Sustainable Forestry: A Guide for Virginia Forest Landowners

Authors: Jennifer L. Gagnon, Department of Forestry; and James E. Johnson, Professor, Department of Forestry; Virginia Tech

Publication Number 420-139, Revised December 2006

Table of Contents

Introduction What is Sustainable Forestry? Pine or Hardwood? Forest Health Planning Your Timber Harvest Best Management Practices Economics of Reforestation Wildlife, Special Sites, and Other Resources

Imperiled and Critically Imperiled Species Environmental Regulations Tax Considerations Financial Assistance Educational Opportunities Resources Virginia Forest Facts

Introduction

As a private forest landowner, you are a vital link in the sustainability of Virginia’s forest resources. Your land provides many benefits to all Virginians, including wood products, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and recreational opportunities. Because forest landowners like you own and control three-quarters of the state’s forestland, the decisions you make regarding your forest today will impact the quality of Virginia’s forests for many years.

The purpose of this publication is to provide you with some basic information on forest management and specifics on how timber harvesting should be conducted to ensure the sustainability of your forest resources. This guide is designed to help you make informed, knowledgeable decisions about managing your forests.

It will also help you understand the importance of timber harvest planning and how to work with professional foresters and natural resource management agencies. The information contained in this publication regarding taxation and environmental regulations is accurate but should not be construed to be official government interpretation.

Regulations and laws are constantly evolving, so you are encouraged to obtain professional forestry assistance before making your final management decisions. Additional information on many of the topics presented is available from a variety of sources. Contact any of the agencies listed at the back of this brochure for further assistance. For a complete listing of natural resource agencies for your county, please visit the Virginia Forest Landowner Update website at: www.cnr.vt.edu/forestupdate.

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What Is Sustainable Forestry?

Virginia’s forests make a vital contribution to our state and beyond by providing economic, consumer, environmental, and aesthetic benefits essential to our quality of life. Because the majority of Virginia’s forests are owned by private forest landowners, the collective decisions of forest owners like you will determine the ability of future generations to enjoy these same benefits.

While sustainability is a dynamic concept, some basic principles are clear: sustainable forestry consists of those forest practices that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Specifically, sustainable forestry integrates the regeneration, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products while conserving soil, air, water quality, wildlife, plants, aquatic habitat, and landscape aesthetic quality.

Examples of sustainable fores try practices include:

• Minimizing the impact of forest management activities on water quality
• Regenerating the stand as soon as possible following a timber harvest
• Ensuring forests for future generations
• Maintaining important habitat elements for wildlife and plant species
• Managing for populations of imperiled and critically imperiled species
• Reducing invasive exotic plant species and pests
• Protecting special sites and rare ecosystems
• Managing biological diversity

While your objectives for owning forestland may vary over time, sooner or later most landowners decide to harvest timber. Timber harvesting is a powerful forest management tool, but must be used thoughtfully to ensure the sustainability of all your forest resources. It is important that you understand how forest management activities impact the sustainability of your forest and what steps you can take to ensure your goals are met within the context of good forest stewardship.

Recognizing the importance of proper management on all forestlands, member companies of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), who are responsible for 84 percent of paper production and 50 percent of wood production, and own 90 percent of America’s industrial forestland, are committed to demonstrating high standards of forest management through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)® program. The SFI program is a comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures that integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil, and water quality.

The Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB) is an independent organization with a mission to oversee the development and continual improvement of the SFI Standard. This diverse group, which includes conservationists, scientists, foresters, public officials, and landowners, promotes the long-term health and sustainability of forests. In addition to AF&PA member companies, many other forest landowners adhere to the SFI Standards. Other organizations, such as the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) also provide guidelines for sustainable forest management and forest certification (www.treefarmsystem.org). ATFS is a nationally recognized certification system.

Activities conducted by SFI program participants that are not consistent with the SFI Standards are called inconsistent practices. SFI Implementation Committees respond to and investigate inconsistent practices complaints. In Virginia, complaints may be filed anonymously by calling the Inconsistent Practices hotline at (800) 421-TREE (8733), e-mailing the Virginia Forestry Association (VFA) at vfa@verizon.net, or writing the VFA at 3808 Augusta Ave., Richmond, VA 23230. To learn more visit www.virginiasfi.org.

Virginia’s wood products industry purchases the majority of the wood necessary for their manufacturing processes from private forestlands like yours. With the cooperation of many state, federal, and private natural resource agencies, Virginia’s forest industry encourages you to consider the information in this brochure and to adopt sustainable practices in the management of your forestlands.

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Pine or Hardwood?

