Help for Woodland Owners

By Dave Scamardella, Service Forester, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry

As we know from Spiderman, "With great power, comes great responsibility." This is also true for forest landowners. Our forests have the powers of producing wood, water, wildlife, recreation, and oh so much more! Our responsibilities are also great, from managing the deer herd to controlling invasive species and maintaining a high level of biodiversity. How can the average person do all this? With help!

Service Forester

The first place to go would be your state forestry agency. Most states have someone called a "service forester" who is an impartial source of information for any landowner. They can generally walk your property with you (as schedules allow) and offer general recommendations. They can offer guidance about harvesting, reforestation, and best management practices (BMPs). They have information about common insect and disease issues, wildfire risk, and general forest health. They can also shed light on what cost-share assistance programs might be available.

Extension Forester

No matter where you are located there is a University Cooperative Extension Forester assigned to your area. Their job is to translate academic research into practical guidance for landowners and other land managers. No matter what your question, they probably have a fact sheet written about it! They also conduct conferences, workshops, and webinars on a wide variety of topics.

Consulting Forester

Once you feel you are ready, you could hire a consulting forester. This is a professional forester (with a college-level degree) who typically works for you for a short period of time to accomplish a specific objective such as a commercial timber sale, pre-commercial thinning, herbicide contract, prescribed burn, writing a management plan, etc. They will mark the timber for sale based on your guidelines, put it up for bid, write the timber sale contract, and usually supervise the cutting.

Industrial Forester

The loggers who want to bid on your timber may employ a forester too. This is the loggers’ right to verify the amount and quality of the timber that is up for bid.

Landowner Networks

Another source of information to landowners is...other landowners! For a long time, landowners have found value in coming together to share their experiences—good or bad. It makes sense to learn from someone else's mistake instead of your own! These groups are sometimes called "woodland owner associations" and your service forester or extension forester should be able to tell you if there is one in your area. If not, you could try to start one yourself.

Conservation Groups

At one time, the word, "environmentalist" was spoken with derision in the forestry community, but no longer! Now, nonprofit organizations and land trusts are some of our strongest allies. As large landowners themselves, they employ many foresters and other natural resources professionals who can share their experiences and research. They also work with landowners who wish to protect their land with a conservation easement or something similar.

Bringing it All Together

No single source has all the answers. If you were building a house, you wouldn't stop getting information after talking to a plumber! Successful forest management involves combining resources—a service forester's advice, extension education, professional services, and peer experience—into an approach that fits your land and goals. Your forest is a long-term investment. By tapping into the many sources of information and guidance available, you can make confident decisions that benefit both your land and future generations.