Quiz: Who Will Share the Cost of My Forest Plan?

Generally, the most effective way to achieve a goal is to make a plan first, and forest stewardship goals are no exception. The forest planning process helps you set priorities for your woodland, such as attracting wildlife, protecting water quality, or producing timber. It then identifies a shortlist of the critical land care actions you can take to meet these goals.

In other words, forest planning will save you time and money in caring for your property. However, it’s also true that the process costs money, because you’ll need to hire a qualified professional to assist you.

Quiz

Which of the following cost-share, or grant, programs will help defray the cost of writing a forest plan in Wisconsin? (Select all that apply)

A) Managed Forest Law Program (MFL)

B) Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP)

C) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

D) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Answer

The answer is B and C: The Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP), administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), managed by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

WFLGP reimburses qualified landowners for up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible land care practices, including writing a forest stewardship plan. EQIP will share the cost of writing a specific type of forest plan called a Conservation Activity Plan (CAP).

It’s important to know that you must have a forest plan in place to qualify for additional funding through these and other programs to implement practices such as planting trees, controlling invasive species, and making timber stand improvements.

So don’t delay! For more information on these and other financial assistance programs for Wisconsin woodland owners, visit the Taxes and Finances section of our website. See also our primer on forest plans.