can provide landowners with general forest management information and assistance on a wide range of questions and projects. Forestry contractors assist private landowners on issues such as; species identification, timber management, timber stand improvement, timber sales, wildlife management and habitat improvement, endangered and threatened species information, erosion management, recreational development, tree and shrub selection, hazard tree appraisal, forest inventory and damage appraisal. Contact information for forestry contractors and other service forestry experts can generally be found on local Department of Natural Resource Websites. Urban and community forestry programs Urban and community forests are the trees, plants and ecosystems occurring in developed areas. Urban and community forestry programs work to create and maintain sustainable communities and improve overall urban aesthetics. Programs are designed to conserve natural resources by utilizing a variety of tools including property tax assessment and forest easement programs. They assist landowners with species identification and management of existing community forests with the main goal of creating healthy functional ecosystems within residential communities. Urban and community forestry programs are not only limited to trees and shrubs but also to the factors that contribute to the growth of these organisms. Additional factors include soil, water and air quality. These programs educate citizens on proper tree planting techniques, gardening, nature and how to utilize their land more efficiently. Investments in this program provide clean air and water, energy conservation, reduction in greenhouse gases and add beauty to urban areas. Watershed forestry programs Watersheds or drainage basins are an area of land that drain into a common water body such as stream, lake, estuary, aquifer or ocean. The Watershed Approach is an important framework to address today's water challenges. More than $450 billion in food and fiber, manufactured goods, and tourism depends on clean water and healthy watersheds. The watershed approach consists of three main strategies: Hydrologically defined: which takes geography and all other factors into consideration Involves the stakeholders: which includes the federal, state, local and private sectors Strategically addresses water resource goals: which focuses on the water quality and habitat of a particular region. The strategy uses adaptive management and multiple programs which consist of mandatory and voluntary aspects The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a website for which contains information about sources of funding of practitioners and funders that have the goal to serve and protect the watersheds. Nursery and seedbank programs Nursery and seedbank programs aid conservation