Section 47.84. Eligibility.

 

(1)   Eligible applicants.

(a) All nonindustrial private forest lands that meet the program requirements as herein stated are eligible for assistance under the program.

(b) The owner of any nonindustrial private forest land which consists of at least 10 contiguous acres and not more than 500 acres of non-industrial private forest land in the state may apply for a grant under this subchapter.

(c) Eligibility f or federal funding or nonprofit organization funding m ay be defined in the grant agreement through which the funding is provided. Further, additional eligibili t y criteria m ay acco m pany state funding other than that provided through s. 20.370 (5) (av) , Stats.

(1m)   Ineligible applicants. The following applicants shall be ineligible for a grant awarded under this subchapter:

(a) An owner who did not receive any p a y m ent under s. NR 47.87 for a grant awarded under this subchapter which ended within the 24 m onths prior to the d ate the application was sub m itted, unless the owner ended that grant within 12 m onths of the award.

(b) An owner who has violated s. NR 47.89 (1) or (2) .

(2)   Eligible practices.

(a) Plan development. Landowner forest stewardship plan development which identifies landowner objectives and multiple resource management decisions. The plan shall meet the following minimum standards:

1. Title page.

2. Signatures of landowners.

3. Landowner's long-range goals for the property.

4. Map or aerial photograph showing the property with stands delineated and uniquely labeled.

5. Property overview, i.e., general location, major forest types, general landforms, relevant description of the landscape, etc. Also include discussion of any known threatened or endangered species. (Usually one paragraph).

6. General discussion of landowner goals and the expected effects of achieving these goals on the soil and water, wildlife, recreation/aesthetics, timber and other natural resources. This may be included either as a separate item or as part of the stand recommendations.

7. Stand descriptions and recommendations including: Unique stand identification keyed to the map: vegetation cover type; size class; size (acres); soil characteristics and erodibility (may be covered in a general paragraph if the description is applicable to the whole property); stand objective and its relationship to the landowner goals for the property; recommendations and a short discussion of the effects of such actions on the soil and water, wildlife, recreation/aesthetics and timber resources. Discussion of the effects is not necessary on a stand-by-stand basis if covered in the general discussion.

8. Activity schedule showing all stands and approximate year of recommended actions for a 5-year period. Include all stands, even if no action is recommended.

9. Contain practices that protect and enhance soil and water quality; threatened, rare or endangered species or communities; sustainable forestry; habitat for fish and wildlife; and the recreational, aesthetic and environmental benefits that the forest land provides.

(b) Practices. The following practices are eligible for grants under this subchapter if the land is subject to a department approved forest stewardship landowner management plan. However, additional restrictions on eligible practices may accompany funding for this program other than that provided through s. 20.370 (5) (av) , Stats.

1. Reforestation and afforestation which includes establishment or reestablishment of diverse stands of native forest trees through natural regeneration, planting or direct seeding for conservation purposes and sustainable timber production.

2. Forest improvement which includes practices to increase tree growth, tree quality, biological diversity, tree vigor and forest health.

3. Soil and water protection and improvement which includes the maintenance or improvement of water quality and soil productivity, and the reduction of erosion on forest and related land.

4. W etland and riparian protection and i m prove m ent which includes the m anage m ent, protection, and i m prove m ent of wetlands and riparian areas to m aintain water quali t y , protect and i m prove wetlands and riparian areas, reduce sedi m entation, and enhance or i m prove habitat for fish or wildlife species.

5. Terrestrial wildlife and habitat enhance m ent which includes the establish m ent, m anage m ent, and enhance m ent of per m anent habitat for ga m e and non-ga m e wildlife species.

6. Forest historic cultural and archeological site p rotection.

7. Endangered, threatened, or rare natural resource protection, m anage m ent, restoration, and enhance m ent targeted at threatened or endangered species habitat m aintenance or enhance m ent and m anage m ent of significant natural com m unities or rare n a tive vegetation.

Cr. Register, March, 1999, No. 519 , eff. 4-1-99; CR 02-074 : cr (1) (c), am. (2) (b) Register November 2002 No. 563 , eff. 12-1-02; CR 12-029 : am. (1) (c), cr. (1m), r. and recr. (2) (b) 4. to 7., r. (2) (b) 8. Register June 2013 No. 690 , eff. 7-1-13.

Note

All practices will strongly encourage the use of native plant and animal species where practical. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1