Your forest is composed of evergreen trees (often pines), deciduous trees (sometimes called hardwoods), or a mix of both. The factors that determine which tree species grow on a specific site include climate, land-use history, soil quality and structure, water availability, and the direction the site faces (aspect). The limits imposed by these conditions in combination with your management objectives will determine what types of trees are best suited for your forest. When choosing to manage for pines or hardwoods, you should consider a few basic forest ecology principles:

• Match your goals with your resources.
  Forests are managed in units called stands. A stand is a group of trees sufficiently uniform in species composition, age, and condition to be distinguished from surrounding groups of trees. Most forest ownerships are made up of several different stands. Stand boundaries are identified by changes in tree species and are influenced by differences in soils, slope, climate, and other physical characteristics of the land. For example, yellow poplar, white oak, and eastern hemlock are best suited to cool, wet, north facing hollows with deep fertile soils. Other species such as Virginia pine and chestnut oak frequently occur on hotter, dryer slopes with shallow soils. Your goals should match the different site types that occur in your forest.
  
• Pine and hardwood forests are established differently.
  Frequently, new pine forests are established by planting nursery grown seedlings (artificial regeneration). While hardwood trees may also be planted, new hardwood forests are usually established using natural regeneration methods, such as seed germination and stump sprouting. Most of Virginia’s pine and hardwood species that have commercial and wildlife value require full sunlight for regeneration.
  
• Active forest management gives you choices and usually results in a more productive forest.
  In turn, productive forests contribute to the sustainability of the resource. If left alone, a forest will progress through a series of changes or successional stages. While not all management activities are appropriate for every stand, the right mix of activities will allow you to control succession by manipulating tree spacing, stocking, genetics, health, and overall productivity. Whatever your goals, active management allows you to influence how your forest changes and the type and quality of trees in your forest. The key to you reaching your goals, however, is careful planning before your management activities begin.

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Forest Health

To maintain the health of your forest, prevention is the best management. Like all living things, forests are susceptible to a host of potential health threats including fires, insect attacks, diseases, and natural disasters. While your control over these threats is limited, certain management actions will protect your investment by minimizing your forest’s risk to damage.

Some actions you can take include:

• Plant tree species best suited for the site.
  Trees planted outside their natural range or on unsuitable sites are generally weak and unhealthy. Unhealthy trees are more susceptible to insect attack and disease, and expose the healthy trees in your forest to damage as well.
  
• When insect and disease outbreaks occur, respond quickly.
  Insects and disease destroy more timber in the United States than any other factor. If an insect outbreak such as southern pine beetle occurs, the infected trees, as well as a small buffer of surrounding trees, should be cut and removed immediately.
  
• Thin overcrowded stands.
  Thinning focuses sunlight, water, and nutrients on fewer trees, resulting in a healthier, more vigorous forest. Diameter growth of the remaining trees will likely increase, adding to the future value of the stand.
  
• Consider prescribed burning.
  In potential damage from wildfire may be reduced through the periodic use of prescribed burning. Burning every three to five years reduces fuel loads, controls rust diseases, and encourages shrub and forage growth for wildlife food and cover.
  
• Use the appropriate harvesting method.
  In Virginia’s Mountain and Piedmont hardwood stands, poor harvesting practices such as high grading or diameter limit cutting may have removed the best formed, most vigorous trees from the forest, leaving predominantly weak and unhealthy trees. In some cases, the best long-term prescription for a healthy hardwood forest is to remove all trees within the stand and start over with vigorous regeneration.
  
• Eliminate invasive exotic species.
  The introduction and spread of exotic plants, insects, and diseases has severely impacted native forests. Exotic species sometimes out compete and displace native trees and often have little wildlife value. In addition, exotic species such as tree-of-heaven and autumn olive are very difficult to remove from the landscape once established. When thinking about the introduction of a non-native species on your property, please consider its potential negative impact on native vegetation and the larger landscape.
  
• Monitor the health of your forest.
  Periodically walk through your forest, especially after severe weather such as ice storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. While some level of damage is natural and acceptable, you may want to conduct a salvage cut to remove severely damaged trees before further damage from insects and disease occurs.

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Planning Your Timber Harvest

Landowners harvest timber for a variety of reasons, one of the most common being the income from timber sales. Timber harvesting is an important management tool that provides many additional benefits such as:

• Establishing new forests
• Improving overall forest health and vigor
• Creating wildlife habitat and recreation access
• Controlling forest density
• Releasing desirable tree species from competition
• Controlling forest insects and disease
• Creating diversity

While harvesting is an effective management tool, your satisfaction after the harvest depends on your knowledge of the sale process before cutting begins. A common but often costly mistake is a lack of sufficient planning. Management planning helps you to consider your objectives for owning forestland, to assess the current condition of your forest resources, and to determine the best strategy to reach your goals. A professional forester from a forest products company, a consulting firm, or a state agency can help you with the planning process.

