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Nebraska Forest Service

Managing Your Forest

The key to successful forest management is preparing a thorough woodland management plan. To do so, there are several steps to follow:

  1. Develop a list of specific objectives for your woodland. Ask yourself what you want from your woodland and when you want it. Do you want to use your woodland firewood production? Do you want to manage it for wildlife habitat? If you have multiple objectives, set priorities among your objectives. Landowners should familiarize themselves with the deed(s) to their property to determine whether any restrictive easements exist.
  2. Work with a forester to conduct a woodland inventory. A woodland inventory will assess the species composition, density, quality and growth rate of your woodland. A thorough woodland inventory will also involve developing an accurate map of the property. This map should include property and woodland boundaries, roads, trails, utility wires, pipelines, buildings, bodies of water and natural, historical or archaeological resources, if applicable. Understanding your woodland will help you and your forester develop the management practices that meet your objectives.
  3. Work with a forester to develop potential management practices. At this stage, you identify the management practices that will help you meet your objectives. Examples of management practices may include planting trees, improving existing stands of trees by thinning or pruning, controlling insect and disease pests and controlling weeds. It is also important to protect your woodland by educating yourself about wildfire management and prevention.
  4. Identify and evaluate your labor and financial resources. This helps you determine whether your management practices are feasible. What materials are available to you? What is your available capital? What is your available labor? How much time and money are you willing to invest in your woodland? These are all questions to ask yourself at this stage. There are many government programs that provide assistance to landowners who wish to improve their woodlands. You may wish to learn more about these programs to determine which ones fit your goals and objectives.
  5. Develop a schedule for your management practices. Determine when you will perform your management practices. This schedule should cover five to ten years.
  6. Keep records of your management activities. Keep thorough, accurate records of your management practices and other activities related to your woodland. Recording your management practies will help you determine what is and is not benefitting your woodland, while keeping track of income and expenses will be valuable when filing income taxes.

References:

  • Planning for Forest Stewardship-A Desk Guide,United States Forest Service Publication.
  • Baughman, M., Alm, A., Reed, A., Eiber, T. & Blinn, C. (1993) Woodland Stewardship: A Practical Guide for Midwestern Landowners. University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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