WVFA Mountain State Forestry Winter 2021-22

T R E E F A R M N E W S www.wvfa.org Winter 2021–22 | West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 21 The plan divided Cobb’s property into 11 stands. The types and density of the trees predominant in each area affect how that stand is managed. Cobb removed choking grapevines, holly thickets, and created wildlife clearings to attract more deer, turkey, grouse, and birds. Timber is cut in selected areas not only to generate revenue, but to improve habitat. While visiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) office to get aerial pictures of his property, Cobb learned that the USDA, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, offers a program to reimburse landowners for making conservation improvements to their properties. The program has the landowner coordinate with an agency forester or biologist to draw up a work plan to remove grapevines, fight invasive plants, or other efforts to improve habitat. The landowner signs a contract to do the work or have it done. When the work is complete and confirmed by officials, the landowner receives payment. The WVDOF Forest Stewardship Plan made several recommendations that qualified for Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. Cobb set a high priority on creating habitat for cerulean warblers, small migratory songbirds. The sky-blue birds winter in South American forests and travel to the southeastern United States in the spring. The warblers live high in tree canopies, nest among tall hardwoods, and forage near small clearings. Since 1966, the world population of cerulean warblers has plunged by 70%. Cobb got approval on contracts to cut selected timber in support of the Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement Project. Through carefully planned tree cuttings on two tracts of land, Cobb provided the cerulean warblers with prime habitat. The improvement was measurable. Before the selective cuts, West Virginia University biology students found only one cerulean warbler family on the property. After the cutting, the students detected eight. Since 2014, Cobb completed 11 Natural Resources Conservation Service projects: ƒ $6,205 Invasive species culling program on seven acres ƒ $1,945 Grapevine culling 20 acres ƒ $7,906 10-acre clear cut for wildlife ƒ $645 Second grapevine cut 14 acres ƒ $1,205 New field creation with five clovers Birds Foot Trefoil ƒ $760 Back cuts to two fields for wildlife ƒ $672 Hardwood tree planting/208 trees planted in tubes ƒ $1,810 Habitat enhancement for the Cerulean Warbler ƒ $2,584 Culling invasive American Holly on 28 acres ƒ $1,255 Third grapevine culling 20 acres ƒ $504 two acre invasive species control autumn olive John Cobb feeding a ruffled grouse on his property. “He liked blueberries and sometimes when I drove my ATV down my driveway, he would fly into my back letting me know he was hungry,” said Cobb. Senator Shelly Moore Capito acknowledging John Cobb’s West Virginia Tree Farmer of the Year 2019 Award from the West Virginia Senate on February 11, 2019.