Important steps to consider when planning a timber sale include:

• Mark your sale boundaries.
  Identifying and marking your sale boundaries are the critical first steps in a successful timber sale. Poorly marked boundary lines can lead to timber trespass, that is, the harvesting of a neighbor’s timber. The penalty for timber trespass in Virginia could be three times the value of the timber taken plus the expenses of a timber appraisal. Well-marked boundaries will minimize the possibility of trespass. Property deeds, topographic maps, and aerial photographs will greatly aid in helping you establish your boundaries; however, you may need to hire a professional surveyor.
  
• Know what you have to sell.
  Conduct a complete inventory, or cruise, of your forest resources to determine what your timber is worth. During the timber cruise, tree species, merchantable volumes, and potential products will be tallied. Note that wood products markets are very localized and the price you receive for your timber will depend on many factors including tree quality, size, species, site access, soil conditions, harvest method, market cycles, and distance to the mill. During the products inventory other important non-timber resources, such as wildlife habitats, sensitive biological areas, historic sites, aesthetic areas, and wetlands, should be identified.
  
• Have a management plan.
  The management plan is your road map, telling you when to conduct specific activities such as harvesting, planting, thinning, and fertilizing. Your management plan should contain basic boundary and inventory information, and an activity schedule addressing how you will manage specific areas or stands within your forest. An important part of the management plan is how you intend to reforest harvested sites. This should be determined long before your timber harvest. Like the forest you own, management plans will change over time, and must be reviewed periodically to account for changes in your objectives, market conditions, environmental regulations, and other factors.
  

• Work with a quality logger.
  The forester you work with can provide a list of potential loggers. To choose a quality logger, take into account requirements such as:
  • Proof of adequate worker’s compensation and liability insurance coverage
  • Completion of logger training/continuing education programs such as Virginia’s Sustainable Harvesting And Resource Professional (SHARP) Logger Program (www.sharplogger.vt.edu)
  • Knowledge and use of forestry Best Management Practices (see next section)
  • Adequate equipment to do the job
  • List of references from previous harvesting jobs

  You may also want to visit a current or recently completed harvesting operation of the logger. During the on-site visit look at the condition of logging equipment and haul trucks, whether woods workers wear protective equipment, how trees excluded from the timber sale are protected, and the appearance of skid trails, landings, and haul roads.

  
  
• Secure a written sale agreement:
  Your forest is a valuable resource, economically and ecologically. When you decide to sell timber, it is important that your short-term and longterm interests are protected. The best way to protect your interests during a timber sale is through a written timber sale agreement. As a minimum, a good timber sale contract will include:
  • Description of land with boundary lines and guarantee of title
  • Specification of payment terms
  • Description of timber, method of designating trees to be cut, and harvesting method
  • Specification of time period covered by the contract
  • Prohibition of excessive damage to unmarked trees, buildings, fences, and roads
  • Specification of penalties for damage or removal of unmarked trees
  • Assignment of liability for losses caused by the timber buyer or his agents
  • requirement of the use of Best Management Practices and adherence to all local, state, and federal laws
  
  
• Supervise the harvest:
  Before the harvest begins, review the timber sale agreement and walk the site with the logger. This will give you an opportunity to get to know each other and to explain your objectives for harvesting timber. A logger that is personally familiar with you and aware of your objectives will likely do a better job. Once harvesting begins, either you or your representative should periodically inspect the harvest site. Visits will ensure that logging is being conducted in compliance with the terms of the sale agreement and will identify any potential problems early, when they are most easily fixed. When the harvest is complete, conduct a final inspection to be certain that the job is in compliance with Virginia’s Forestry Best Management Practices.
  
• Use professional assistance.
  If you are uncertain about what you have to sell or have other questions about the timber sale process, don’t guess – contact one of the sources of assistance listed at the end of this brochure.

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Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are forest management practices designed to reduce erosion and prevent or control water pollution resulting from forestry operations. The potential for water contamination occurs when runoff from rain or snow moves over a harvesting site. Without the proper use of BMPs, this runoff can pick up and carry away soil and other pollutants, depositing them as sediment into waterways, wetlands, and groundwater.

Forestry activities that can potentially cause water pollution include forest road construction and stream crossings; forest harvesting activities such as skidding and loading trees; site preparation (getting the harvest site ready for reforestation); and chemical treatments like pesticide and fertilizer application. Of these activities, road construction has the greatest potential to degrade water quality, so most forestry BMPs focus on proper road construction to minimize soil erosion.

