Message from Stewardship Program

Recognizing the public benefits of good stewardship on private forest land, the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program (MFSP) supports and encourages private forest landowners in their efforts to understand the potential of their woodlands, and to be come more active in managing them in ways that protect inherent ecosystem values. The program is voluntary and non-regulatory.

A landowner enrolling in the program engages a professional forester to develop a 10-year forest management plan based on the landowner's goals. The Stewardship Plan considers all aspects of forest resource management. Soil and water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, timber and other wood products, and outdoor recreation are among the many factors taken into account. The plan documents management decisions and practices designed to maintain the land in a productive and healthy condition for present and future owners. It specifies actions that will increase the environmental and economic values of the land.

Financial Assistance:

Landowners of 10 acres or more who do not already have some type of management plan in place for their property are eligible to receive cost-sharing for the development of the plan. For most landowners, the reimbursement rate has been 50% (with a cap). Once enrolled, landowners are eligible to apply for further cost-sharing for practices to implement their plans, when funding is available.

State Forestland Statistics:

• Total forested acres = 3.1 million acres
• Privately (non-corporation) owned = 1.98 million acres
• Corporations = 372,000 acres
• Government = 744,000 acres

Stewardship in Massachusetts:

• Number of stewardship plans = 1,873
• Acres covered by stewardship plans = 228,418 acres

Links:

• Massachusetts Division of Forests and Parks - Bureau of Forestry
• UMASS Extension
• Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters
• The Nature Conservany, Massachusetts Chapter
• EPA: Global Warming Impacts on Massachusetts
• Southern New England Forest Consortium, Inc.
• MASSWILDLIFE
• Massachusetts Community Forestry Council

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