YOUR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN: A guide for North Carolina landowners

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1 YOUR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN: A guide for North Carolina landowners A forest management plan describes the current state of your property and the steps needed to achieve your ideal forest. Plans establish a logical sequence and timeline for forestry activities that will lead to desired objectives for wildlife, water, beauty, timber and a family legacy. A written forest management plan is required to document eligibility for financial assistance, preferential tax treatment, compliance with certification programs and even state and federal environmental law. This publication reviews the basic steps of forest management planning and the common components of a management plan. A list of forest management plan preparers and new online sources for plans are highlighted. Following this document guidance will qualify you and keep your land in the Forest PUV Program if your plan contains the suggested information and you commit to implement the plan as submitted for PUV qualification. Forest ownership provides a wonderful opportunity to craft a living legacy on your forest landscape. Forests include many inter-related resources the trees, the water, the wildlife and all are rooted in the productive capacity of your soil. A healthy and productive forest requires a plan and sound management to reach a desired future condition. A written management plan is a tangible first step in describing your forest s current condition and the concrete actions needed to move it toward your dream state. The planning process is the same whether you are establishing, restoring or improving an existing forest. Importance of Forest Management Plans Increasingly governing bodies require written management plans as a pre-requisite to enrolling in cost-share programs, qualifying for property tax relief, as proof of an ongoing forestry operation or for compliance in certification programs. The following list 1

2 provides a range of current programs requiring a written forest management plan (some even require approval by a registered or professional forester): N.C. Present Use Value Program (PUV) reduced ad valorem taxes for forestland NC Forest Development Fund- Cost share assistance for reforestation and management NC Tree Farm- Group certification under the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 3 rd Party Certification program USDA Farm Bill Programs- Plans are required for cost-share and most conservation programs offered by the federal agencies. FSC-US Family Forests Program- Plans are required to qualify for Forest Stewardship Council certification and chain-of-custody documentation. Clean Water Act- Proof of an ongoing operation for silvicultural exemption US Internal Revenue Service- Plans are part of the proof of a business operation in hobby-use determinations and for alternative valuation of estates. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION IS REQUIRED for PUV PROGRAM COMPLIANCE A Written Forest Management Plan: Many landowners may feel overwhelmed by the planning process. Some landowners can comfortably develop their own plan, while most should seek out foresters, wildlife biologists, soil conservation and recreation specialists, and other resource professionals to assist with plan writing or technical content. Professional help is available from public and private entities (for free or fee) and new online plan assistance / development tools abound (see section below). Successful aspects of any management plan: 2

3 Each plan is unique to its owner and forest. Each plan is based on owner objectives and existing forest conditions. Plans should be current and updated every decade or as objectives change. Plans should be modified as markets, ownership and forest conditions change. The 6 Steps of the Forest Management Planning Continuum 6. Update Your Forest Management Plan (As needed) 1. Define Goals and Objectives 5. Monitor and Evaluate Progress 2. Identify Property and Inventory Resources 4. Implement Management Actions 3. Plan Management Activities Your Forest Management Plan A successful plan begins with a statement of ownership goals focused on what s achievable through forest management. Goals can involve financial gain like: timber income, tax relief during inheritance, speculation of future value: or a land stewardship focus: to protect or maximize wildlife, recreation, natural beauty, privacy, or soil and water quality enhancement. Many landowners have multiple objectives that can be achieved through planned forest management activities. 3

4 Specific recommendations seek to enhance current conditions by meeting ownership objectives in the immediate or longer-term. Recommendations for shorter-term activities include specific practices and timetables, like timber stand improvement, stand thinning, prescribed burning, and herbicide treatments. While the longer-term actions reflect future uncertainty of markets and adopt a more general timing or detail for final harvests, site preparation timetables, and methods for regeneration or replanting. Basic Elements of Plan (REQUIRED FOR PUV PROGRAM): A simple forest management plan should contain the following elements: 1) Landowner Objectives- Includes short and long-term goals for the property. Note: For PUV Program, timber production must be a clearly stated objective! 2) Map/aerial photo- Sufficient detail to locate and access the property and identify where management will take place by forest age, stand and type. 3) Forest Description- Sufficient detail for a practitioner to follow the plan. Description should paint a mental picture for forest health, age, condition. For larger or diverse holdings, forest stands (compartments) may be described separately to account for varied management needs and species make-up. Stand description and inventory: Each stand should be described and correctly marked on the property map and/or aerial photograph. Additional useful information to include: soil types (site quality and limitations), the number of acres, tree species, stand age, stocking (trees per acre), growth rate, range of tree 4

