Forest Stewards manage their forestlands by following management objectives that are multiple resource based, economically viable, conservative of natural resources, and socially, environmentally and ecologically responsible.
Forest Stewardship is defined as active management of forests and related resources to keep these lands in a productive and healthy condition for present and future generations, and to increase the economic, environmental and social benefits of these lands. Forest Stewards are those landowners who manage their forestlands on a long-term basis by following management objectives that are multiple resource based, economically viable, conservative of natural resources and socially, environmentally and ecologically responsible.
The Forest Stewardship Program addresses the improvement and maintenance of timber, wildlife, soil and water, recreation, aesthetics and forage resources.
Private forest landowners with at least 10 acres of forest land and a desire to manage their ownerships according to Stewardship principles can participate in the Forest Stewardship Program. Also, adjacent landowners with similar management objectives may combine their holdings to meet the acreage requirement.
Most new residents come from urban areas where they have not been exposed to forest management practices. As a result, misunderstandings often occur when they first encounter smoke from a controlled burn or witness a stand of timber being harvested. Uninformed individuals may perceive these activities as environmentally destructive even though they happen to be a part of a long-range, multiple-resource plan. In response to complaints from such individuals, local governments have tended to restrict or regulate forest management activities, particularly in areas where there are more interfaces between forestlands and recently developed areas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service determined additional efforts must be made to create a positive public image for private non-industrial forest and resource professionals in order to reverse this trend. Otherwise, excessive government regulations could be created that may discourage private non-industrial forest landowners from retaining ownership of their properties or carrying out management activities that are beneficial to themselves and to the environment. For these efforts to be successful, educational programs that focus on inactive landowners, enrich the knowledge of resource specialists and provide information to the general public are an essential component of the Florida Forest Stewardship Program.
Private non-industrial forest landowners own almost half of the state's forestlands and present the greatest opportunity for making improvements to the supply and condition of the state's forest resources. These landowners are motivated by various environmental, economic and intrinsic goals. Unfortunately, they also tend to have limited knowledge of the possible alternatives for managing their forestlands or where to obtain technical assistance to help them realize their objectives.
Private and public resource professionals are making a deliberate effort to contact the following groups of forest landowners to assess their personal objectives and generate interest in stewardship management:
The Florida Forest Stewardship Program is designed to encourage the state's private non-industrial forest landowners to practice stewardship. Specifically, the program objectives are as follows:
Landowners will receive:
Contact your local county forester office of the Florida Forest Service and tell us that you would like to have a Forest Stewardship Plan written for your property. The forester will ask you to complete a Forest Stewardship Application and will answer any questions that you may have about the program.
Once you have completed the Stewardship Application [ Adobe PDF Document ], print it and send it to: Conservation Programs Manager, Florida Forest Service, 3125 Conner Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650.
Once your application is received, a meeting will be scheduled between you and the resource professionals who will develop your plan.
It is the landowner's responsibility to select the primary natural resource professional who will develop the plan. This lead professional will then contact the other resource specialists and schedule the field meeting.
Landowners who own more than 160 acres of land are encouraged to choose a private consultant rather than an agency professional to prepare their management plan. The services of a private consultant can be advantageous in a long-term commitment to land management activities and the periodic need for on-the-ground services. Often times, state agency personnel are pulled away from management activities to address other matters and may not be available to assist the landowner when needed.
Funding is available to help cover the costs for consultants to write Forest Stewardship plans in some cases. This funding is supported by grants, which require plans to include either hurricane resilience and recovery elements or management guidance and information specific to longleaf pine. Please contact your county forester or the conservation programs manager for more information.
Certification is the award reserved for landowners who have consistently practiced good management on their land and followed the recommendations within their Stewardship Plan. Some landowners who have been practicing good forest stewardship even before they received their written plan may be eligible immediately for certification, while others may take several years to complete their recommended practices and be awarded certification. Contact your local county forester to determine if you are ready for certification. The forester will complete a checklist, forward it to the Conservation Programs Manager, and schedule an on-site inspection to view the landowner's accomplishments with a Stewardship Certification team. If the Stewardship Certification Team agrees that the landowner has shown good progress, the landowner will be given a Stewardship sign to display on their property and will receive a laser-etched walnut plaque for display in their home.
