As Vermont is roughly eigthty percent forested, it is a safe bet that if you are purchasing a rural property with any amount of acreage, you will have some forested land. The stewardship of that forest land is a very interesting and very rewarding benefit of ownership. For many buyers of property in Vermont, being an owner of forest land is a new concept. The education of proper stewardship can come in many forms. If a forest component is 25 acres or more, the property can qualify for Vermont’s Current Use Program. This is a program that can dramatically reduce property taxes while at the same time improve the quality of the forest. A forester must be engaged who will evaluate the condition and makeup of the forest and develop a Forestry Plan with the owner. This plan is then authorized by a county forester. More often than not, the plan focuses on timberstand improvement which in turn can make the land more valuable in the future. A great resource for better understanding forest lands is Northern Woodlands magazine, www.northernwoodlands.org. It has a great layout with very relevant articles and resources to better understand our forests.

Of course, another great benefit of proper forest management is wildlife habitat improvement.  Vermont Coverts, www.vtcoverts.org, is a very special group dedicated to helping the landowner recognize the significance of their landholding beyond the property boundaries and how it effects the ecosystem of an entire area. This relates to both the timberland and the widelife habitat. They actually offer a Forest Landowner Training course in September. Better understanding of what you own can bring great enjoyment of our precious natural resources.

Posted by Wade I. Treadway