5 diameters, average tree height, tree condition and health, and unique water quality or drainage information. 4) Management Recommendations & Schedule of activities - Detailed practices needed to sustain productivity or reach objectives, ideally site or stand-specific activities. A concise timeline with a check-off for completion of activities and target date for plan revision. 5) Proposed Harvest and Regeneration Schedule- The date when proposed or predicted final harvest and regeneration will occur. These may be long-term predictions and often are approximate as best Some flexibility for market and other conditions is appropriate. Additional Forest Management Plan Components (Not required for PUV) Legal description: Plans should contain complete ownership information. Where applicable, the legal description will refer to the deedbook, tax parcel, and acreage. This information is useful for transition planning as heirs assume responsibility for the family forest. Protection and maintenance: Describe key protection and maintenance activities, including: boundary marking, property lines maintenance; road and trail maintenance, access control; fire protection; insect and disease inspection, protection, and salvage. 5

6 Sources of Plan Assistance If writing a forest management plan seems too daunting a task to complete on your own, help is available to North Carolinians. The following forest plan preparers can help you make the right choice for your situation. NC Forest Service: Your county ranger is the first contact for a free forest management plan or more detailed Forest Stewardship plan. Search by County for your local office at: Private Consulting Foresters: Private professional foresters offer many management, marketing and plan preparation services. Lists of professional are available from the NC Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters(ACF) NC Forest Service website: Industry Foresters: Some industry and wood buying firms will prepare a forest management plan as part of their landowner assistance or procurement activities. Be sure to ask about the availability or such programs in your negotiations with those entities. Online Forest Planning Assistance Tools Many innovative online resources are available to aid you develop a management plan. Forest *A*Syst: is a great place to start. Click on the management plan page and begin to profile your land, locate your property, print an aerial photo, print out your objectives, access the online soil survey and even contact a resource professional for assistance with your plan. The website includes many videos to watch and learn. My Land Plan: An easy-to-use website for mapping your property boundaries, adding trails, setting goals and actions, access management 6

7 information, and even document your own forest journal. The My Land Plan website includes many how-to video to guide you through the process. N.C. Forest Service s Virtual- Plan: A self-guided, online forest information and planning assistance website is being currently developed by the NC Forest Service. The website helps instruct landowners on their forest type, forest management basics and mechanism for defining objectives. The website is visually oriented to illustrate to landowners what forest stands look like before and after a practice is completed. A beta version is available at: Capturing Your Property on a Map A workable management plan includes a resource map or maps. Information about your property and its natural resources can be obtained from various maps, aerial photographs, and other resources including: A survey plat received at the time of purchase may be a good start for the base resource map for your property (available from your surveyor or local county tax office). Deed copies can be obtained from your county Register of Deeds or online. The deed is a legal description of your property and a critical resource when selling land and timber. Topographic maps provide valuable information on elevations, streams, lakes, ponds, roads, and other important landmarks. A topographic map is an important resource for designing roads, skid trails, recreational trails and can be obtained from the US Geological Survey, purchased locally, or obtained online at Soil survey / maps delineate productive soils for tree growth and limitations for constructions of roads, trails, and woodland management activities. Soil maps and 7

8 information can be obtained from the local Natural Resource Conservation Service office or online at Aerial photographs provide a bird s eye view of the property for easy location of property lines, roads, and trails; identify vegetation and stand boundaries; and acreage determination. Aerial photos help make efficient land management decisions in concert with your neighbor s land use. Aerial photographs can be obtained from the local USDA Farm Service Center, NC Forest Service or ordered directly, online. Taken collectively the resources listed above can be combined to create a resource map for your entire property. Personalize your map with the pertinent vegetation types, clearings, boundaries, land and water features or riparian buffers that will drive your management decisions. Your map should identify the basic management units or timber stands at the level where those activities will take place. Fitting all of this information on a single map can be difficult. Choose a workable map scale, and be selective when compiling the map. Put the most important features in plain view. Advances in Geospatial Information Systems (computerized maps) can expedite your resource mapping approach, allowing the displaying of resources with enough detail to make sound decisions later. Many GIS maps are available online or through your resource professional and can be easily customized for your use. Take a Business Approach to your Forest Management Plan Once you have drawn up your forest management plan, be sure to follow it and monitor progress. Wildfire, insects, diseases, and overgrazing can be destructive to your forest. 8

