Forest Management Plan Incentive Available
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, continues to offer Special Project opportunity that can assist landowners in learning how to properly manage their forestland and obtain helpful solutions to improve timber resources and wildlife habitat.
Landowners who are interested in obtaining a Forest Management Plan through an IDNR, Consulting, or Private Forester may be eligible for a one-time payment to help cover the cost of developing an approved Forest Management Plan.
Eligible application areas must:
* Contain planted stock or naturally regenerated tree cover
* Not be currently developed for another non-forest use
* Be at least 100 feet wide
* Be able to physically support timber growth and harvest operations.
* The plan must be approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Non-eligible areas include:
* Field windbreaks
* Commercial nut/fruit orchards
* Landscape nurseries
* Christmas tree farms
* Land in other Federal Programs
Interested landowners should contact the Randolph County SWCD/NRCS office at 618-443-4381, Ext. 3 or stop by the SWCD/NRCS Office located in the USDA Service Center at 313 W. Belmont St. in Sparta, IL.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."