FOREST STEWARDSHIP IN MARYLAND

Forest Stewardship is the wise management and use of forest resources, including improved water quality, wildlife species and habitat diversity, recreation, timber, aesthetics and air quality. to ensure their health and productivity for years to come.  Forest Stewardship is also the management of forest resources in a way that is, at once, economically expedient but conservative, and socially, environmentally, and ecologically responsible.  Maryland has an abundance of forested lands.  There are a total of xxx acres of forested land through out the state and there are xxx state forests that contain a total of xxx acres of timber.  The remaining xxx acres. or about 90% of the forested land in our state, are privately owned.  There are a variety of Forest Stewardship Programs that are available to private land owners to assist them in their land management.  Many of these methods provide a significant financial benefit to the land owner.  Forest land is one of Maryland’s greatest natural resources and, taken care of, can offer long term benefits for everyone.  All owners of five or more acres of forest land or non-forest land that can be planted to trees can participate in the Maryland Forest Stewardship Program.

A SUCCESSFUL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Forest stewardship begins with a well prepared Forest Management Plan.  A Forest Management Plan is a simply a working guide to good forest stewardship and allows the landowner to maximize the wildlife, water, timber, recreation, aesthetic value, habitat diversity and other benefits of owning woodland.  Plans do not need to be long and/or complicated and in reality, are actually best if kept brief and to the point.  A good plan should also combine the natural and physiographic characteristics of the woodland and it is essential that it have the interests, goals, and objectives of the land owner to produce a set of forest management recommendations.  Following the plan will transform the forest into one that is enjoyable and productive financially for the landowner and for future generations.  It should contain the following essential elements:

Landowner objectives for the woodland;
Maps denoting the property’s location, boundaries, forest stands, and soil types;
Forest Inventory information;
Descriptions and recommendations for each forest stand; and,
A chronology of recommendations.

Plans are typically written for a 10 to 15 year period but should be updated about every 5 years.

HOW TO START THE PLAN

The best way to start the forest management plan is with a project forester from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service.  Contact the DNR Forest Service http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/ and arrange to meet with the project forester at your property.  The forester will tour your woodland and help you develop forest management objectives based on your interests and goals, as well as the ability of the land to meet them.  The project forester can assist you in conducting an inventory of your woodland and develop a written management plan in cooperation with wildlife and fishery biologists, ecologists, and other natural resource professionals.  The project forester can also assist you in implementing the plan.  This assistance may include recommending private consulting foresters who can provide timber sale and management services for a fee which can be paid for out of the sale.  Remember, a good plan will help you manage your woodland properly with benefits for the landowner and for future generations. Forest land is one of our greatest natural resources and taken care of properly, will offer long term benefits for everyone. 

COST SHARE ASSISTANCE

The Farm Services Agency (USDA-FSA) and the Maryland DNR Forest Service (MDNR-FS) provide cost share assistance programs to landowners to help defray the cost of forest improvement practices. The Maryland DNR Forest Service is responsible for providing technical assistance to the landowner, helping find vendors to do the work, and reporting completion of the practice.

 
Five cost share programs and one grant program are available to you to help defray the costs of accomplishing recommended forestry practices. The cost share programs are targeted at different goals depending on the landowner objectives. Eligibility depends on the size of your property and the availability of funds. In most cases, the first step is to have a forest stewardship management plan written for the property. Depending on what is recommended in the plan, you may be eligible for cost share assistance. Cost share assistance is usually in the form of a percentage of your total cost to accomplish the practice. You will get back a portion of the total cost of the practice, usually between 50% and 65%. The grant program provides funding, up to $300 per acre, for buffer plantings.

Funding must be allocated prior to the beginning of any work. Contact your county forester for assistance and details. The forester can provide help by furnishing technical specifications and setting up the recommended practices. Contract crews may be available to perform the recommended practice. 

MARYLAND DNR FOREST SERVICE ASSISTANCE TO LANDOWNERS

Landowners receiving forestry services from the Maryland Forest Service will be charged a fee to partially underwrite the cost of delivering these services. The Forest Stewardship Plan provides the landowner with professional and technical information needed to manage and conserve forest resources. The Forest Stewardship Plan acts as a working plan and is a guide to the proper management. The Forest Stewardship plan is also necessary to qualify for various tax programs, such as the Forest Conservation Management Agreement, and to qualify for cost share assistance. Parcels which are contiguous and have identical ownership can be combined into one plan.

Rates:
Under 5 acres $100.00
5-25 acres $200.00
26-50 acres $225.00
51-100 acres $250.00
101-500 acres $275.00
501 or more acres $300.00

MANAGEMENT PLAN INSPECTIONS

Management plan inspections are necessary to provide verification of a landowner's compliance with a written management plan to satisfy the Department of Assessment and Taxation requirements. This applies to those landowners receiving an agricultural use assessment that is not under a Forest Conservation Management Agreement. Inspections for voluntary programs such as the Tree Farm Program are not included. 

Rate: 1-10 acres is $50, 11 or more acres is $100. 

This involves the physical marking of trees for firewood, pulpwood, seed tree designation, routine thinnings, etc.. The Forest Service cannot mark sawtimber (trees > 12" DBH), do volume estimates, or determine appraised value. 

Rate(s):$12.00 per acre 

Forest Service professionals are available to coordinate forestry activities that are provided by private sector vendors. This includes tree plantings, site preparation, aerial spraying, non-commercial timber stand improvement, etc.