Developing a Forest Stewardship Plan

Development of a management plan is a key component of stewardship of family forests. It provides an opportunity to develop a strategic course of action to accomplish a family's goals for owning their forest. Goals can include a wide variety of areas, such as amenities/aesthetics, recreation, financial return, reduction of risk, and maintenance of biodiversity.

Stewardship planning takes into account the various resources present on the property such as timber, fisherires, wildlife, botanical resources, watershed values, etc. and the needs of present and future generations. A stewardship plan is the blueprint that guides the management of property by defining the lands condition, the landowner’s goals, and by outlining strategies to achieve them. The knowledge gained by developing a plan can be used to help guide day to day decision making. Plans can be used when applying for funding, preparing for timber harvest plans or applying for bank loans. It is also a way to communicate your vision to the next generation/ owners of your property. Plans can be simple or complex depending on how it is expected to be used.

We have developed a number of educational tools and workshops to help landowners develop a plan that meets their individual goals.

For details on how to prepare a stewardship plan for your property, please see Forest Stewardship Series 18 – Stewardship Objectives and Planning.

Other Resources:

CalFIRE published an issue of the Forestland Steward newsletter on  Developing a Forest Management Plan in Winter 2012.