Estimating Management Plan Implementation in Northeast Wisconsin

Abstract

Abstract Forest management plans were examined for a random population of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in eight counties in northeast Wisconsin. Implementation rates of practices (i.e., percentages of practices within each management plan that were completed, in progress, or not done), were estimated for each NIPF landowner. Only NIPF landowners participating in forest management assistance programs (Wisconsin's state forest tax law programs, or the federal Stewardship Incentive Program) were considered for the study. A total of 464 forest management plans were examined to determine numbers and types of practices prescribed, rates of implementation, and cost-sharing utilization. The results indicated that 78% of practices mandated by law within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. Other findings show that 36% of recommended practices within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. The results of the Stewardship Incentive Program study indicated that 21% of practices prescribed in those plans were either completed or were in progress. Commercial timber harvests were the most widely prescribed mandatory practices while planting prescriptions occupied the majority of recommended practices. Cost-sharing was used on 22% of mandatory tax law practices, 6.5% of recommended tax law practices, and 7% of practices in the Stewardship Incentive Program. North. J. Appl. For. 17(4):135–140.