"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see natural all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself." - William Blake

The idea of properly managing forest resources is not new and in 1990 under the Farm Bill a federal program was created, called the Forest Stewardship Program to aid small woodland owners better manage their natural resources. Forested sections of the 83-acre Macoskey Center site have been the focus of several inventories and research in the past. Such endeavors looked a tree species composition on the site as well as wildlife species utilizing the forests for habitat. Building upon previous work conducted by Anthony Liguori and Dr. Karen Kainer and building off an existing Forest Stewardship Plan for the Center by Paul Catanzaro, new inventories were conducted during the summer of 2002. The Center has been enrolled in the Forest Stewardship Program and Tree Farm Program in the past. Today it is a goal of recent research, conducted by Frank Cetera and Michele Gauger, is to once again have an active long-term management plant for the forests on the property to utilize sustainable forestry practices, use them for educational purposes, possible economic gain, and maximize wildlife habitat.

So why is management needed? Forests are renewable and self-generating but these may be compromised with increased habitat fragmentation and development in our communities. As our forestlands dwindle while demand for their products remains constant, private forestlands may be a great resource in the future. Forests in some areas are harvested similarly to agricultural crops and private forestlands can be utilized instead of creating tree plantation monocultures with no biodiversity and risk to our environment. Forests are an economic and recreational treasure while providing a myriad of other benefits. In order to restore habitats, stewardship forests may allow proper management for multiple uses and gifts for generations to come.