General Information
The management plan starts off by detailing the present state of the forest. Acreage, landowner information, location, and management objectives are outlined. Management objectives are specific to each tract and each landowner, and are the goals for the forest. For example, would you like to manage your forest to maximize your revenue potential from timber sales? Are you interested in managing for hunting, horseback riding, or other forms of recreation? Is how the land looks important to you? Or are you just interested in making sure you have a buffer around your residence from other properties?
Interstate Forest Products has written management plans for all of these situations, and combinations of them as well. Most landowners want to have some revenue from timber sales. But many are concerned with aesthetics, how the property looks, as well. And wildlife management is also a common goal. Fortunately, in many cases, management objectives help to achieve more than one goal. For example, in addition to providing income, clearcuts and thinnings improve the habitat for white-tailed deer and rabbits. The management plan will be tailored for your individual property, with your particular goals in mind.
Stand Information
If your property consists of more than one timber type, the timber will be divided into stands. Stands are divisions of your timberland that will be managed together. For example, one stand may consist of 22 year old planted pine, while planted pines of other ages would be separate stands. Another stand might be a bottomland area consisting of hardwood along a creek. Each stand will be evaluated based on what is currently there, and managed accordingly. Your timberland may consist of only one or several stands.
Age, timber type, soil type, stand condition, and recommendations are listed for each stand.
Soil maps and photographs
Soil maps and photographs of each stand will also be included.
Management recommendations and schedule
This section summarizes the management recommendations for each stand. For example, recommendations for the 22 year old planted pine stand might be to evaluate yearly for growth and stocking, with a second thinning expected in 3 to 5 years. The hardwood bottom on the other hand, may call for no action for 10 to 20 more years, other than periodic inspections for storm damage and disease.
A management schedule by year provides a quick reference as to what is needed each year.
And finally, the conclusion summarizes the recommendations and condition of the entire forest.
Updating the plan
After a harvest or thinning, the plan will need to be updated. The updated plan will have recommendations for bedding, site prep, and herbicide application (if necessary), followed by reforestation. Interstate Forest Products recommends reforestation with improved loblolly pine seedlings after a pine or mixed clearcut. If the harvested area is reforested, it will generally be more valuable after 30 years than a naturally regenerated stand would after 50 years.
An up to date management plan is required for cost share applications for reforestation expenses.
