This document outlines the process for preparing a forest management plan, including an initial field visit to assess goals, history, boundaries, and concerns. Field data is collected on vegetation, wildlife habitat, and soils. A property map and management plan are then created, with recommendations such as monitoring forest health, invasive species control, and wildlife food plots over the next 10 years. The plan also discusses available cost share programs to help fund management activities.

1. Managing Virginia’s Forests
Since 1914!

2. Preparing A Management/Stewardship Plan
From the initial contact to the plan in hand
- what is the process???

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

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

5. Initial Field Visit
Field Data Collection
- Vegetative & tree species inventory
- Wildlife habitat assessment
- Soil types & conditions

6. Initial Field Visit
General Discussion
- Timeline & planning
- Limitations & feasibility

7. Make a Map

8. Writing the Plan

9. Additional Soil Research

10. Wildlife Research

14. Relevant Topics
•Woodland Cattle Grazing
•Non-Native Invasive Species
•Riparian Buffers

17. Property Map

20. Summary of
Recommendations
Suggested Schedule of
Management Recommendations
YEAR PARCEL ACTIVITY
2008 - 20018 A, B Monitor forest health (pest & disease)
2008- 2009 A Harvest Virginia Pine
2008 - 2018 A Perform Crop Tree Release
2008 - Stand
Lifespan
A Practice TSI on mature stand
2008 - 2018 A,B, C Monitor and control invasive species
2008 - 2018 A Develop and improve recreational trail system
2008 - 2009 C Plant wildlife food plots
2018 Have Forest Stewardship Plan Revised
This schedule may need to be adjusted depending on financial needs, timber markets,
timing of actual harvest, and availability of contractors.

21. Presentation to Landowner

22. Forestry Cost Share
Options

23. Reforestation of Timberlands (RT)
Effective May 1, 2012, the incentive payments to landowners for approved projects are:
•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.
•Practice Ground release application - $43/acre.
•Cost share rates shall not exceed 75% of the total cost of the project.
Signup is continuous and starts May 1 for the program year starting July 1. The practices must be maintained for 10 years. This program is funded by the
forest industry in Virginia with matching funds from the Virginia General Fund.

24. Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit
Program Description and Requirements
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!

25. 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)

26. EQIP (Environmental Quality
Incentive Program
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 and
Declining Habitats
• Road/Trail/Landing Closure and
Treatment
• Forest Stand Improvement

27. Questions???
Erik P. Filep
Senior Area Forester
Virginia Department of Forestry
Greene, Rappahannock, Madison, Orange, Culpeper Counties
308 Thrift Road (Physical)
P.O. Box 148 (Mailing)
Madison, VA 22727
Office: 540-948-5341
Cell: 434-962-3017
Fax: 540-948-5905
E-mail: erik.filep@dof.virginia.gov
Terrance Lasher
Virginia Department of Forestry
Senior Area Forester, Central Region, Northern Virginia
675 Frost Ave., Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 347-6305 (0)
(540) 270-2396 (c)
(540) 347-6359 (f)
Email: terry.lasher@dof.virginia.gov
Web: www.dof.virginia.gov