Planning before the timber harvest is essential to minimize the potential impact to soil and water quality. Identify special and sensitive sites in your overall forest management plan. These sites include streams, areas with unique plant or animal species, areas with steep slopes and highly erodible soils, and forested wetlands. Forested wetlands are distinguished by specific plant communities, hydric soils and hydrologic conditions. Use this information in the more comprehensive preharvest plan specifically prepared for the portion of your forest to be harvested. The preharvest plan should:

• Identify streamside management zones (SMZs) or buffers adjacent to perennial and intermittent streams. SMZs are designed to stop runoff from reaching waterways and to keep stream temperatures cool; harvesting within SMZs is limited to minimize disturbance of the forest floor and canopy.
  
• Require the use of special harvesting equipment and techniques to protect water quality in and around wetlands.
  
• Include properly designed and constructed truck haul roads to minimize soil erosion. Roads should be designed to follow the land’s contour and to allow water removal while slowing the flow of runoff toward waterways (these include broad based dips, turnouts, and culverts).
  
• Keep the number of stream crossings by haul roads and skid trails to a minimum.
  
• Provide measures for keeping logging debris out of stream channels.
  
• Restrict the use of heavy equipment during wet periods to minimize soil compaction and ground disturbance.
  
• Require prompt seeding and fertilizing of bare soil areas including logging roads, trails, and loading decks to prevent soil erosion
  
• Require prompt reforestation of harvested sites.

Note: If timber harvesting or other management activities are negatively affecting water quality, the logger or timber buyer and the landowner are liable and each may be required to rectify water quality problems. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has the responsibility to inspect all timber-harvesting sites for water quality degradation. The Virginia DOF maintains a state handbook for forestry BMPs that is available upon request and available for download at www.dof.virginia.gov. State law requires that loggers notify the Virginia DOF three days before or after beginning a timber harvest. This is easily done by calling (800) 939-LOGS (5647). Be sure that your logger meets this requirement.

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Economics of Reforestation

Reforestation is one of the best long-term investment opportunities available to forest landowners. This conclusion is based on the appreciation of timber products in the southeastern United States over the past 50 years. Current trends lead analysts to believe that:

• Prices paid to private landowners for softwood sawtimber and quality hardwood sawtimber will rise at a rate at least equal to inflation.
  
• Prices paid for standing timber in the Southeast may rise more rapidly than in other regions because of increased demand and competition.

The returns from an investment in reforestation should be calculated like any other long-term investment. To analyze the potential economic return of reforestation on your land, you will need the following information:

• The site quality or productive capability of your land
  
• The costs of site preparation and reforestation
  
• The amount and frequency of management activities required to maintain and protect a vigorous stand (e.g., prescribed burning, boundary line maintenance, fire/insect/ disease protection, etc.)
  
• An estimate of the future value of harvested timber products
  
• The length of time from planting to final harvest
  
• Other costs and revenues (e.g., real estate taxes, hunt club lease income, etc.)
  

Studies show sites of average quality in Virginia’s Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions that are reforested with improved loblolly pine seedlings yield returns on investment. Returns on investment increase when landowners utilize all available cost-share programs and tax incentives. While risk factors such as damage by ice storms, hurricanes, insects, and disease may reduce the expected return on investment, proper management greatly reduces the occurrence of these threats.

Hardwood reforestation is typically accomplished using natural regeneration, which reduces the up-front investment. When regenerating most Virginia hardwood species, a heavy cut allows sunlight to reach the forest floor, encouraging seeds to geminate and stump sprouts to grow. Unharvested trees should be of good form and quality and undamaged by the logging operation. Later in the life of the stand, you generally need to do some management work to produce quality hardwood sawtimber. The holding period (rotation age) is longer for hardwoods, often running 60 to 80 years or more. Intermediate cash flows are often possible with commercial thinnings or partial cuts. Rates of return on investment are competitive with many other long-term investments.

Whether you manage your forests for pines, hardwoods, or both, plan to set aside a portion of the income you receive from your timber harvest to use toward regenerating a healthy new forest.

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Wildlife, Special Sites, and Other Resources

Managed forests provide an abundance of resources other than timber, including wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, alternative income opportunities, and conservation of sites with special biologic and historic significance. While some areas of your forest may need to be set aside as special “hands-off” areas, careful planning and active management will allow you to combine many of your goals within the same forest stands. To promote these special resources, some management options and activities for you to consider include:

• Using the borders or edges of harvest sites to create unique wildlife management opportunities. Edges are transition zones between two adjoining forest- or land-use types. Many wildlife species use edge habitat. Edges may be “softened” by planting shrubs and fruit trees along harvest and field/forest borders. “Cutting-in” to forest edges will also create an irregular, scalloped edge and reduce the visual impact of timber harvesting. Timber harvests should also be designed to protect streams and provide corridors for wildlife to move into and through the area.
  
