Planning to Assure Your Forest
Stewardship Goals Live Beyond an
Owner’s Tenure
Jonathan Kays
University of Maryland Extension
Forest Stewardship
• Managing forest resources in a way that is, at
once, economically expedient, but
conservative, and socially, environmentally
and ecologically responsible…
• Further, human resource use does not detract
from or degrade forest use by other
organisms and future generations.
Important Forest
Stewardship Themes
Provide for the future
Maximize production efficiency
Be responsible
Reinvest harvested assets
A Forest Steward...
• Feels a sense of responsibility.
• Knows the opportunities.
• Is aware of the consequences of actions
Is Guided By OBJECTIVES!
Forest Management
Objectives...
• Describe the purpose of ownership
• Help identify opportunities.
• Frame the owner’s interests within the
context of opportunities.
• Are an essential prerequisite of sound
forest management planning.
So...
If stewardship means leaving
things better than you found
them, how can you ensure that
your forest management
objectives live beyond your
tenure?
Components of the Forest
Stewardship Plan
• Objectives
• Maps
• Inventory data
– Wildlife, endangered
species, timber, etc.
• Stand descriptions &
recommendations
• Timetable for action
Estate Planning Steps
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What do you want to pass on
Determining your net worth
Making a will
Talk with your heirs
Find a good estate tax lawyer
www.timbertax.org