New Mobile Phone App Helps Forest Landowners, Users
Concord, NH (PRWEB) April 16, 2015 -- Do you know what’s in your woods? There’s an app for that.
About My Woods is a new free mobile app that provides location-specific information about the forest and connects users to professional resources. This app is built for family forest owners and is designed to do one thing – put useful and actionable information in the user’s hand. The app is full of maps, photos, information and connections to professional resources. About My Woods is available for free in the Apple App Store, the Google play Store, or at http://www.aboutmywoods.org
The app includes:
- Location specific maps, including information on soils, land cover, terrain and watersheds;
- High quality photos and text descriptions of trees, wildlife, wildflowers, shrubs, and other things you’ll find in the woods;
- Connections to resource professionals that can help landowners manage their land, and
- A “Things to Know” section with information on forestry, a glossary, and references to other helpful resources.
The states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York have nearly 42 million acres of commercial forestland. While we often think of vast tracts owned by forest industries or public agencies, the fact is that over half of this land is owned and managed by families. In the four-state region, an estimated 1 million families own tracts of timberland, ranging from a few acres to thousands of acres.
“Family forest owners are important to the economic and environmental health of the region, and we developed this app for them,” said Brad Simpkins, New Hampshire State Forester. “However, anyone who has a smartphone and uses the woods – for hunting, hiking, snowmobiling, or walking the dog – will find something to use and enjoy in the app.”
Early users are giving the app great reviews. “I was playing around with the app over my morning coffee and found it to be very nice,” said Eric Johnson, a magazine editor from New York. “It's useful to have a comprehensive list, along with photos and descriptions, of all things wood related at my fingertips.”
Anyone can go to the http://www.aboutmywoods.org website to download the free app for either iPhones or Android devices, and view a video that shows how the app works or download a fact sheet that shows how to use the app. Or they can go to the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android) to download it directly.
The developers of the About My Woods app are looking for partners and funding to expand the app for use throughout the U.S.
About My Woods was developed by the North East State Foresters Association (NEFA). NEFA is the state foresters of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York working in cooperation with USDA Forest Service. This app is designed to assist woodland owners with understanding their woods and the options for managing it, by providing basic information and connecting them with forest professionals who can assist. App development was funded by a grant from the USDA Forest Service. NEFA complies with federal nondiscrimination policy and is an equal opportunity provider.
Charles Levesque, North East State Foresters Association, http://www.aboutmywoods.org, +1 603-224-5566, [email protected]
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