A forest management plan is a guide that provides a series of steps or recommendations designed to assist the forest landowner in obtaining the goals and objectives of forest land ownership.
Each forest management plan, from the very basic to the most comprehensive in nature, is tailored to the individual objectives, goals and needs of the landowner. While the production of forest products remains the foremost consideration for most landowners, the recreational benefits of land ownership are becoming increasingly important. Activities such as mountain biking, trail riding, hiking, and hunting are considered by many to be vital aspects of land ownership and can be alternative sources of income. Other landowners strive for the perfect wildlife habitat to encourage and increase the population of quail, turkey, rabbit and, for some, federally endangered species such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The forest management plan blends the landowner's objectives, goals, and leisure activities with the production of forest products in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Basic Forest Management Plans
Basic forest management plans are short-term in nature and generally cover a time period of 10 years or less. These plans are often referred to as tax plans or Forestry Present-Use-Value Property Tax Plans. The plans generally provide very fundamental forest management recommendations or are used to address a specific need, such as reforestation. Basic forest management plans include the following:
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A statement of the landowner’s forest management objectives.
This statement describes the landowner’s short-term goals for the management and use of his or her forest land.
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A description of the property.
The property’s description includes its location, deed references, survey maps, and tax identification numbers.
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A GIS map of the property.
Developed utilizing deeds, survey maps, aerial photography and other publicly available data, the GIS map will include a location map and identify unique stands of trees or types of timber, water features, farm paths, public roads and other areas of importance.
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A description of each timber type.
Each stand of similar timber, or timber type, is described in terms of tree age, average tree size, dominant tree size, growth rates, the general health of the stand and, if known, the history of the stand. The timber stand description will also include general soil information such as the soil type, productivity, and recommendations for dry- or wet-weather logging.
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A prescription for each stand of timber.
Each prescription consists of the steps required to meet the basic or short-term forest management goals, including the estimated harvest times, harvest methods, regeneration methods, and when the stand of timber should be reviewed again.
Forest management plans also include relevant supplemental forest management information about water quality, woods path maintenance, prescribed burning, and the marking of property lines. With respect to water quality, a forest management plan may also contain applicable Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs), information on streamside management zones (SMZs), and special river rules enacted by the NC Division of Water Quality.
Comprehensive Forest Management Plans
Comprehensive forest management plans are long-term in nature and generally cover a time period that extends until the final harvest of the current timber stand. Frequently, comprehensive forest management plans will also cover reforestation, or the establishment of a new timber stand, with growth projections and recommendations for the first thinning based on soil productivity.
Comprehensive forest management plans often provide detailed forest management recommendations based on a current forest inventory, tree growth data, and/or tree growth projections. They include all of the features of a basic forest management plan, and may also incorporate the following:
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A statement of the landowner’s long-term forest management objectives.
These goals may include special financial needs such as college tuition, retirement, or the transition of the forest land to the next generation.
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A detailed GIS/GPS map of the property.
The map will incorporate publicly available data such as land deeds, survey maps, and aerial photography with GPS data acquired on site that locates and maps important features with sub-meter accuracy. GPS technology allows the mapping of features normally hidden under the forest canopy such as streamside management zones, woods paths, and special areas such as historical sites, cemeteries, or hunting stands.
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A current forest inventory of each timber type.
This inventory of all the merchantable timber (timber that is ready to be sold) on the property is broken down by unique stands, or timber types, and includes tree growth data, and will provide the current timber volumes and the projected timber volumes at the final harvest. Additionally, an inventory of the pre-merchantable timber (timber which is not yet ready to be sold) with the collection of growth data may be used in conjunction with tree growth and yield models to provide a reasonable estimate of the timber stand potential.
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A prescription for each stand of timber.
Each prescription includes the steps required to meet the long-term forest management goals, including estimated harvest times, harvest methods, regeneration methods, and when the timber stand should be reviewed again.
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A schedule of forest management activities.
When dealing with multiple stands and large acreages, a schedule of forest management activities by year and an optimized harvesting schedule to ensure the generation of income as needed to meet the landowner objectives may be included.
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A table of projected income and expenses.
This table breaks down the expected income and expenses from the planned forest management activities by timber type, activity, and year.
Forest Stewardship Plans & Tree Farm Plans
Forest management plans, from the very basic to the most comprehensive, can be adapted for use with one or both of the Forest Stewardship Program and/or the Tree Farm System. The Tree Farm program and the Forest Stewardship program can provide forest landowners additional benefits such as practical sustainable forestry, third-party certification, an involvement in a community of like-minded forest landowners, and recognition for excellent forest stewardship.