The road to success with any project, including the management of your land, starts with good planning. A good management plan should be guided by you or your families goals and objectives for your Forest, Farm, or property. Resources of all kinds are measured and inventoried, management recommendations are offered, and then a plan of action is prepared to help you achieve your vision. Some things to think about before and during the planning process are:
- Description of your Farm, Forest, or Property
- Setting goals for your Property
- Identifying your resources on the property
- Identify your available time and financial resources
- Keeping good records
Would you like to see an example of a simple management plan prepared for a landowner with goals and objectives on wildlife management and recreation? Click Here
Forest Management Plan
A Forest Management Plan is a document geared mostly toward the care and management of the wooded portions of your property. An example goal might be to maximize and maintain high quality timber resources, or provide the highest quality wildlife habitat possible, or both, a Forest Management Plan is for you.
A forest management plan does not have to be a complicated document. It can vary from being a simple description of a management stand, to a detailed plan that covers multiple resources across a whole property. Many state and federal government programs such as the USDA offer financial assistance to landowners desiring to have a plan developed, and have specific requirements for the content of the plans.
If having a plan developed through these programs is desired, Scenic Rivers Farm & Forest Consulting LLC is careful to prepare plans that follow these requirements on your behalf. If you are using a program or not, it is important that your plan include:
- Your objectives
- Property location and history
- An adequate resource assessment
- Management recommendations
- Schedule of activities
- Suplimental information
Open Land Managment Plan
An open land management plan is a document geared mostly toward the care and management of the fields, pasture, or rangeland on your property. The character of these plans are guided by the objectives of you the landowner.
An example goal or objective might be to maximize small game and quail habitat on your farm, or to improve soil health, forage quality, and water resources for increased livestock production and health. Maybe, it is both. In any scenario, a good plan is an important place to start. There are many agriculture and wildlife programs administered through state agencies and the USDA, that require a plan either before or at least durring the application and planning process.
Scenic Rivers Farm & Forest Consulting LLC has the ability and experience to prepare your plan, and help guide you through government program application and planning process, if that is a direction you choose to go.
Prescribed Fire Plan
A Prescribed fire is a carefully planned and controlled management tool for the management of both woodlands and openlands. A burn plan is an important document that includes the burn’s objectives and expectation of the burn.
The plan also sets requirements for weather conditions before and during the burn, an ignition plan, and includes many considerations such as smoke dispersal and contingency plans. Landowners that take steps to educate themselves on the proper use of prescribed fire, and follow an approved burn plan while conducting the burn, provide for themselves a layer of safety while conducting a prescribed burn.
Burn plans are a necessary document if landowners choose to participate in state or federal cost share programs related to prescribed fire. All burn plans must be reviewed and signed by a qualified professional if it to be used in an official capacity.
Tree and Shrub Planting Plan
A Tree and Shrub Planting Plan is a document that details the process of planting trees or shrubs on various sites depending on landowner objectives. These plans can be a stand alone plan, or as part of a forest or openland management plan. Some plans may provide instruction on how to convert a field to a future productive forest or supplement desired tree species in a degraded forest.
A landowner may desire to establish a wooded riparian corridor along a stream to protect water quality or stream bank integrity. Another landowner may want to plant shrubs in or along the edge of a field for wildlife habitat or escape cover for quail. Tree and Shrub planting plans are necessary in the planning process for the Tree and Shrub planting practice administered by the USDA.
If having a management plan prepared by a professional forester is something you want to look into, please contact us below, and we can discuss how we can help.