What’s in a management plan?
Most forest management plans start out with some background information about the landowner and the property, to set the context for the rest of the plan. This may include location, size, ownership, history and other details. Many woodland owners enjoy learning about their property history and value having a written record of it. If you are a new property owner, you could ask your neighbors what they know.
Goals and actions
Goals relate to your reasons for and interest in owning forestland. They also form the basis for your management plan, which helps to outline how you will achieve them. List the primary goals you have for your forest in your plan. Here are some examples:
- improve forest health
- protect against wildfires
- provide and improve fish and wildlife habitat
- establish new trees
- enhance tree growth and quality in your forest
- generate income from harvesting timber and non-timber products
- reintroduce or emulate the ecological role of wildfire in the forest
- control invasive species
- maintain and develop trails for hiking, skiing or off-road recreational vehicle use
Maps and photos
Your plan should include maps and aerial photos that provide a visual overview of your land. These maps should highlight forest stands, topography, streams, roads and structures. To create a map of your property, you can use anything from hand-drawn maps to professional GIS mapping software.
For landowners in Washington and Oregon, Landmapper by Ecotrust stands out as a simple plug-and-play option. This online tool is specifically designed to meet the needs of forest landowners, offering intuitive features to generate detailed property maps without the steep learning curve of more technical tools. Landmapper makes it easy to create accurate, actionable maps, helping you effectively plan and manage your forest.
Visit the maps and photos page for a list of additional resources.
Property resources
Management plans should contain descriptions of all the resources found on a forest property. The resources you have on your property may include vegetation (timber), water, fish and wildlife, roads, soils, recreation, aesthetics, and wildfire protection.
Recommendations for future actions
Management plans should also contain a set of suggested actions that landowners can implement to improve the resources on their property and move in the direction of their goals. These recommended actions may be on-the-ground practices, or they may include things such as consultation with professionals or education. Most plans set the landowner on a management trajectory for a period of five to 10 years.
Business and operations
Developing a management plan is a good time to examine your ownership structure, tax status and other fiscal matters. You should also consider legal and liability issues such as boundaries, easements and security concerns. Many landowners use their management plans to keep track of expenditures and income associated with their management activities. You can learn more about business, laws and taxes in the forest laws & finances [link to 1.6] section of this website.
TOPIC-SPECIFIC RESOURCES:
For property information:
County information
Look up your county assessor office’s website to find your parcel information.
LocatOR
Developed by the Oregon Department of Forestry GIS unit to help people find locations in Oregon, LocatOR allows you to search for a latitude/longitude, legal description, township range and section, or mile marker.
For property description:
Oregon Explorer Map Viewer
This mapping tool offers interactive retrieval of natural resources information for your property. You can also use it to review terrain and topography by exploring the various layers, such as Basemaps (which includes “topo” and “terrain”) and Landscape and Geology.
Exploring Your Property’s Past
This resource offers questions and tools for learning about the land use and ownership history of your property.
Oregon State Archives – Land Records
The state archives provide land use and ownership records retrieval.
For maps and photos:
Visit the mapping resources and tools page
For current stand and forest health conditions
Forest Health Aerial Detection Surveys
Since 1947, annual aerial detection surveys have recorded the insects and diseases affecting forests in Oregon and Washington.
Oregon Department of Forestry Forest Health webpage
Fact sheets on insects, pathogens and abiotic factors.
Basic Forest Inventory Techniques for Family Forest Owners
This manual will teach you how to identify individual forest stands on your property, take a plot sample, establish an inventory plot and measure individual trees.
For soils
Web Soil Survey
Use this tool to develop a soils map for your property. The Land Management and Vegetative Productivity reports that can be generated with a Web Soil Survey contain the information you need for your plan.
Geologic Map of Oregon
These maps display the variety of rock types in Oregon.
For water resources
StreamStats
This online U.S. Geological Survey mapping tool assists with water resources planning and management.
For fish and wildlife habitat:
Oregon Conservation Strategy
Plan to conserve Oregon’s fish and wildlife, and their habitats. Use the mapping tool to see if you are in one of Oregon’s “Conservation Opportunity Areas.”
Oregon Biodiversity Map Viewer
View data on species distribution for Oregon’s important forest species and habitats.
LocatOR
Find a list of wildlife species associated with your property using the Forest Bio-Diversity filter — the right-side menu button that looks like a salamander.
Federal and State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species in Oregon
This list, compiled by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, contains threatened, endangered and candidate fish and wildlife species found in Oregon.
IPaC
Explore listed species, critical habitat, migratory birds or other natural resources on your property with this online tool.
For roads
StreamStats
This mapping tool for water resources planning and management can help you determine the size of culvert necessary to handle the peak flow for stream crossings on your property.
For integrated pest management
U.S. Forest Service — Forest Health Protection
This webpage offers forest health fact sheets and other resources.
Oregon Department of Agriculture pesticides program
Get information on state pesticide regulations.
For prescribed burning
Burning and Smoke Management
This Oregon Department of Forestry resource provides information and regulations on prescribed burning and smoke management.
For climate change resiliency
U.S. Forest Service — Carbon Sequestration
Get definitions and find publications on carbon markets.
Introduction to Forest Carbon, Offsets and Markets
Learn the basics of forest carbon, offsets and markets. Topics include defining carbon in forests, carbon offset credits, methods of inventory/quantification, forest carbon projects and market types.
Climate Change Resource Center
The Climate Change Resource Center connects land managers with useable science to address climate change in natural resources planning and management.
For regulations
Oregon Forest Practices Act
Review state environmental protection laws regulating all commercial activities on state and private forestland in Oregon.
Oregon’s Forest Protection Laws: An Illustrated Manual
This Oregon Forest Resources Institute publication fosters easy understanding of the Oregon Forest Practices Act and other best management practices, laws and rules that apply to Oregon’s forest landowners.
For aesthetics and recreation
Oregon’s Scenic Waterways
Learn about Oregon’s designation program for protecting special waterways.
Oregon’s Scenic Byways
Discover unique viewpoints and attractions along 26 scenic routes.
Nature Trail Development on Small Acreages
This practical guide helps with planning, building and maintaining sustainable trails on small properties, including tips for minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing usability for various recreational activities.
For cultural resources
State Historic Preservation Office
Get information about Oregon’s archaeological sites.
Protection of Archaeological and Cultural Resources
This fact sheet from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality offers quick information about preserving cultural sites and artifacts.
For taxes and incentive programs
Oregon Department of Revenue Timber Harvest Taxes information
Learn how timber is taxed in Oregon.
National Timber Tax website
Find information regarding the tax treatment of timber-related activities.
Grants and Incentive Programs for Private Landowners
Get information on financial incentives and technical assistance programs for landowners.
Oregon Department of Revenue Forestland Program
Learn about special tax assessment for forestland.
Oregon State University Extensions Ties to the Land
This program offers information and assistance with succession planning for forestland.
For certification programs
American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
ATFS provides resources and certification programs to help small forest owners sustainably manage their woodlands. It focuses on environmental stewardship, responsible harvesting and enhancing wildlife habitats.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
FSC is a global organization promoting sustainable forest management through certification standards that ensure forests are responsibly managed, protecting biodiversity, water quality and the rights of forest-dependent communities.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
SFI offers certification standards and programs for sustainable forestry practices, focusing on conservation, community engagement and environmental education, while promoting the long-term health of forests.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
VIDEOS
Making Maps for Management Planning
Maps are a critical part of all forest management plans. Learn more about a simple way to create maps for management plans in this recorded training.
Free Online Forestry Planning
Learn about plannings tools that can be used to develop a comprehensive forest management plan in this recorded training.