As you work to create a healthy woodland, you don’t have to figure it all out alone! Foresters, loggers, other natural resource professionals, and fellow landowners can help you make informed decisions and get things done in your woods. To make stewardship more affordable, state and federal programs offer financial support as well. Here are some of the resources available to woodland owners.
Forest Stewardship Plans
A forest stewardship plan is basically a blueprint for your forested property. It lays out what you want to achieve as a woodland owner and gives you a roadmap to get there for the next 10–25 years. The plan includes your goals, details about the trees and plants, the current state of your forest, and the actions you’ll take to reach your objectives.
A stewardship plan guides you in managing your land in a way that’s good for both you and the health of your woodlands. It helps you make smart decisions about things like conservation, timber harvesting, creating wildlife habitats, and more.
Foresters
Forestry is the art and science of evaluating and managing a woodland to meet a landowner’s goals sustainably. A forester is a trained professional with at least a bachelor’s degree who implements established forestry practices to address the interests of the landowners they work with. Foresters can help you create a forest stewardship plan and put it into practice in a cost-effective way. DNR foresters can walk through your property with you and give you free advice, while private foresters work for a fee and can help you implement specific practices.
Loggers
If you are considering a timber harvest, choosing a logger is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make. Be sure the logger you choose is a careful, skilled professional who is willing to work with you and your goals. A common way to increase your chances for success is to work with a professional forester to select a professional logger through a competitive bidding process. Once bids have been collected, you can make an informed decision by asking a few questions:
- What kinds of training and education do you participate in? Membership with organizations such as the Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance, Wisconsin Master Loggers, and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association can help indicate the level of competence and training the logger has received.
- What experience do you have with different types of sales? Be sure to ask whether the logger is skilled in the harvest system you require and is familiar with the necessary equipment.
- Do you have references I can contact? Check with references provided by the prospective operator. Call the landowner and visit the harvest site to accurately judge the quality of previous jobs.
- Do you have proof of insurance you can share with me? Make sure the operator has sufficient insurance to cover themselves and their employees and any subcontractors. A good contract should protect you from liability, but you want to be sure that you are not responsible if subcontractors are injured.
Other Professionals
You may face a variety of challenges in carrying out the projects necessary to achieve your vision for your land. Other natural resource professionals you can connect with include:
- Wildlife biologists if you are interested in managing for specific wildlife. Some foresters may have sufficient knowledge to get you where you want to go, and wildlife-specific organizations can help as well. On our team, Jamie Nack is the person to contact if you have wildlife questions.
- Contractors with the knowledge and tools to control invasive species.
- Tax professionals knowledgeable about woodlands to help you navigate the tax implications of owning property or conducting a timber sale.
Learn more about how to hire a contractor for land management activities (PDF).
Other Landowners
Talking with other landowners can be a great way to learn from their experiences, get recommendations on professionals who they have worked with, and see the results of successful stewardship. The Wisconsin Woodland Owner Association, Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee, and Wisconsin Chapter of Walnut Council are some landowner organizations you can connect with.
Financial Assistance Programs
Financial cost is one of the most common hurdles landowners face in stewarding their woods. Several state and federal programs can help you pay for sustainable management activities.
Managed Forest Law
Managed Forest Law (MFL) is a Wisconsin tax incentive program that encourages the long-term sustainability of private woodlands. In exchange for having and following a written forest management plan, landowners receive a reduced property tax rate on enrolled woodlands.
In Wisconsin, productive forest land is taxed at $32 per acre on average. This same land in MFL is taxed at $1.90 per acre for open land and $9.49 per acre for closed land, along with a small tax on any income from a timber sale. (Open land is open to the public for limited recreational uses: only hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing.)
To be eligible to enter the program, you must enroll a minimum of 20 acres of woodland and work with a certified forester who will write a management plan.
Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program
The Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP), run by the state Department of Natural Resources, provides cost-share money for specific forest management activities. Eligible activities include tree planting and care, stewardship plan writing, soil and water protection, forest health improvement, and more.
If you apply and receive a grant, you can get up to 50% of your costs reimbursed. To be eligible, you must own at least 10 acres of woodland (but less than 500).
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a federal program that provides financial and technical assistance through the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. The focus is on conservation activities such as management planning, tree planting, and establishing trails.
Payments can be up to 75% of the cost of the activity. Like WFLGP, the payments come as reimbursements for your approved expenses.
Page last updated March 2025.