Timber Talk: Managing Your Woodlands (Part I)

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

Whether you have recently acquired a woodland property or are not sure what to do with the woodlands you have owned for a long time, the first step is to identify your individual goals for the property. Landowner goals and expectations are a large part of forest management plans and will guide the decisions of the forester and logger you choose to work with. For example, your goal may be to create wildlife habitat to increase hunting on your property. It also could be that you are looking to increase the quality of timber on your property to diversify your operation and establish a crop with longer rotations. The decisions landowners make today regarding forestland will impact the landscape for a century, so it is critical to establish both short and long-term goals at the beginning of the process.

Once your goals are established, it is time to contact a certified crop advisor to visit your property.… Continue reading