• Providing a variety of food, cover, and habitat for wildlife by managing some of your forest stands for a mixture of pines and hardwoods. Your forest will attract many wildlife species if you provide a diversity of habitats across your tract, such as different aged forest stands, forest openings, abandoned agricultural fields, overgrown fence lines, and streams and ponds with clean water.
  
• Taking advantage of alternative income opportunities. In many areas of the state, private forests are leased to hunt clubs. Hunt club leasing is compatible with many other management objectives. Lease fees usually cover or exceed land tax rates and also provide a presence on your property against poaching and trespassing. Hunting fees continue to rise as quality hunting experiences become scarcer.

  Other alternative income sources include fee fishing, and collection of special forest products such as decorative materials (e.g. pine tips and grape vines), edibles (e.g. mushrooms and berries), and medicinals (e.g. ginseng and black cohosh).

• Conserving sites with special biologic, aesthetic, or historic significance. Examples include caves, Civil War and Native American sites, cemeteries, and sensitive plant and animal habitats. Because of their significance and sensitivity, these areas are often set aside and managed solely for their unique features. You may be able to reduce your tax burden through charitable contributions such as land donations or easements of special areas. Be sure you understand your rights, obligations, and the implications for future forest management activities before entering into a conservation easement agreement.

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Imperiled and Critically Imperiled Species

As a good land steward, you need to know that it’s important to be aware of plant and animal species and ecological communities of concern. This is especially true of those that are designated as “imperiled, critically imperiled, threatened, or endangered.” You must also know forest management activities on your land may affect these species. Critically imperiled (G1) or imperiled (G2) species or ecological communities are globally rare or, because of some factor(s), especially vulnerable to extinction.

They are designated as imperiled or critically imperiled by non-government organizations such as NatureServe and its constituent Natural Heritage programs or the IUCN (The World Conservation Organization). Threatened and endangered species are listed by government agencies under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and may be also listed under state laws; yet they may or may not be listed as critically imperiled or imperiled globally.

The Virginia Natural Heritage Program can provide information on species and communities of concern in your area (www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh or (804) 786-7951). NatureServe (www.natureserve.org) has additional information on species and communities of concern. These organizations coordinate the management of inventories of biological diversity for imperiled species.

In Virginia, the SFI program has partnered with Forests & Watersheds for Wildlife™ to provide landowners with a series of profiles on species of concern native to Virginia’s forests. For more information, visit www.forestedflyways.org.

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Environmental Regulations

Forestry activities must comply with state and federal regulations. Because you are liable for activities occurring on your land, you need to be aware of how environmental laws impact your forest management activities and are encouraged to obtain professional advice prior to conducting any forest operation such as a timber sale. Some frequently applicable environmental regulations are outlined below.

Water quality:

Excessive sediment and chemicals entering waterways resulting from forestry activities are subject to Virginia’s Silvicultural Water Quality Law that is administered by the Virginia DOF. If serious water-quality degradation is found, the Virginia DOF may stop the harvesting job, require corrective action, and in extreme cases, institute civil penalties. In addition, Virginia’s Debris in Stream Law requires that debris from harvesting activities such as tree tops, logs, felled timber, and trash be removed from waterways to allow boats and fish unobstructed use of the water.

Compliance with Virginia’s forest BMP guidelines for water quality is generally considered adequate to meet requirements under the Federal Clean Water Act which also requires proper steps be taken to prevent water pollution. A large portion of Virginia is in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and is also subject to regulations under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (for more information call (800) 243-7339).

Overall, the best prevention for pollution resulting from forestry activities is management planning and the proper installation and maintenance of forestry BMPs.

Burning:

The leading cause of forest fires in Virginia is the burning of debris. Because woody debris in the forest dries out during winter months, fire danger is especially high during early spring. To prevent forest fires during this period, Virginia’s 4:00 p.m. Burning Law states that between February 15 and April 30 it is unlawful to burn debris within 300 feet of any material capable of spreading fire, except between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. In addition, other burning bans may be invoked during periods of extreme fire danger.

Reforestation:

The purpose of Virginia’s Seed Tree Law is to ensure proper pine forest regeneration following a timber harvest. The seed tree law applies to any area of 10 or more acres on which loblolly or white pine constitute 25 percent or more of the live trees on each acre. Eight cone-bearing pine trees 14 inches or larger in diameter must be left uncut and uninjured on each acre for three years following harvest. An exception may be granted when an effective reforestation plan has been secured from the State Forester.

For example, in lieu of leaving seed trees, the harvested site may be planted with genetically improved, nursery-grown seedlings. This allows better control of spacing and stocking and usually provides a healthier and more productive forest. Cost-share assistance is available for reforestation activities under the Virginia DOF’s Reforestation of Timberlands (RT) Program (see Financial Assistance section).

