Landowners considering logging on their land can now benefit from a series of simple and concise guides, designed to address the most common questions about timber harvests. Governor Phil Scott and Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder today introduced The Landowner Guides to a Successful Timber Harvest. These guides encourage wisely-planned harvests that support forest health while maintaining or enhancing wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, and encouraging opportunities for outdoor recreation.
“Growing forests and the forest product economy is integral to keeping Vermonters working on their land, which benefits the entire state,” said Gov. Scott. “Landowners now have a helpful tool to ensure timber harvests are a viable way to support long-term forest health and bring in supplemental income over time.”
Pulling from recommendations already in the 2015 Voluntary Harvesting Guidelines, The Landowner Guides to a Successful Timber Harvest explain the processes behind selecting and cutting timber, and remove some of the confusion about the “how, what, where and why” of timber harvest operations.
“These guides came out of our understanding that landowners who love their land actually have lots of questions,” said Commissioner Snyder. “The guides outline the key steps of a harvest, promote effective communication between landowners, foresters and loggers, and help landowners plan for the health of their woods far into the future.”
The series includes an Overview booklet with tips on how to plan harvest goals and discusses the five major steps of a successful timber harvest. Also included are four pocket-sized brochures covering specific topics of interest, such as harvesting to promote wildlife habitat, ways to protect water quality, the economics of timber harvests, and tips for working with foresters & loggers.
Visit VTCutWithConfidence.com to download printable guides and access other resources provided by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, or contact the Department directly to obtain printed brochures or more information about landowner outreach and timber harvests – joanne.garton@vermont.gov or 802-249-4217.