Forest Management 101

• Assistance / Programs
• BMPs
• Easements
• Forest Health
• Fragmentation
• Native Plants
• Non Timber Products
• Recreation
• Water Quality
• Wildlife

Assistance/Programs

State forestry agencies and federally sponsored programs offer a collection of assistance programs to private forest landowners.

Landowners can seek out technical assistance in forestry and management techniques and the development of an individual comprehensive forest management plan, educational assistance through extension services, and even financial assistance for undertaking conservation activities on their property.

There are many government conservation incentive programs available through the US Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for managing your forest in a sustainable manner. Financial incentives help to offset the costs of applying forest management or conservation efforts to private land. These include cost-sharing, low cost loans, government rental of unused land, funding of conservation easements, and other public assistance aimed at specific practices like tree planting.

Links:

All links listed below leave the Private Forestland Owner Library of ConserveOnline:

Forest Landowner Assistance Programs Offered by the USDA:

• Economic Action Programs
• Forest Legacy Program
• Forest Stewardship Program
• Renewable Resources Extension Act
• Rural Community Assistance Programs
• Urban and Community Forestry Program
• Forestland Enhancement Program

Government Agency Links:

• Contacting Congress
• Fiscal Year 1998 State Forestry Statistics
• The National Association of State Foresters (NASF)
• United States Forestry and Conservation Laws, by State
• USDA Forest Service
• USDA Forest Service Landowner Assistance Program Coordinators
• USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Forestry and Agroforestry Division

Other Resources:

• Association of Consulting Foresters
• Forest Landowners Association
• Forest Stewardship Council, United States
• Forest Stewards Guild
• Forest Landowners Tax Council
• National Timber Tax Web site
• Nature Serve, Natural Heritage Programs in the U.S.
• Sustainable Resource Management
• Terms that Private Forest Landowners Need to Understand
• The Forest Bank, of The Nature Conservancy
• The Forest Management Trust