Why create a Forest Stewardship Plan?
If you see your woods for more than just the trees
A Forest Stewardship Plan is a 10-year planning tool that documents your options for management practices that will lead to a productive and healthy forest for the next generation. The Forest Stewardship Plan considers soil and water, climate, wildlife, forest products, and recreation. It recommends actions to enhance your forest’s environmental value while providing social and economic benefits—on and beyond your land.
If you are also interested in reducing taxes on your forested property
The Forest Stewardship Program may be able to assist you in qualifying for Chapter 61 by helping you develop an approved forest management plan that describes your property resources, maps the area, and makes recommendations on long term forest management will be required to participate.
Municipal governments are encouraged to create Stewardship Plans for their Town Forests and may qualify for cost-sharing and a Community Woodland Grant. These forests connect residents to nature and community, and the Forest Stewardship Program can support their care in a changing climate.
Towns and Municipalities approach Forest Stewardship in many different ways. Please connect with the Forest Stewardship Program to learn about how this Program can help your community.
Process Overview
In developing your Forest Stewardship Plan, one size does not fit all. These steps are to help guide and inform you on your path. Many of the first steps can happen in parallel--so don't feel that you need to complete one step before moving on to the next. For example, some landowners begin by meeting with their Service Forester, while others find it helpful to speak with a friend or neighbor who has experienced the program.
1. Consider your goals for your land
Some of your goals may include enhancing or creating wildlife habitat, creating recreational opportunities, protecting water quality, preserving woodland and receiving tax incentives by enrolling Stewardship property in one of the MA Forest Taxation Programs: chapter 61/61A/61B
2. Decide if the Program is right for you
The Forest Stewardship Plan, which is a component of ForestsWork, seeks to reduce the loss of forests to development by increasing understanding of healthy forest ecosystems and promoting sound management practices
3. Meet with a forester
Reach out to your state Service Forester to answer questions and clarify your goals. Additionally, hire a private Consulting Forester to create your plan with you.
4. Explore cost-share opportunities
Your woods provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and local wood –funding assistance can help you keep them thriving.
5. Review and submit your plan
After closely reviewing your plan, you or your consulting forester can submit your plan to your local DCR Service Forester for approval.
6. Implement your plan
Congratulations, you have created a plan that organizes your personal objectives into a strategy for your woods. Once your plan is approved, you can begin to implement your plan.
Connect with your Service Forester
- Discuss the benefits of the program
- Consider your goals
- Assess your eligibility for the program
- Discuss cost-share options available to you
- Provide advice on finding a consulting forester
You may request a woods walk of your property at no cost.
You can find contact information on the Service Forester District Map or listed by town on the Service Forester Phone Directory.
If you’re ever unsure how to proceed, call Michael Downey, Program Coordinator, DCR at 413-212-3039
Consider your goals for your land
With the help of your local Service Forester and a Private Consulting Forester, you will develop a 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan, based on your goals for your property. Here are some suggestions to help you think about your goals prior to meeting with your Service Forester:
- Read our Setting Goals booklet
Read our newest publication, Caring for your Woods - Setting Goals. This booklet helps you identify high-priority goals, provides questions to ask a forester, and explains the landowner goals sheet found in Forest Stewardship Plans. Additionally, visit our curated selection of publications. - Consider the importance of birds.
Consider conducting bird habitat assessments that will allow your Forest Stewardship Plan to better serve the birds who call your forest home - even if just seasonally. Read more about the Foresters for the Birds program in preparation for a discussion with your Service Forester. - Consider your forest in a changing climate.
Consider your forest in a changing climate. Taking an active role as a steward of your land can help your woods adapt to warmer, drier summer conditions and more frequent disturbances from events such as wind, storms or disease that can damage trees. Read more about Climate Forestry to prepare you for a discussion with your Service Forester.
Meet with a forester & create your plan
When you are ready to proceed, the next step is to hire a private consulting forester to create your Forest Stewardship Plan.
- Consult with a forester
Your plan needs will determine the consulting forester with whom you worth with. For example, some foresters will have the credentials to conduct Bird Assessments, while others could help you with both a Bird and Climate assessments. It is best to connecting with a private consulting forester as soon as possible! This will help to set realistic timing targets for your project, since different programs such as the DCR Cost Share and Chapter 61 Current program have specific deadlines.
Check out our Private Consulting Forester Directory. - Communicate your objectives and goals to your consulting forester
Your Forest Stewardship Plan should be based on your unique goals for your woodland. This is the key to the plan being meaningful and helpful to you. You should be actively engaged in communicating these goals to your consulting forester. The Forest Stewardship Plan will discuss how the current forest conditions on your property help to meet your goals and identify management actions to create the desired future conditions to meet these goals into the future. - Your consulting forester will inventory and evaluate resources
After meeting with your forester to discuss your goals for your property, she/he will spend time conducting an inventory of your land. This will include gathering data on:- The various types of forest on your property (forest stands)
- Your parcels and boundaries (to create accurate maps)
- Understory vegetation, any invasive species present, soils, and wildlife habitat
- Conditions to meet your specific goals such as bird habitat, climate resilience, and existing infrastructure
- Any special cultural, historical, or features related to meeting your goals
What’s included in your plan
Your forester will use the data they collected to write your Forest Stewardship Plan and create a ten-year schedule of recommended actions. Your plan will contain a property overview section that places your land in context with the surrounding landscape. The overview will discuss the history of your forest and present issues and conditions that apply to the overall property.
