Virginia's Forest Stewardship Program and available forestry cost-share programs. Forest Management Planning Program for landowners. Presented by Terrance Lasher, Senior Area Forester, Central Region.

1. Virginia’s
Forest Stewardship Program
A Forest Management
Planning Program
For Landowners

2. Forest Stewardship Program
Created as part of the 1990 Farm Bill
USDA Forest Service funded, state administered
Voluntary, no obligation
Primary emphasis:
 Promote good forest management practices
 Develop multiple-use management plans for
landowners
 Help landowners reach their goals through
implementing recommended practices

3. Who May Participate
Private Non-Industrial Forest landowners
with a minimum 10 acres of forest
Desire to manage land based on
stewardship principles:
Maintain and enhance the value of forests
Within context of long-term plan
Objectives that are socially, economically
and environmentally responsible

4. Timber
Management
Wildlife
Management
Soil & Water
Conservation
Recreation
Aesthetics
FOREST
STEWARDSHIP
PROGRAM

5. Getting A Stewardship Plan
Submit a completed
application to
Department of Forestry
Choose a forester to
develop the Plan
Forester examines the
property with the
landowner, if possible
Forester develops the
Plan
Other natural resource
professional review the
Plan, if necessary
Final Plan is completed
and sent to the
landowner

6. Plan Preparation Costs
Department of Forestry Forester:
$1.50 per acre for every planned acre
Minimum $200 per Plan
Approved Consultant or Industry Forester
Market rate for plan preparation
Negotiation with the landowner

7. Program Benefits
A customized forest management plan
 Map, stand characteristics, recommendations,
planning timelines
Meets the planning requirements for the Tree
Farm Program and forest certification
Meets the planning requirements for Forest Use-
Value taxation
Increases the ranking points for inclusion in
Federal Cost-Share Assistance Programs

8. Program Benefits
Meets the requirement for applying for
Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit
Meets the requirement for placing land under
a conservation easement
Helps meet the sustainability requirements
necessary for ecosystem services markets
Potential to assist landowner in participation
in markets for energy/biofuels

9. Certified Forest Steward
Have a Forest Stewardship Plan written for
your property.
Implement several of the Plan’s multi-resource
benefit practices.
Contact the Department of Forestry to
schedule a Stewardship certification visit.
Receive a Stewardship Forest sign to display
on the property and a plaque.

10. The Plan Process
Initial Field Visit
Office Prep.
 Maps
 Web searches
 Soils information
Data Collection
Writing Plan
Presentation of Plan

11. Initial Field Visit
Goals & objectives
History & past management practices
Property boundaries
Unique land features
Items of Interest

12. Initial Field Visit
Address Concerns
Non-native invasive species
Pest & disease
Access
Illegal trespass

13. Follow Up Field Visit
Field Data Collection
Vegetative & tree species inventory
Wildlife habitat assessment
Soil types & conditions

14. Components

15. Components/Products

16. Components/Products

20. Cost Share Programs
Reforestation of Timberlands (RT)
Practice 1: Planting loblolly or Virginia pine - $22 per acre.
Practice 2: Site preparation and planting loblolly or Virginia pine - $60 per acre.
Includes herbicide spraying and planting open or abandoned fields.
Practice 3: Planting shortleaf, white, pitch-loblolly, or longleaf pine - $48 per acre.
Practice 4: Site preparation and planting shortleaf, white, pitch-loblolly, or longleaf
pine - $85 per acre.
Practice 5: Herbicide site preparation and planting (any species on cutover lands) - $90
per acre.
Practice 6: Aerial Herbicide release application for all pines except white - $20 per acre.
Practice 7: Herbicide release application for white pine - $43 per acre.
Ground release application - $43/acre.
Cost share rates shall not exceed 75% of the total cost of the project.

21. Cost Share Programs
Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit
The 2000 Virginia General Assembly enacted the Riparian Buffer Tax Credit to provide
a nonrefundable tax credit to:
Individuals, S-Corporations or Partnerships;
• Estates and Trusts are not eligible for this tax credit, but Family Partnerships and
Limited Liability Corporations are eligible.
• owning land on which timber is harvested, which abuts a waterway, and who
forbears timber harvesting on certain portions of the land for 15 consecutive years.
The amount of the credit is equal to 25 percent of the value of the timber retained as a
buffer up to $17,500. The buffer must be at least 35 feet wide and no more than 300
feet and be intact for 15 years.
The applicant must have a Stewardship Plan for the tract to qualify!
A separate application must be completed for each tract. Application fee of $150 each.

22. Cost Share Programs
Forestry Quail Habitat Recovery
Program designed to enhance Bobwhite Quail habitat for private, non-industrial forest
landowners within the 15 county area: Bland, Wythe, Greensville, Southampton,
Sussex, Halifax, Augusta, Essex, King and Queen, King William, Culpeper, Greene,
Madison, Rappahannock, and Orange.
Practice 1: Herbicide Application to Thinned Pine Stands. 50% of cost not to exceed
$100/acre, pine stands must have been commercially thinned at least once.
Practice 2: Commercial Thinning in Small Acreage Stands Pine stands from 5-25 acres,
one contiguous pine stand per tract, must be first commercial thinning, $100/acre.
Practice 3: Shortleaf Pine Planting 90% of costs not to exceed $200/acre, can include
site preparation costs, must eliminate existing ground cover, maximum of 434 trees
per acre (10x10ft).
Practice 4: Pre-Commercial Pine Thinning 90% of costs not to exceed $125/acre,
thinned to about 10x12 spacing
Total payment shall not exceed $10,000 per fiscal year per landowner (tax id entity)

23. Cost Share Programs
Federal Program (administered by NRCS).
Based on point ranking system. Can assist
forest landowners with:
Forest Management Plan
Brush Management
Prescribed Burning
Critical Area Planting
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
Silvopasture
Fencing
Riparian Forest Buffer Planting
Firebreak Establishment
Access Control (animal exclusion)
Mulching
Forest Site Preparation
Tree/Shrub Establishment
Restoration & Mgmt of Rare &
Declining Habitats
Road/Trail/Landing Closure &
Treatment
Forest Stand Improvement
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program)

24. A Productive, Healthy Forest
Is Worth the Management Effort !

25. Contact Information
Terry Lasher, Senior Area Forester
NOVA Team Area, Central Region
Terry.lasher@dof.virginia.gov
540-347-6358
www.dof.virginia.gov
Team Area Counties – Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William,
Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Culpeper and the City of
Alexandria