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Tax Considerations

Annual surveys consistently reveal that timber and estate taxation are the leading management concerns among private forest landowners. Careful planning and accounting practices will likely save you money and help preserve your estate for future generations. Tax laws pertaining to forest management are subject to interpretation and frequent change. The information provided below should not be considered an official interpretation of the federal and Virginia income tax codes and you are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of a tax advisor on the applicability of the current tax law to your particular situation. In addition, consult with your forester and accountant to determine the best strategy to protect your assets.

Some basic points to keep in mind:

Keep good records. Recordkeeping is perhaps the easiest but most neglected task of the forest landowner. At a minimum you should keep a journal of all expenses and income along with evidence of transactions such as invoices, receipts, canceled checks, contracts, meeting agendas, mileage records, workshops attended, and maps that pertain to your land and forestry practices.

Determine your basis. The basis of your forestland is the original amount you invested to purchase your property. This amount is the cost of land including standing timber, roads and buildings, realtors, foresters, surveyors, attorneys, and other costs associated with the acquisition. As with the purchase of land, the value of the property acquired by gift or inheritance is allocated proportionally among the categories as listed above. Basis is used to determine gain or loss on sales and exchanges, and for calculating amortization, cost recovery, depletion, and casualty- loss deductions. In addition, qualifying for long-term capital gains and deducting for management expenses are equally important.

• Major tax advantages are available for forest landowners who harvest timber and reforest harvested land or previously nonforested land.

An excellent reference for timber income tax questions is the U.S.D.A. Forest Service’s Agriculture Handbook No. 718, Forest Owner’s Guide to the Federal Income Tax (2001), available at www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs. The National Timber Tax Website (www.timbertax.org) is another source for current tax information.

Investigate your land use tax assessment. Almost three-fourths of Virginia’s counties allow land to be assessed according to its land use rather than its fair market value. The intent is to preserve open space in rural areas by helping landowners keep their land in forest or farm use. Land-use value assessments are usually much lower than the rates associated with fair market value for real estate development.

Consider a conservation easement. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement by which a landowner conserves the agricultural, environmental and open space value of the land in exchange for tax credits and deductions. With a conservation easement, a landowner relinquishes the right to develop the land intensively for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes to a state agency or land trust. This will ensure that the land will remain undeveloped, often into perpetuity.

Conservation easements can, however, be written to allow traditional uses of the land, such as farming and timber harvesting. Tax advantages include state income tax credits, federal and state tax deductions, and reductions in estate taxes. The landowner maintains ownership of the land which can still be freely sold or passed onto children; however, the limits on development stay with the land. The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Land Conservation serves as a statewide clearinghouse for land conservation information (www.dcr.virgnia.gov).

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Financial Assistance

Financial or cost-share assistance is available to private forest landowners for many management activities, including reforestation, timber-stand improvement, stream-bank and forest-road stabilization, and wildlife habitat improvement. Cost-share assistance can greatly offset your out-of-pocket expenses for forest and wildlife management activities. Most costshare programs are administered by state and federal agencies and all programs have specific requirements such as minimum acreage, areas of application, water-quality protection, and length of time that the cost-share practice must be maintained. Funding for programs is limited and programs may be added or dropped at any time. A comprehensive list of current programs can be found at www.dof.virginia.gov.

State programs administered by the Virginia DOF include Reforestation of Timberlands (RT), the Pine Bark Beetle Prevention Program (PBBPP), and the Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP). The goal of the RT program is pine reforestation of harvested lands. This program can provide cost-share assistance for up to 75 percent of site preparation, tree planting, and stand improvement costs.

Qualifying landowners must have a forest management plan developed by VDOF or other approved forestry professional. The goal of PBBPP is to prevent and lessen the impact of bark beetle outbreaks. The program provides up to 50 percent cost-share assistance for thinning pine stands as a preventive measure. The goal of FLEP is to encourage a range of beneficial practices by providing up to 75 percent cost-share assistance. The practices can include Forest Stewardship Plan Development, Reforestation and Afforestation (white, shortleaf, and longleaf pine only), Forest Stand Improvement, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement, Forest Health and Protection, and Invasive Plant Species Control.

The Logging Best Management Practices Program is available to qualified loggers. The program provides up to 50 percent of the cost of an approved stream crossing in watershed areas designated by DEQ as “impaired” or of “special interest.”

Most federal programs are administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Services Agency (FSA), and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Major programs include the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP), and the Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program (WHIP). The primary goal of these programs is to protect wetlands and water quality, prevent soil erosion, and improve wildlife habitat through the adoption of Best Management Practices and conversion of sensitive agricultural lands to streamside or riparian buffers. Some of these programs provide cost-share funds for approved practices and rental monies for converted agricultural lands. An approved conservation plan is required to qualify for any federal cost share program and practices must be maintained for 10 to 15 years.

