DNR’s Service Forestry Program can provide forest stewardship or forest management planning, advice and recommendations for landowners.

 

Service foresters can help you assess resource conditions and forest health, identify potential problems and opportunities, and recommend management practices to help you achieve your objectives. There is no cost or obligation for this service. 

 

 

In partnership with WSU, service foresters can also help you develop and implement a Forest Stewardship Plan to guide current and future management actions and help you qualify for financial assistance, current use taxation, recognition, and certification programs when landowners participate in coached planning. A stewardship plan also provides continuity of management and can help ensure that one’s vision for their property continues well into the future.

 

In some cases, there may also be funding available through our Financial Assistance Program to assist in paying a consulting forester to write a plan for you, and in limited cases a service forester may be able to assist a landowner in developing their own plan outside of coached planning.

 

The Service Forestry Program partners at a National level with the USDA Forest Service. Through this partnership, the Service Forestry Program can help assess resource conditions and forest health, identify problems and opportunities, and identify management practices to achieve objectives. In Washington state, the program is administered by DNR’s Forest Resilience Division.

 

 

 

Forestland owners of 5 or more acres are eligible for a site visit at no cost. Owners of smaller acreages may receive a visit depending on forester availability, but can get consultation from DNR by telephone or email.

 

 

Washington State University (WSU) Extension Forestry: In cooperation with DNR, and other agencies and organizations, WSU Extension Forestry provides educational programs and materials for family forest owners. Offerings include multi-week Forest Stewardship Coached Planning courses to help landowners develop a forest stewardship plan, Regional Forest Owners Field Days, Forest Stewardship University online and more. Coached planning, WSU’s flagship course, teaches landowners how to assess trees, avoid insect and disease problems and attract wildlife. State experts will help landowners develop their own Forest Stewardship Plan to keep their woods on track to provide enjoyment and income for years to come. Go to forestry.wsu.edu for more information.

 

 

Are you a small forest landowner seeking assistance with forest practices regulations? Visit the Small Forest Landowner Office page, or the Regulation Assistance Program.