The forest stewardship program
The Forest Stewardship Program is a nationwide program which provides advice and assistance to help family forest owners manage their lands. The program is cooperatively funded by the USDA Forest Services and state forestry agencies. The Forest Stewardship Program is one of five major programs administered by DNR’s Small Forest Landowner Office (SFLO).
For more information, please fill out our information request form, or for assistance, contact the DNR Stewardship Forester who administers the Forest Stewardship Program in your area.
Program components
- Technical Assistance
DNR foresters, and fish and wildlife biologists, are available to visit your forest land, answer your questions, and offer management suggestions personalized to your individual ownership objectives. They can advise you about how to develop and implement an integrated, multi-resource Forest Stewardship Plan for your property, and how to protect against hazards like wildfire, disease, and insects. A Forest Stewardship Plan will not only help guide your management activities; it can also meet the “management plan” requirement for Tree Farm Certification, current use property taxation, and cost-share programs. (Minimum of 5 forested acres required for site visit).
- Educational Programs and Materials
DNR’s Small Forest Landowner Office cooperates with Washington State University Extension to conduct educational programs for family forest owners across the state. Examples include Forest Owners Field Days, Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Shortcourses, and other classes, workshops, and field events. WSU Extension also has a variety of educational materials developed specifically for family forest owners.
- Financial Assistance (Cost-Share)
The DNR-administered Eastern Washington Forest Landowner Cost-Share Program reimburses landowners for 50% of the cost of practices (e.g. thinning) to reduce wildfire hazard and bark beetle risk. Forest owners may also qualify for funding for a variety of forestry practices, statewide, through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- “Stewardship Forest” Recognition Program
Properties managed according to a DNR-approved Forest Stewardship Plan are eligible to display the “Stewardship Forest” sign in recognition of the owner’s efforts. Local DNR SFLO Foresters can also inspect properties for certification by the American Tree Farm System.