There are a number of options available for forest management plans… some more comprehensive, some with a more singularly-focused purpose. Which plan is right for you depends upon your goals and objectives for your forestland. Here are brief descriptions of the various types of forest management plans.
Forest Stewardship Management Plans
A Forest Stewardship Management Plan serves as the foundation for connecting forest landowners with their forestland through a comprehensive plan that addresses individual landowner objectives for their entire property. This plan type is the most comprehensive and takes a holistic approach to forest management for a landowner’s entire property, and is highly recommended for landowners wishing to address all resource aspects of their land. Forest Stewardship Management Plans are optimal for landowners with multiple objectives and a desire to successfully manage their land for multiple purposes. These plans must adhere to National and State Forest Stewardship Management Plan guidelines. Forest Stewardship Management Plans developed by DOF staff incur a nominal fee, which is dependent upon the size of the property.
Forest Management Plans
Forest management plans create opportunities for landowners to meet their forestry objectives. These plans generally cover an entire ownership, but are less comprehensive than Forest Stewardship Management Plans. The primary focus of the plan is to provide forest management information and recommendations that will help the landowner with forest management decisions for their property.
Practice Plans
Practice Plans are management plans for a single stand or area of a tract, particular management concern, or landowner area of interest. These single-resource plans are valuable in addressing more immediate landowner needs and can be a first step to more comprehensive planning in the future. The plan can include small incidental areas (example Special Management Zones) that may be associated with the stand or area of interest. A Practice Plan is not generally developed for an entire tract unless the tract is small and/or supports one timber type that will be managed as a single parcel. Practice Plans are often used to document existing conditions and make management recommendations for federal or state cost-share programs.
Cost-Share Plans
Cost-Share Plans are single-resource management plans that state objectives, current stand characteristics, and make specific practice recommendations for practices that are covered under a state or federal cost-share program. Check the requirements of the specific cost-share program being considered to verify whether a multi-resource Forest Management Plan or a single-resource plan type is required for participation.
Land-Use Plans
Land-Use Plans are concise one- to two-page plans that include very brief information about the present forest stands, the soils, and also include general forest management practice recommendations. They are developed to meet the planning requirements of some counties to participate in use-value taxation programs. The plan will cover all forested acres on a contiguous tract. Land-Use Plans do not contain sufficient detail to qualify for cost-share programs, and are not equivalent to Tree Farm Plans and Forest Stewardship Management Plans. Land-Use Plans developed by DOF staff incur a nominal fee.
Pre-Harvest Plans
Pre-harvest plans are specific plans developed to assist landowners and/or logging contractors to minimize the potential impact to soil and water quality when conducting a timber harvesting operation. The plan is based on standards in the Virginia’s Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP) for Water Quality – Technical Guide and will identify recommended best management practices. DOF staff can develop these pre-harvest plans, while loggers or logging managers generally prepare the actual harvest plan.
Community Forest Management Plan
This goal is to provide a plan to a total neighborhood, subdivision, community, or part thereof to achieve resource objectives. Numerous individual ownerships may be included. DOF staff would communicate with a community representative (s) with authority to request the plan and provide objectives. Areas covered could include commonly-owned areas, as well as private land. A field examination is expected, but may or may not extend to the individual tax parcel level. This type of plan could be integrated with woodland home community fire mitigation plans.
Which Plan is Best for Me?
Contact a DOF forester for guidance about which plan meets your needs.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alternate Management Plan | 7.06 | Form | View | |
| Alternate Management Plan Supplement For… (Transfer) | 7.07 | Form | View | |
| Century Forest Application | 10.03 | Application to apply for the recognition in the Century Forest Program. | Form | View |
| Forest Legacy Program Application – Conservation Easement | 10.04 | Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via conservation easement. | Form | View |
| Forest Legacy Program Application – Fee Simple Purchase | 10.05 | Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via fee simple purchase. | Form | View |
Contact Us
DOF foresters can assist you with your forestland, contact your local DOF forester.
For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.
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