1. Robert Ethridge, Chief Forestry Assistance Bureau/Forestry Division Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation MONTANA FOREST STEWARDSHIP & CONSERVATION PLANS A UNION Joint Forestry Team Webinar May 4, 2009

2. PARTNERSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS

3. Montana Forest Stewardship Plan History Stewardship Program Development Stewardship Program Development Principles Principles Informed Family Forest Landowners make informed management decisions about their forested properties and Informed Family Forest Landowners make informed management decisions about their forested properties and Family Forest Landowner who are personally involved with the development of their forest management plan are more inclined to carry out their plan. Family Forest Landowner who are personally involved with the development of their forest management plan are more inclined to carry out their plan.

4. Montana Forest Stewardship Plan History Partnership with Montana State University Forestry Extension Partnership with Montana State University Forestry Extension Stewardship Workshops - Landowners Stewardship Workshops - Landowners Classes, Inventory, FSP, Field Visit, Verified Classes, Inventory, FSP, Field Visit, Verified Master Steward Program Master Steward Program Continuing Education Continuing Education

5. Montana Forest Stewardship Plan History Stewardship Plan Template Stewardship Plan Template Self-guided management plan template – FSP S&G requirements Self-guided management plan template – FSP S&G requirements Montana Tree Farm Montana Tree Farm This template formed the basis for comparing FSP and Conservation Plans. This template formed the basis for comparing FSP and Conservation Plans.

7. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union Management Plan – site specific, professional, consultation with landowner Management Plan – site specific, professional, consultation with landowner Management Plan is one part of rule requirement: Management Plan is one part of rule requirement: Program Requirements (1466.8 EQIP Rules) Program Requirements (1466.8 EQIP Rules) EQIP Plan Of Operations (1466.9 EQIP Rules) EQIP Plan Of Operations (1466.9 EQIP Rules) FSP covers most of these requirements FSP covers most of these requirements All are sources of information required in NRCS application and contract process. All are sources of information required in NRCS application and contract process. MT. State Conservationist approves FSP as meeting management plan requirements. MT. State Conservationist approves FSP as meeting management plan requirements.

8. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union A Conservation Plan is a schedule of practices generated from data entered into Tool Kit. A Conservation Plan is a schedule of practices generated from data entered into Tool Kit. Among other things, Tool Kit holds the data needed to generate the Conservation Plan and Contracts. Among other things, Tool Kit holds the data needed to generate the Conservation Plan and Contracts. Matching FSP and Conservation Plan is about matching FSP and Tool Kit data needs. Matching FSP and Conservation Plan is about matching FSP and Tool Kit data needs.

9. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union Tool Kit Pieces Tool Kit Pieces Isolated missing Data Needs to Practice Schedule section of Tool Kit. Isolated missing Data Needs to Practice Schedule section of Tool Kit. Practice Schedule Required Pieces: FSA Tract #, Management Unit, Practice Code, Narrative, Planned Amount, Units of Measure, Planned Month Year, Applied Project Month and Year. Practice Schedule Required Pieces: FSA Tract #, Management Unit, Practice Code, Narrative, Planned Amount, Units of Measure, Planned Month Year, Applied Project Month and Year.

10. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union Compared FSP template and Practice Schedule data needs. Compared FSP template and Practice Schedule data needs. Missing Pieces Missing Pieces Practice Code, A Narrative Description that matched with the Practice Code, and Planned Amount of Treatment. Practice Code, A Narrative Description that matched with the Practice Code, and Planned Amount of Treatment. We added that to our FSP Treatment Schedule. We added that to our FSP Treatment Schedule.

12. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union Other Items Needed Other Items Needed Map with proposed treatments located Map with proposed treatments located Soils Map – NRCS felt they could get that very easily so the map is not a requirement of the FSP. Soils Map – NRCS felt they could get that very easily so the map is not a requirement of the FSP.

13. Forest Stewardship and Conservation Plan Union Environmental Assessment (CPA-52) and Cultural Resources (CPA-8) Environmental Assessment (CPA-52) and Cultural Resources (CPA-8) MT NRCS retained responsibility for these documents. MT NRCS retained responsibility for these documents. Recognized that FSP required Resource Elements address many of the CPA-52 and 8 categories and can provide general information and identify red flags to assist NRCS is preparing CPA-52 and CPA-8. Recognized that FSP required Resource Elements address many of the CPA-52 and 8 categories and can provide general information and identify red flags to assist NRCS is preparing CPA-52 and CPA-8. Over time training will help FSP writers provide better and more focused information for these forms. Over time training will help FSP writers provide better and more focused information for these forms.

14. SUMMARY AND CLOSE State Specific State Specific Relationship, Relationship, Relationship Relationship, Relationship, Relationship FSSC, STC, Local office interactions FSSC, STC, Local office interactions FSP Standards And Guidelines provide basis for an excellent management plan FSP Standards And Guidelines provide basis for an excellent management plan More about Tool Kit Data needs More about Tool Kit Data needs What needs to be added to FSP to generate Conservation Plan and Contracts. What needs to be added to FSP to generate Conservation Plan and Contracts. Don’t wait for perfection Don’t wait for perfection Get something down and then work on it through relationships and training. Get something down and then work on it through relationships and training.

15. CONTACT INFORMATION Robert Ethridge Chief, Forestry Assistance Bureau Forestry Division, Montana DNRC 406-542-4303 rethridge@mt.gov Peter Kolb, Research Scientist Montana State University Forestry Extension 406-243-4705 peter.kolb@cfc.umt.edu Robert Logar, State Forester Montana NRCS 406-587-6836 Robert.Logar@mt.usda.gov MSU Forestry Extension Web Site http://www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionforestry/

16. CONTACT INFORMATION Robert Ethridge Chief, Forestry Assistance Bureau Forestry Division, Montana DNRC 406-542-4303 rethridge@mt.gov Peter Kolb, Research Scientist Montana State University Forestry Extension 406-243-4705 peter.kolb@cfc.umt.edu Robert Logar, State Forester Montana NRCS 406-587-6836 Robert.Logar@mt.usda.gov MSU Forestry Extension Web Site http://www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionforestry/