A Forest Management Plan (FMP) is the primary document developed by a forester in collaboration with the landowner(s). Its main purposes are to quantify natural resources and to create prescriptions and a schedule of operations for the working forest. In addition to its face value as a management tool, a Forest Management Plan is required for a property to be eligible for Vermont's Use Value Appraisal (UVA) Program (also known as "Current Use"), which greatly reduces the tax burden on the landowner.

Hardt Forestry's FMPs provide thorough, accurate, and precise documentation of the forest. Once in-depth documentation of the forest's present condition has been ascertained, and the landowner’s objectives have been clearly defined, I proceed (with the landowner's input) to develop stand prescriptions and a schedule of management activities to be performed. All FMPs include:

• Management objectives (such as timber production, wildlife habitat, water quality and aesthetics)

• Boundary location and stand delineation

• Stand and site descriptions

• Stand management prescriptions

• A GIS Map
  

Managed Northern Hardwood Forest

This forest stand's topography and herbaceous cover require careful management and planning to ensure that it remains an ecologically healthy stand capable of sustainably producing forest products. I believe that the creation and implementation of a Forest Management Plan requires continuous collaboration with the landowner(s).