Conservation Districts hire forester
Illinois native considers Western UP home
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“The Gogebic & Ontonagon Conservation Districts have hired a new Forestry Assistance Program Forester, Amanda Stear.
The Michigan Forestry Assistance Program assists family forest owners achieve their goals for woodland ownership. The program provides free outreach and technical assistance to help private landowners make informed decisions about how to care for their land.
According to the district’s Facebook page, Stear grew up in central Illinois, but has lived in the Great Lakes area for the last 15 years and considers the western Upper Peninsula to be home.
She has earned a bachelor’s degree in forest and natural resources management from the University of Minnesota.”I’ve worked in forestry and natural resources in the western UP and northern Minnesota for the last 6 years on both Federal and County-managed lands” Stear told the Gazette. “What excites me most about this new role is the opportunity to teach folks about responsible forest stewardship and connect them to resources that can help. This position serves at that first point of contact for those who want to learn more about their woods and what might be possible.”
She said there are Federal cost-share programs, State tax incentives, and many other resources available for landowners. For more information, contact Stear at (906) 663-4512 or amanda.stear@macd.org.”