What is a management plan?
Simply put, a forest management plan describes your property, what you want to do with it, and how and when to carry out your plans for it.
Why have a management plan?
For woodland owners, the most important reason to develop a management plan is to learn about your forest today and develop or refine a course of action for the future of your property.
A plan helps you:
- Consider what you might do on your property to improve its condition.
- Save time and money and avoid costly mistakes that may not be correctable.
- Organize your business records and keep track of activities on your property.
- Communicate your vision with others who use the property or heirs who may be caring for it in the future.
- Demonstrate to others your commitment and interest in continued woodlot management.
- Apply for cost-share programs.
- Obtain a sustainable forest management certification.
While you may not realize it at first, taking the step to learn about your forest and deciding what you want to do with it through a management plan is taking a step toward ensuring that your forest will be managed sustainably now and into the future.
Who should write your management plan?
Since you can learn a lot about a forest through the management planning process, there is value in having whoever is involved in the day-to-day management of your forest also serving as the plan developer. This could be you – the landowner – or a professional forester, biologist or other professional natural resource specialist. It could also be a mentor such as a friend, relative or neighbor with the skill and energy to engage you in the planning process and link you with the necessary sources of natural resources expertise.
Sometimes you can be the lead author of your forest’s management plan. Or you may wish to be the reviewer. You can hire a professional consulting forester to write a plan for your property. Regardless of who writes the plan, it must be your plan in the end and include steps that you’re willing to act on.
Reviewing and updating a management plan
The process of management planning and implementation is more important than the plan itself. As you take action, new ideas may emerge and unforeseen events like storms, pests or market changes can alter forest conditions. Personal or family circumstances might also lead to reassessing your goals. Forest management planning is continuous, and the plan should be treated as a "living document" that’s better suited for a three-ring binder than sitting untouched on a shelf.
Review your plan regularly, and especially ahead of any upcoming forestry activities. Revisit the plan after completing an action to update records, note modifications and evaluate results against your goals. Although most plans have a 10-year horizon, it's wise to re-evaluate every five years. Begin with reassessing your goals and boundaries, and end with a fresh schedule of actions for the next five years.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
PUBLICATIONS
Management Planning for Woodland Owners: A Visual Guide
Explores the concepts of woodland management planning through videos, maps and audio segments from woodland owners.
Management Planning for Woodland Owners: Why and How
This eight-page booklet provides an overview of the reasons for building a forest management plan, and some easy starting efforts.
VIDEOS
Forest Management Plan Writing for Tree Farmers
Learn from experts about the importance of forest management planning, and how to access resources and tools to assist in this process.
OTHER
Oregon State University Extension Catalog – Natural Resources Publications
Find a variety of learning resources on forestry and other natural resource topics.