New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

LANDOWNER FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLAN

FORMAT - OCTOBER 2000

REQUIRED ELEMENTS - Stewardship plans should include the following elements.

1. Landowner information: name, mailing address and telephone number.

Plan preparer information: name, mailing address and telephone number.

Plan preparation date

Number of Forest Stewardship acres owned and covered in plan.

2. Landowner goals statement, list of landowner management goals. Landowner affirmation of goals and management intention. (As owner, I/we agree that this management plan reflects my/our goals and intentions for the management of this property)

3. General property description: overview giving general location, major forest types, general landscapes and current land use. Identify any known:

rare or endangered species classified streams

protected wetlands natural features

Natural Heritage Program data is a useful reference.

4. Soils information: information can be generalized over property when soils are uniform. Describe how soils may affect attainment of landowner objectives. Soils map and descriptions from published county soil surveys, if available, are useful.

56. Narrative description and discussion of interrelationship of resources, specific to property in context to landowner management goals:

wildlife and fisheries habitat forest health

recreation and aesthetics timber

soil and water

6. Narrative description of each stand or management unit including the following:

forest or cover type

stand history - past land use

stand management objective that supports ownership goal

recommended management activities including use of Best Management Practices

stand descriptors: acres

(May be in chart species composition

form) size class

relative stocking density ( under, well or over stocked )

site quality ( poor, good, excellent )

timber quality (poor, good, excellent)

7. Location map on USGS map, county highway map or aerial photo adequately labeled.

8. Forest type map adequately labeled with:

property boundaries

stand boundaries

stand identification

water bodies, roads, structures, other physical features

scale, north arrow

9. Ten year schedule summarizing recommended management activities and priority. A chart summarizing recommendations by stand is suggested.

OPTIONAL PLAN ELEMENTS - Elements that, if resources permit and in the opinion of the professional preparing plan are appropriate to address landowner goals, should be included.

1. Stand characteristics: based on a reliable field inventory ( one that can be replicated with similar results) that includes:

stand age - determined by measurement or growth model

stocking - trees and BA per acre

volume - board feet, cords, cubic feet and / or tons per acre

growth rate - annual unit of growth based on increment borings or growth model

2. Discussion of interaction with other surrounding properties. Narrative description of how use, management and condition of surrounding parcels impact management of landowner’s property.

Narrative on any significant cultural resources present and identification of regional/subsection hierarchy. Archeological Site Inventory Maps and USFS National Ecoregional map by R. Bailey or Ecological Units of the Eastern US by Keys, McNab & Carpenter are useful references.

3. Description of long range silvicultural objectives for each stand or management unit, related to landowner goals.

4. Management Unit Analysis Table that summarizes stands or management units by:

area

site class

cover or timber type

management objective

recommended management activity

5. TIME narrative that summarizes landowners Time, Interest, Money and Energy to implement management plan.