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Forest Stewardship Program
Through this program, you can have a Forest Stewardship plan developed for your property. A forester will visit your
woodland to assess its
To qualify for the Forest Stewardship Program, you need to own a woodland and have an interest in actively managing it. Become a woodland steward by actively managing your land. Your management decisions will affect the environment for decades to come. A Forest Stewardship Plan helps you choose wisely. Public agencies have been managing their land for many years, now it is time for private landowners to start actively managing their land. For more information on Minnesota's Forest Stewardship Program, please contact Dennis Thompson with the Aitkin County SWCD at (218) 927-6565.
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Minnesota’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts are
uniquely suited to provide land management assistance to private
landowners to protect our water and soil resources.
Traditionally, this assistance has been focused on agricultural
practices, but because of the increasing use of woodlands,
conservationists have recognized the need to provide an
increasing level of assistance to woodland owners.
Managing private woodlands can be a challenging and
sometimes overwhelming task. The options are endless and the
results of poor management decisions can take decades to
heal. In the past, technical advice was hard to get, but things
have changed. Today, there are many opportunities for landowners
to get technical assistance on managing their woodland. One of
these opportunities is through the Minnesota Forest Stewardship
Program. 
The Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District
became active in Forest Stewardship planning in 1998 when a
full-time forester was hired to write Forest Stewardship
plans. With over 500,000 acres of family forest woodlands in
Aitkin County, the need to provide an increasing level of
forestry assistance was easy to recognize.
potential. Then you need to ask yourself,
“What do I want from my woodland?” With an assessment of your
woodland’s potential and your objectives in mind, a forester can
suggest specific management practices such as: planting trees,
fencing, installing wildlife nesting boxes, clearing access
trails, harvesting timber, maintaining firebreaks, thinning a
dense stand of trees, or protecting a unique natural
resource. In a nut shell, a Forest Stewardship plan simply
describes your natural resources, your ownership goals, and
recommends management possibilities.
A Forest Stewardship plan is a working guide that
allows the landowner to maximize the wildlife, timber,
recreation, and aesthetic value of their woodland. By working
with a natural resource professional, you will learn about
specific management practices that could improve your wildlife
habitat, preserve natural beauty, enhance recreation
opportunities, protect soil resources, grow wood products, and
generate income. All plans guide landowners to implement a plan
that meets their goals for the property while maintaining and
improving the resource.