Background
In forested regions of the state some landowners desire to implement forest management practices on their RIM easements.
Forest Stewardship Plans (FSPs, also known as Woodland Stewardship Plans) are a commonly used method whereby a qualified plan writer provides management recommendations to landowners. Recommendations are based on landowner goals and include management actions to ensure a healthy forest. Properties are mapped into management units based upon ecological conditions. Generally, a menu of management options is proposed for each management unit. These recommendations can range from clear-cut to do nothing.
Although a range of management recommendations provides useful information it also complicates giving blanket approval of plans for land encumbered by a RIM easements. Consequently, having a FSP does not grant permission to implement practice recommendations without pre-approval. As a safety measure landowners will be required to sign a document recognizing that approval is required prior to practice implementation. Because of the nature of the easement and the restrictions placed by several funding sources any management actions that are implemented MUST be for habitat management purposes and must not undermine the purposes for which the easement was acquired. Maximizing timber harvest or economic gain alone is not sufficient reason to allow harvest. However, if the harvest is justifiable as a habitat management practice economic gain is not prohibited.
Procedures
- At the time of application, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) should ask landowners if they have a Forest Stewardship Plan or are intending to get one. If they are, obtain a copy for your files and send a copy to BWSR Easement Section.
- If an easement application has 20 or more acres of forested land, they will need to sign the RIM FSP Acknowledgement Form (docx), even if they do not have or do not intend to get an FSP.
- If a landowner of forested land applying for a RIM easement intends to implement forest management practices, a new or updated FSP is required at the time of enrolling in a conservation easement. The plan shall:
- State that the land is enrolled in a conservation easement
- Be written by a Forest Stewardship Plan writer qualified by the DNR
- Follow DNR guidelines for plan content
- For forested areas 20 acres or larger in size, be registered with the DNR; it is advised that the plan writer coordinate with the DNR plan reviewer prior to finalization and DNR registration