The next section of your plan is the stand descriptions. In this section your property will be broken out into the various forest types (forest stand) that you have present. This is based on types of trees present, their ages and size, their- density and other factors like understory, soil, or history. This section allows you to learn about your property in more detail and how the current conditions may or may not be meeting your goals. This section will create a vision of the future desired condition of each forest stand based on your goals.
The final written section of your plan includes the management recommendations. These outline actions that you can take to create the desired future conditions and better meet your goals. If particular areas are already on track to meeting your goals, the best management action may be to do nothing. Your plan will point out these deliberate decisions to leave things alone, as well as more active management recommendations. Your plan will also contain a set of maps to show your property in the broader landscape as well as at least one detailed map that shows the forest stands and major features identified in the text.
Review and submit your plan
You should closely review your plan to make sure it is accurate, it reflects your goals, and that you understand any management recommendation and why they are being made. This is your plan and you want to be familiar and comfortable with it if you are going to be able to make its vision a reality.
When your plan is complete, you or your consulting forester will submit it to your regional DCR administrative office.
Implementing your plan
Congratulations, you have created a plan that organizes your personal objectives into a strategy for your woods.
The recommendations in your plan are not requirements under the Forest Stewardship Program. If your plan is also being used for the Chapter 61 or Chapter 61A tax relief programs, your plan will contain requirements to enter into and stay in these programs. If you spent time thinking about, articulating, and communicating your goals for your property, you should be excited and committed to making its vision a reality. Implementing your forest stewardship plan may include:
- Scheduling management activities
- Becoming informed about Best Management Practices
- Contracting with land professionals
- Implementing actions timed appropriately with weather and market conditions
- Consider additional benefits and impacts of actions - climate, recreation, carbon, health, soils, etc.
- Stabilize sites of activity when complete
- Assess outcomes of activities
- Planning for the next 10 year period
Your private Consulting Forester, your State Service Forester and many other resource professionals are available at any point along your journey to assist you with information, advice, and updates on possible programs to help you implement the recommendations that are in your plan.
Stewardship Library
Publications
Caring for your Woods - Setting Goals
This booklet helps you identify high-priority goals, provides questions to ask a forester, and explains the landowner goals sheet found in Forest Stewardship Plans.
Caring for your Woods - a Starting Point
Covers the basic of management plan including the roll of a forester, Chapter 61 tax program and estate planning.
Caring for your Woods - Working with Nature
Gives a peek into how a woodlot fits into the natural surroundings as well as potential changes from climate change and invasive species.
Caring for your Woods - A Valuable Resource
Provides a basis for putting a plan into action.
Video Library
About My Woods
Series of videos from the Northeast State Foresters Association
Hazel Holman | forest land owner | Lanesborough, Massachusetts
A private landowner’s bird habitat assessment, produced by NRCS.
A Symphony of Songbirds at Red Apple Farm
A farm landowner’s story of bird habitat on their property, produced by NRCS. Early successional habitat in Phillipson, Mass.
Common Questions
Is there a program to help declining species of songbirds?
Yes—Foresters for the Birds Program.
Can the Forest Stewardship Plan be used to classify my land in current use (Chapter 61, 61A, 61B)?
Yes.
Is there a minimum number of acres to receive financial assistance (cost-share)?
Yes—10 acres.
As a landowner can I write my own Forest Stewardship Plan?
No. Only a Massachusetts Licensed Forester can write a Forest Stewardship Plan.
Is a Forest Cutting Plan and Forest Stewardship Plan the same thing?
No. A Forest Cutting Plan (M.G.L. Chapter 132) is required for all commercial timber harvests that occur on land that is to remain forested.
A Forest Stewardship Plan is an educational and non-regulatory plan. A Forest Stewardship Plan is designed to help you better understand all the ecosystem values of your forest. A Forest Stewardship Plan is often used to inform on-the-ground management. However, if the on-the-ground management includes commercial timber harvesting activities then a Forest Cutting Plan (M.G.L. Chapter 132) would need to be prepared for those specific activities.
How long does the Forest Stewardship planning process take?
You and your Consulting Forester determine the timeline. Important considerations regarding your timeline are cost-share deadlines, deadlines specific to current use (Chapter 61, 61A, 61B), family conversations, and other variables.
If I have submitted a cost-share application how long will it take to be approved and how will I and my Consulting Forester be notified?
Your application will be reviewed for eligibility and approved if eligible for financial assistance. This generally takes up to two (2) weeks from when the application is received by the Forest Stewardship Program. You and your Consulting Forester (if identified on your application) will be notified of cost-share approval via mail.
Once the Forest Stewardship Plan is complete and sent to DCR Service Forestry Program—how long will it take to process and then receive my cost-share payment?
Your DCR Service Forester may take up to eight (8) weeks to review your submitted plan. Once your plan is reviewed and your cost-share has been approved by your DCR Service Forester the cost-share payment will be issued approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks later.
How can I avoid cost-share payment delays?
Communicate with your DCR Service Forester to make sure they have received all the documents necessary (e.g., completed & signed Forest Stewardship plan, Consulting Forester invoice, cost-share reimbursement form, Ch. 61/61A/61B certificate).
If you did not complete and IRS Form W-9 (as required for your cost-share application)—then your cost-share payment will not be issued until the Forest Stewardship Program receives a completed IRS Form W-9.
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