The Service Forestry Program (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Bureau of Forestry), has a Service Forester that is available to answer your questions, explain to you the various forestry programs and even do a site visit. Service Foresters are public employees who do not charge for their services. This is an excellent way to begin gathering information about your woods and your management options. To contact the Service Forester in your area try this web page and/or the phone number below:
1-800-783-2311 – “Call Before You Cut”
Q. Can a Service Forester help me sell my timber or write a forest management plan?
") document.write("No. The implementation of forest management on private land is left to private Foresters. Private foresters in Massachusetts are licensed and provide services such as :
Private Foresters are generally either: Industrial Foresters work directly for a mill or other wood using business and are paid directly by the mill, or Consulting Foresters work directly for the landowner and are paid by the landowner
Q. What's the difference between a Forester and a Logger?
") document.write("MA Licensed Foresters are trained in the scientific management of forest ecosystems. They design and plan the management of forests to achieve landowner objectives.
MA Licensed Timber Harvesters implement the forest cutting plan by felling and skidding trees in accordance with MA laws and regulations.
Foresters and loggers are a lot like architects and builders. If a family wants a house designed, an architect can consult with them, and develop a blueprint based on their needs, their budget, and the limitations of the site. A builder then takes that blueprint and turns it into reality. The best blueprint in the world isn’t worth it in the hands of a builder who will cut corners or not know how to read it. Foresters can meet with a family and based on their needs, their budget, and the characteristics of the land, design a forest management plan. IF that plan involves the sale of timber, a logger can be involved to implement that harvest prescription. Good foresters and loggers can work together to provide the best outcome for the land. Their skills and experience can complement one another.
Q. I don't like middlemen! Why should I hire a forester?
") document.write("A forester is trained in the science and art of forest management. In addition, a consulting forester can serve as your advocate when selling timber to assure that your interests and goals are being protected through tools such as strong contracts. Consulting foresters working for a landowner can also ensure that the harvest is in compliance with state environmental regulations. Ultimately, the landowner is responsible for any impact. Although often seen as a “middleman”, hiring a competent forester to negotiate the sale of your timber almost always results in a high return to the landowner through an accurate accounting of the volume and quality of wood removed as well as putting your timber out to competitive bid. A consulting forester can also oversee the harvest operation to ensure the agreed upon standards are being upheld. For more information on the role private foresters play see this page.
Q. I was just offered money for my timber. How do I know how much my timber is worth?
") document.write("Timber values vary greatly. Some of the important variables affecting timber value include: type of species, quality of trees, time of year, fluctuating markets, size of your parcel, amount of wood to be removed, the distance from the stump to the roadside landing, method of sale (e.g., bid competitively vs. directly negotiated), and other harvest complications. The only way to know how much your timber is worth in the open market is to work with a MA Licensed Forester to mark the trees for removal and then to put the timber out to competitive bid to responsible timber harvesters and mills. When wood is put out to bid, UMass Extension research showed that on average the range of offered prices varies 2.5 times from the low to the high bid. By using a forester to mark and measure your trees and then put them out to competitive bid, you will have an accurate accounting of volume and, through the competitive bid, know what the market is paying for your wood. Most landowners do not sell timber very often, and do not have a good sense for “what the market will bear”. Hiring a consulting forester can more than pay for itself in increased value realized through competitive bidding, and protection of landowner interests.
UMass-Amherst surveys buyers and sellers of standing timber on a quarterly basis to assess the marketplace. Results, as well as other helpful information, are posted on this page.
Q. Doesn't the state offer some sort of tax program for forest landowners?
") document.write("There are three Ch. 61 programs (Ch. 61 – Forestry, Ch. 61A – Agriculture, Ch. 61B – Open Space and Recreation) which were created to help landowners achieve their goals while recognizing the many public benefits that are derived from private land, such as clean water, wildlife habitat, rural character and wood products. To find out the details of the Ch. 61 programs, visit this page.
Q. know if I want to commit to the Ch. 61 programs. Are there other programs?
") document.write("The MA Forest Stewardship Program. This educational non-regulatory program is designed to help landowners protect the inherent ecosystem values of their forest. Recognizing the public benefits of good stewardship on private forest land, the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program supports and encourages private forest landowners\' efforts to manage, enjoy, and care for their land using a long-term approach. The MA Forest Stewardship Program also offers some opportunities to help defray the costs of management activities such as management plan development, wildlife habitat enhancements and invasive, exotic species control through its cost-share program. For more information see this page.
Q. What are some websites related to the subject?
") document.write("UMass Extension – Natural Resources Environmental Conservation Program
Information and Contacts for UMass extension.
USDA Forest Service
“A Forest Landowner’s Guide to Internet Resources: Northeast.” This website contains an extensive list of links to information on a variety of forestland topics including: wildlife, silviculture, sustainability and certification, forest sampling and inventory, timber sales, biodiversity and endangered species, maps and geographic information systems, and estate planning. It also contains a list of forest resources by state.
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Massachusetts premier website on wildlife, hunting, fishing. Go to this site to learn about the 120,000-acre wildlife management area system.
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Explore the biodiversity of the Commonwealth. This site includes extensive information on the state’s biodiversity including threatened and endangered species, unique natural communities, rare plants and animals, vernal pools and maps of locations of high biological conservation value.
TerraServer
TerraServer contains 3.3 terabytes of high-resolution USGS aerial imagery and USGS topographic maps. You can locate imagery by entering a city or town name in the "Search TerraServer" form at the top of the page, or entering a U.S. street address.
Southern New England Stumpage Report
The results of a quarterly survey of buyers and sellers of standing timber in southern New England are available on this site, as well as other related information on the sale of timber, such as: recommended elements of a timber sale contract; timber tax tips; research results on the variation of timber prices; a directory of wood processors.