Private Forest Management

More than 80% of New York's 18.6 million acres of forests are in private ownership. DEC foresters serve private forest owners by advising on management activities tailored to meet individual ownership goals. Foresters provide expert advice on wildlife habitat improvement, erosion control, tree planting, recreation enhancement, sugar bush management and silviculture. Federal cost-sharing programs and the state property tax reduction programs are administered by DEC foresters.

To contact your local DEC forester for assistance in your woodlot, please use the link in the right column.

More about Private Forest Management:

Timber Theft on Private Land - How to Protect your Timber. Preventing and Reporting Timber Theft.
Ice Storm Damage to Forests - Ice Storm Damage to Forests
Big Tree Register - Maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as an effort to recognize trees of record size and promote an interest in their care and preservation.
Forest Stand Improvement - Ways to improve your woodlot for increased or better timber production.
Timber Harvesting - A well-managed forest is vigorous and healthy, aesthetically pleasing, effective in preserving the watershed system and valuable for the production of timber and other forest products.
Timber Harvesting Guidelines - Best management practices recommended for timber harvesting in New York State
Protect and Improve the Quality of Your Forest Land - This progressive forestry program is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to encourage private forest landowners in New York to apply sound forest management practices to their woodlands.
Forest Tax Law - The provisions of Section 480-a of the Real Properly Tax Law.
Cooperating Forester Program - The Cooperating Forester program is designed to encourage landowners to work with private foresters in managing their woodlots.

Tree Care - Trees, like other living organisms, have certain basic needs to survive, function, and grow.