Woodland - Spring 2013