The economics of planting forest buffers—a zone of trees between farm fields and streams—have been documented through decades of research and real-world experience of local farmers. The results show that it’s not just downstream neighbors or future generations who reap benefits. Today’s farmers—who want to improve herd health and reduce soil loss, nutrient runoff and disease transfer between livestock—start to see the benefits of planting forest buffers on day one. Besides defending the land they farm by proactively planting forest buffers, local farmers are protecting against increased regulation and helping preserve their freedom to farm.
Buffers bring a stream of benefits—find out how and why that matters to your farm. Click here to access free technical resources, on-farm support and incentives to see all the benefits forested buffers can bring. Unlike some methods to clean waters that lose effectiveness over time, many benefits related to a forested buffer actually increase, as the buffer ages. By creating a zone of protection for waterways, planting buffer trees will grow your conservation legacy for generations to come.
Planting forest buffers brings a stream of benefits that help:
- Filter pollution
- Protect stream banks
- Provide fish and wildlife habitats
- Cool streams and sustain sensitive species
- Defend your independence and establish a legacy of conservation stewardship for your farm and family
The Chesapeake Bay watershed has a total area of 64,000 square miles, and more than 18 million people reside in the region. Another 150,000 new people move into the Bay watershed area each year. And with the largest land-to-water ratio of any watershed in the world, it’s no wonder peoples’ actions can make such a big impact on water quality and fishing.
Farmers are natural stewards of the land. They are hunters, anglers and community members who respect nature and understand the value of conserving soils. That’s why farmers are doing positive things for their environment, like planting forest buffers between fields and streams. And it’s making a big difference in protecting water quality, improving fishing and boosting the overall economic health of the region.
Buffers bring a stream of benefits— find out how and why that matters to your farm. Click here to access free technical resources, on-farm support and incentives to see all the benefits forested buffers can bring
