Message from Stewardship Program

The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) is a federally funded forest management program designed by the US Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters. The program is intended to encourage management of private forestland for non-commodity benefits, such as wildlife, recreation, aesthetics and water quality as well as traditional commodities like timber and wood products. Forest Stewardship promotes long-term active management while emphasizing consideration of all the forest resources and benefits.

New Jersey's Forest Stewardship program is coordinated under the direction of the State Forester, the NJ Forest Stewardship Committee maintains a state master plan and meets regularly to oversee and manage all aspects of the program. The committee includes representatives from the following natural resource agencies, organizations and professionals: The NJ Forest Service; Rutgers Cooperative Extension; USDA Forest Service; USDA Farm Service Agency; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; NJ State Soil Conservation Committee; Soil Conservation Districts; NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife; US Fish and Wildlife Service; NJ Audubon Society; NJ Forestry Association; NJ Consulting Foresters; and NJ Tree Farm.

State Forestland Statistics:

• Total forested acres= 1,876,100 acres
• Privately owned= 749,700 acres
• Corporate= 496,600 acres
• County & municipal= 58,700 acres
• State= 475,000 acres
• Miscellaneous Federal= 54,200 acres
• Agriculture= 41,900 acres

Stewardship in New Jersey:

• Number of stewardship plans=686
• Acres covered by stewardship plans=75,359

Links:

• New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
• NJ Forest Service Regional Offices
• The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Chapter
• EPA: Global Warming Impacts on New Jersey
• New Jersey State Parks, Forests, Recreation Areas and Marinas

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