Virginia’s hardwood initiative promotes quality hardwood management to grow healthy hardwood forests today and tomorrow. With more than 80% of Virginia’s forestland being privately owned, DOF needs cooperation from landowners to reverse the decline in our hardwood forests through the implementation of best practices. In addition to improving our forests, activities that facilitate tree regeneration are often beneficial to game and other wildlife.
The hardwood initiative is funded by Virginia state budget bill HB1800.
What the Hardwood Initiative Offers
Forest management starts with setting goals. As part of the hardwood initiative, DOF foresters and consultants work closely with landowners to discuss ownership objectives. Once determined, the forester will perform assessments and offer recommendations in the form of a management plan. The plan will outline suitable practices based on the data and desired outcomes.
Recommendations may include management practices eligible for incentives. Foresters can help eligible landowners apply for incentives to put plans into action.
Incentive Programs
Hardwood management practices take many different forms. Some involve a harvest and timber sale that produce income; others do not produce income in the short term, but instead enable a forest to be productive and valuable in the future. These often require either time and effort, or an expense from the landowner.
To offset these challenges and promote hardwood management, DOF will soon offer incentives to reduce the cost of some hardwood management practices.
Learn more about hardwood management practices.
Hardwood Initiative Cost-Share Program
This program provides cost-share funds to landowners who complete eligible hardwood management practices.
Learn more about the Hardwood Initiative Cost-Share Program.
Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit Program
This tax credit matches out-of-pocket cost of eligible hardwood management work up to $1,000.
Learn more about the Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit Program.
Get started managing your hardwood forest.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Hardwood Initiative – Improving Hardwood Forests for Future Generations | FT0061 | Forestry topic information sheet provides information about Department of Forestry’s hardwood initiative to bring focus to improving hardwood forests for future generations. | Publication | View | forest-management | publication |
 | Hardwood Initiative Cost-Share Program – Cost Assistance for Hardwood Management | FT0071 | Forestry topic information sheet provides information about Department of Forestry’s Hardwood Initiative Cost-Share Program, who is eligible and what qualifies for cost share. | Publication | View | financial-assistance-forest-management forest-management | publication |
 | Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit Application | 7.29 | Application for to apply for Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit. | Form | View | financial-assistance-forest-management forest-management | form |
 | Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit Program – Offering Tax Incentives for Hardwood Management | FT0062 | Forestry topic information sheet provides information about Department of Forestry’s Hardwood Initiative Tax Credit Program, who is eligible and what qualifies for the tax credit. | Publication | View | financial-assistance-forest-management forest-management | publication |
 | Hardwood Management Practices – Improving Hardwood Forests with Proper Forest Management | FT0070 | Forestry topic information sheet provides information about various hardwood management practices that may be used during the establishment, regeneration and tending stages to improve hardwood forests. | Publication | View | forest-management | publication |
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.