9 Frequent visits by you and a professional forester are recommended to check firebreaks, evaluate your forest s health and vigor, and protect your investment. Specific plans may require additional elements in order to comply with program requirements. These elements may include wetlands, endangered species or biological diversity, invasive species and even carbon management. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION IS REQUIRED for PUV PROGRAM COMPLIANCE A thorough review of required forestry program elements is available from the NC Forest Service: eriachecklist.pdf Review and update your plan periodically to be sure you are familiar with planned activities for each year. Some activities can be more costly if delayed or at least will impact future returns if delayed for too long. Your plan should be reviewed periodically and changed as needed. A management plan should change or evolve with changing objectives, markets, and forest conditions. Set a revision date and update the plan whenever wind, ice, insects, or disease events alter current conditions or force a salvage or regeneration operation. UPON AUDIT, A COUNTY TAX OFFICE MAY REQUIRE AN UPDATED FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN Monitoring your forest for evidence of insect or disease infestations annually or more frequently in times of stress. Inspect on a schedule that s appropriate to the problem; for 9

10 aggressive insects inspect seasonally and after each major storm event. Salvage value diminishes rapidly with time; and damaged or downed trees can often host insect pests. Maintain management and financial records to minimizing tax headaches and liabilities.. Good records provide a basis for casualty loss for your timber and are required for preparing tax returns. Retain records of invoices, receipts, canceled checks, contracts, tax records, and labor conducted by you or your family. Maintain Sound, Legal Contracts for all of your business endeavors. While contracts can t guarantee satisfactory performance by others, they do provide a legally binding record of your intentions and a strong incentive for them to carry out their end of the contract. Landowners can develop a legal contract as long as it meets all appropriate criteria. However, for a contract prepared by another to be valid, it must either be prepared or reviewed by an attorney. Additional Forest Management Plan Considerations Seek professional assistance. All landowners should seek help from professional advice related to regulations and timber sale agreements. Hiring a professional forester can result in an increase in the sale price but more importantly, can ensure that your forests are more productive and in good health for the next generation. Limited financial resources. Most forest practices have costs associated with them. State or Federal cost-share assistance may be available for certain 10

11 practices. Plan for success whether employing intensive or lower cost practices and be poised to take advantage of funding opportunities as they arise.. Small ownerships. There are economies of scale with all forestry practices. Below a certain tract size many practices become too expensive per acre for the operation to be acceptable by landowners. One strategy is to time similar operations with others on your property or with neighboring landowners. Constraints or limitations to planned activities. Your management plan must be conducted within the scope of existing laws, regulation, local ordinances, and zoning. Obtaining professional advice and guidance for endangered species, wetland regulation, burning regulations, municipal jurisdiction and North Carolina Best Management Practices make good business sense. Summary Forest management plans are becoming an essential prerequisite to qualify for property tax relief (PUV), cost-share assistance and certification programs. Assistance is available to help landowners complete or update a forest management plan from public and private sources. Forest management plans vary in their requirements, yet all begin with defined landowner objectives and seek to describe the timing and sequence of management activities to obtain a desired forest condition. It s always time to review or begin the planning process to make sure you are on track to fulfilling your forest goals. 11

12 Additional information is available from the following resources: Management by Objectives: Successful Forest Planning (Woodland Owner Note #32) Wildlife and Forest Stewardship (Woodland Owner Note #27) Forest Stewardship: Planning for Beauty and Diversity (Woodland Owner Note #28) A Family Forest Forest Health- Community Wealth Prepared by Mark Megalos and Rick Hamilton, Extension Associate Professor and Professor Emeritus NC State University College of Natural Resources 12