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The Forest Stewardship Program can provide answers to your questions, information and advice, financial help for projects, educational programs and materials, and more. Forest Stewardship is a nationwide program designed to assist non-industrial private forest landowners in managing their properties for a variety of resource values. Assistance is customized to meet your specific needs and objectives. The program is funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry in close cooperation with several other state and federal agencies and private organizations.
The First Step
A forest stewardship plan defines a landowner´s objectives, describes the current condition of natural resources present on the property, and outlines a ten-year action plan to achieve the landowner´s goals while maintaining and enhancing those resources present. Each plan is unique, based on the resources present and the landowner´s objectives.
The stewardship plan describes the existing vegetation, soils, and wildlife/fisheries habitat on the property. It provides guidelines for a sound strategy that reflects the landowner´s commitment to a land stewardship ethic that focuses on the integration of all resources in the management of the property as a valuable legacy for future generations.
Topics to be included in a Stewardship Plan:
- Landowner´s objectives.
- Property description (legal, topography, brief history, access, property tax status, and a brief description of the Oregon Forest Practices Act.)
- Forest vegetation description, and actions needed to meet landowner´s objectives.
- Wildlife/fisheries habitat description, and actions needed to meet landowner´s objectives.
- Soils description.
- Road and culvert assessment.
- Summary of the conditions of existing resources and recommended activities to meet landowner´s objectives.
- Assistance available, including financial, technical and educational, with local addresses and phone numbers.
- Maps showing property boundaries, vegetative cover types, soil types, access and existing and proposed roads, streams and other waters.
- Signature page showing the resources present, and whether they will be protected or improved, which is signed by the landowner, the person preparing the plan, and the ODF stewardship forester.
- Water resources. Actions to protect and/or enhance to meet landowner objectives.
- Forest health, including insect, disease, and/or wildfire hazard concerns, and actions to protect/improve to meet landowner objectives.
- Archaeological-cultural resources
- Recreation
- Aesthetics/Scenic
- Threatened and Endangered Species
All actions to implement the Stewardship Plan are strictly voluntary on the part of the landowner. The Stewardship Plan does not limit or reduce any existing rights of the landowner.
Applications and eligibility information on this and other forestry cost-share programs is available.
Your local stewardship forester can assist you with any questions.
Cost-Share Application Form (pdf)
Stewardship Plan Template (pdf) and Guidelines (pdf)
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