Introducing the Catoctin Forest Alliance

Submitted by: Rachel McCutcheon,
Catoctin Forest Alliance
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The Catoctin Forest Alliance (CFA) represents a diversity of people with a common mission of preserving and promoting the health of the Catoctin Mountain Forest for the enjoyment of present and future generations.  Protecting and preserving the integrity of environmental processes, wildlife habitat, air quality, healthy soil, vigorous forests, and striving for a pollutant-free watershed are some of the main goals of the CFA.  The CFA was founded and modeled after  the former New Forest Society and represents the birth of an alliance of private landowners, businesses, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies working together.    

The CFA is currently considering undertaking a Hemlock Restoration Project in order to restore the decreasing hemlock population in the Catoctin Forest.  Eastern Hemlock is a large growing, long lived tree, and has experienced a general decline in Frederick County over the past 10-15 years.  In addition to discussing the Hemlock Restoration Project, the CFA is working on a tree planting program to provide cover for streams, a program which is desperately needed. 

 The Catoctin Forest Alliance will be holding a meeting on Thursday, October 1, at the Cunningham Falls Manor Area Visitor’s Center at 6 p.m.  For more information regarding the CFA or for a membership application, please visit the Catoctin Forest Alliance website.