Get started on a management plan for your property by contacting Green Timber Consulting Foresters.

Types of Management Plans
There are numerous management plan options and incentives that landowners may be interested in.

• Forest Stewardship Plan
• Commercial Forest
• Qualified Forest

Forest Stewardship Plan

This plan is partially funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service. It is a voluntary plan that describes the land's soil, hydrology, vegetation, wildlife and wetlands. Through site visits and consultation with the landowner, Green Timber Consulting Foresters will provide management options. These management recommendations help the landowners achieve their land management goals.

What are the qualifications?
This program is available to landowners with at least twelve acres, five of which are forested, of non-industrial private forestland.

What is the cost of a Forest Stewardship Plan?
These plans can vary in scientific detail. The Michigan DNR combined with the USDA Forest Service, contribute $300.00 plus $1.25 per acre. Depending on the detail of the plan desired, cost to the landowner starts at an amount equal to the cost share received.

How closely is the landowner required to follow the plan?
Landowners are encouraged, but not required to implement the management recommendations included in the plan.

Is there a tax incentive associated with this program?
There are no tax incentives for a Forest Stewardship Plan. However, it does meet the management plan enrollment requirements for Commercial Forest, Qualified Forest and the Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program. Landowners enrolling in the Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program may use their Forest Stewardship Plan to apply for Technical Assistance Funding. This funding can be used to help finance the required inventory costs.

What is included in a Forest Stewardship Plan?
The Forest Stewardship Plan is a very detailed plan, including the following:

• Landowner Objectives and Goals
• General Property Description and Location
• Land History and Past Land Use
• Current Land Use
• Current Land Conditions with Detailed Descriptions of:
• Hydrology and Wetlands
• Wildlife
• Soils
• Trail/Roads
• Vegetation (trees and ground flora)
• Management Options
  • Timber Sales
  • TSI (Timber Stand Improvement)
  • Food Plot
  • Tree Planting
  • Road Layout
• Schedule for Management Options
• Detailed Maps Displaying the Following:
  • Property Boundaries
  • Forest Stands
  • Streams and Lakes
  • Roads and Trails
  • Soils
  • Other Important Features

Click here for more on the Forest Stewardship Program

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Commercial Forest

The Commercial Forest program is a tax incentive option that requires enrolled properties to be actively managed for timber production in lieu of a property tax break.

What are the qualifications?
This program is available to landowners with 40 or more contiguous acres, of which 50 percent is productive forestland. Acres enrolled in the Commercial Forest program must be capable of providing public, non-motorized access for hunting, fishing and trapping. Enrolled acres cannot contain buildings or structures and must have an approved forest management plan.

What is the cost of a Commercial Forest plan?
The cost of a Commercial Forest Plan varies depending on acreage and desired detail of the plan. There are no cost-sharing incentives for this plan.

How closely is the landowner required to follow the plan?
The landowner must follow all timber management aspects of the plan.

What are the tax incentives associated with this program?
The annual property tax for enrolled lands is $1.20 per acre. A Commercial Forest Plan also meets the management plan enrollment requirements for the Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program.

What is included in a commercial forest plan?

• Landowner Objectives and Goals
• Current Timber Conditions on the Property
• Timber Management Options
  • Timber Sales
  • TSI (Timber Stand Improvement)
  • Tree Planting
  • Road Layout
• Schedule for Timber Management Options
• Detailed Maps Displaying the Following:
  • Property Boundaries
  • Forest Stands
  • Streams and Lakes
  • Roads and Trails

Click here for more on the Commercial Forest Program

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Qualified Forest

A management plan is required for lands enrolled in the Qualified Forest Program. This is a tax incentive program that requires the property to be actively managed for timber production in lieu of a tax break. Unlike the Commercial Forest Program, public access is not required to be granted.

What are the qualifications?
This program is available to landowners with 20-320 contiguous acres, of which 80 percent is productive forestland. Enrolled acres cannot contain buildings or structures and must have an approved forest management plan.

What is the cost of a Qualified Forest Plan?
The cost of a qualified plan varies depending on acreage and desired detail of the plan. There are no cost-sharing incentives for this plan.

How closely is the landowner required to follow the plan?
The landowner must follow all timber management aspects of the plan. Landowners are also required to submit an annual report summarizing timber production on their Qualified Forestland.

What are the tax incentives associated with this program?
The tax on forestland enrolled in this program is reduced by 18 mills. A Qualified Forest Plan also meets the management plan enrollment requirements for the Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program.

What is included in the Qualified Forest Plan?

• Landowner Objectives and Goals
• Current Timber Conditions on the Property
• Timber Management Options
  • Timber Sales
  • TSI (Timber Stand Improvement)
  • Tree Planting
  • Road Layout
• Schedule for Timber Management Options
• Detailed Maps Displaying the Following:
  • Property Boundaries
  • Forest Stands
  • Streams and Lakes
  • Roads and Trails

Download a Qualified Forest Program application here. (PDF Format) If you can not view the documents, you will need to install the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader ^®.

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