In addition, some forest industry companies offer management assistance. Depending on the company, a variety of services may be offered at cost or free of charge including management planning, site preparation, and reforestation. Funding and requirements for most cost share programs change annually. Contact one of the management assistance agencies listed at the back of this brochure for specific details.

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Educational Opportunities

The following statewide programs are offered to loggers, landowners, and other interested parties to promote the sustainable management of the commonwealth’s forest resources.

Logger Education

Loggers are a critical link in the sustainability of our forest resources. An important component of promoting sustainable forestry practices is enhancing professionalism among timber harvesters, foresters, and others in the forestry community. Virginia’s Sustainable Harvesting and Resource Professional (SHARP) Logger Program focuses on the training and continuing education of these professionals in using Best Management Practices (BMPs) during timber harvesting; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; forest regeneration and resource conservation; awareness of the Endangered Species Act and other wildlife considerations; logging truck and equipment safety; business management; and many other topics. For more information on the SHARP Logger Program, contact the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry, or visit the SHARP Logger website at www.sharplogger.vt.edu.

Landowner Education

The other link to implementing sustainable forestry practices is the 400,000 Virginians who own nearly three-quarters of the commonwealth’s forests. The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program offers courses to forest landowners on a variety of natural resource topics, including options for forest management, forest and wildlife resource assessment and planning, obtaining management and financial assistance, forest ecology, wildlife management, timber sales and harvesting methods, BMPs, nontimber forest products, land-use conservation strategies, forest taxation, and estate planning. A landowner course is also available on the Internet at the Web address below.

Other statewide educational programs include wildlife habitat management workshops offered by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the annual Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tour Series. For a complete quarterly listing of educational programs or more information on the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program, contact the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry, or visit the forest landowner website at www.cnr.vt.edu/forestupdate.

The logger and landowner education programs listed are cooperatively sponsored by the many natural resource agencies and companies listed in this publication.

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Resources

Natural resources management assistance and information are available from the following sources:

American Forest & Paper Association

1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
(800) 878-8878
www.afandpa.org

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is the national trade association of the forest, pulp, paper, paperboard, and wood products industry. Many AF&PA member companies that purchase wood from private lands offer forest landowner assistance programs. Through these programs, industry foresters assist with management planning, conduct periodic forest inspections, and assist landowners in obtaining cost-share assistance. In addition, some companies offer high-quality pine seedlings for reforestation at no cost. AF&PA member companies work closely with state and private natural resource agencies to provide quality logger and landowner education programs.

American Tree Farm System

c/o American Forest Foundation
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 780
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 463-2462
www.treefarmsystem.org

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a private program of the American Forest Foundation with the mission to promote growth of renewable forest resources on private lands while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry. State ATFS committees bring foresters, consultants, and government agency officials together with experienced tree farmers to plan and administer each state ATFS program. The ATFS is a nationally recognized certification system, and the oldest certification system in the world.

Forest Legacy

Forest Legacy Program Manager
USDA Forest Service
NA State and Private Forestry
271 Mast Road
Durham, NC 03824
(603) 868-7695
www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/flp

The Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between states and the USDA Forest Service developed to identify and protect environmentally important forests from conversion to nonforest uses. The main tool used for protecting these important forests is conservation easements. The federal government may fund up to 75 percent of program costs with at least 25 percent coming from private, state, or local sources.

Sustainable Forestry Board

1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 797-2508
www.aboutsfb.org

The Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB) is an independent organization with a mission to oversee the development and continual improvement of the SFI Standard, audit procedures, and qualifications. This diverse group, which includes conservationists, scientists, foresters, public officials, and landowners, promotes the long-term health and sustainability of forests.

USDA Forest Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
(202) 205-8333
www.fs.fed.us

The mission of the Forest Service, a federal agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, is “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” For over a century, the Forest Service has managed public land in national forests and grasslands, which currently total over 193 million acres.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
(800) 344-WILD (9453)
www.fws.gov

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The USFWS is committed to a collaborative approach to conservation. Its strategy is to empower Americans to become citizen conservationists.

Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech Department of Forestry

313 Cheatham Hall (0324)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-5483
www.ext.vt.edu
www.cnr.vt.edu/forestupdate
www.sharplogger.vt.edu/

These state agencies administer the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program and SHARP Logger Training, and provide basic forestry, wildlife, and natural resource management information to forest landowners, farmers, and the general public. Extension forest resource personnel conduct educational tours, meetings, and short courses on a variety of forestry and wildlife topics. They publish numerous natural resource Extension publications, including the Virginia Forest Landowner Update, a quarterly newsletter. All Virginia counties have local Cooperative Extension offices; see the blue pages in your phone book under State Government.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

203 Governor Street, Suite 213
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-1712
www.dcr.virginia.gov
www.vainvasivespecies.org

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency that works with Virginians to conserve, protect, and enhance their lands and improve the quality of the Chesapeake Bay and rivers and streams. The DCR promotes the stewardship and enjoyment of natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational resources (e.g. state parks), coordinates statewide nonpoint source pollution control, insures the safety of Virginia’s dams, and, via the Land Conservation Office, provides statewide land conservation information. The Natural Heritage Program, which is administered by DCR, protects land for conservation of biodiversity; manages the habitats of rare, threatened, and endangered species; protects significant natural communities, geologic sites, and other natural features; and provides information on invasive species.

Virginia Department of Forestry

Fontaine Research Park
900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 977-6555
www.dof.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is a state agency that provides basic forest management planning and forestry information, seedlings and seed mixes for reforestation and wildlife, BMP guidance, and enforces waterquality, seed tree, and burning laws. The DOF administers cost-share programs, and maintains lists of private forestry consultants, contractors, and timber buyers by county. The DOF cooperates closely with other state and private resource agencies and companies to conduct education programs for loggers and landowners. Most counties have local offices; see the blue pages in your phone book under State Government.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

4010 W. Broad Street
P.O. Box 11104
Richmond, VA 23230-1104
(804) 367-9369
www.dgif.virginia.gov

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is a state agency that provides information, education, and technical assistance on wildlife management to forest landowners. The DGIF monitors wildlife populations, enforces hunting and fishing regulations, and provides technical assistance to federal agencies on cost-share programs for wildlife management practices on private lands. The agency is currently developing a comprehensive strategy for managing wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.

Virginia Forestry Association

3808 Augusta Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230-8733
(804) 278-8733
www.vaforestry.org

This private nonprofit membership organization represents Virginia’s broad forestry community. The Virginia Forestry Association (VFA) is active in legislative and regulatory issues affecting forestry and forest management, works with the media on forestry issues, sponsors forestry and environmental camps for school-age youth, provides general forestry and forest industry information, and assists member landowners and others in interpreting regulatory requirements relative to forestry. The VFA publishes Virginia Forests, a quarterly magazine on forest management and issues.

Virginia Outdoors Foundation

101 N. 14th Street, 17th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is a state agency charged with the preservation of cultural and heritage lands In Virginia. VOF works with private landowners to establish voluntary conservation easements to protect farm and forestland. The VOF easement program has grown to over 1,700 properties (289,000 acres).

Professional Foresters

Professional foresters are employed by government organizations, the forest industry, and private consulting companies. Professional foresters offer a full range of services to private landowners, including management planning, timber appraisals, timber sale preparation and administration, and site preparation and reforestation. Landowners are advised to check the references and professional affiliations before choosing a forester. These references include membership in organizations such as the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF, www.acf-foresters.org) and the Society of American Foresters (SAF, www.safnet.org). Lists of professional foresters are available from your local VDOF office (www.dof.virginia.gov), ACF, and SAF.

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Virginia Forest Facts

• Virginia is 62 percent forested (15.8 million acres).
• Between 1992 and 2003, over 615,000 acres of forestland have been lost to land use changes.
• 62 percent for urban development
• 37 percent to other agricultural uses
• 1 percent to water impoundments
• Hardwood forests make up 78 percent of all Virginia timberland (11.8 million acres).
• Softwood forests make up 22 percent of all Virginia timberland (3.4 million acres).
• Non-industrial private landowners own 66 percent (10.1 million acres; a 2.4% loss since 1992).
• Non-forestry corporations own 13 percent (2.0 million acres; a 26.9 percent gain since 1992).
• Forest Industry owns 7 percent (1.0 million acres; a 32.2 percent loss since 1992).
• Public owns 14 percent (2.1 millions acres; a 9.7 percent increase since 1992).
• Total hardwood timber volume increased by 4.7 percent since 1992.
• Total softwood timber volume increased by 2 percent since 1992.
• Growth rates are exceeding removal rates.
• Plantations account for 12 percent of Virginia’s timberland and 54 percent of all softwood acreage.
• Forestry contributes $30.5 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.
• Forests provide more than $3 billion in recreational opportunities to two-thirds of Virginia’s citizens.
• Forestry provides more than 248,000 jobs in Virginia.

Virginia Forest Fact Sources:

Virginia Department of Forestry
(www.dof.virginia.gov)

Draft 7th Survey Results for VA,
USDA, FS, SRS-FIA

Virginia’s Forests,
1992 USDA, FS Resource Bulletin SE-151

Virginia’s Forests
ASDA-FS AFES release #11, 1942

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