Forestry

Forestry

Woodland Stewardship Plans

The Itasca SWCD has a forester on staff who is available to write Woodland Stewardship Management Plans tailored specifically to your property and your management goals. Stewardship plans help landowners with land management decisions that will help keep their woodlot healthy and productive for many generations. Itasca County landowners who own at least 20 contiguous acres of undeveloped and non-agricultural land are eligible to take advantage of this FREE service.
Landowners who agree to follow a stewardship plan on their property are eligible for incentive payments from programs such as the "Sustainable Forestry Incentive Act (SFIA)." A stewardship plan is also one of the primary requirements for landowners who are considering enrolling their land in conservation easement programs.

Contact us for more information regarding stewardship plans and also to determine whether your property lies within a current "priority area."

Annual Native Tree and Plant Sale

Every Fall we begin taking orders for our annual native tree and plant sale. We begin taking orders in September and will continue to take orders until early spring. The objectives of the sale are to provide landowners with information about planting natives, to promote landowners to plant native species, and provide a means for landowners to order small or large quantities of native species depending on the size of their planting project. A large variety of native trees (evergreen and deciduous), shrubs, wildflowers, grasses and sedges are available for a wide variety of site conditions and applications.

Contact us and we can mail you a list of available plants and an order form.

Available Land Management Publications

The Itasca SWCD office has two land management assistance publications available free of charge:

Minnesota SWCD Forestry Association Tree Handbook: This fifty page handbook was developed by the MN SWCD Forestry Association and includes planting and care information for both trees and shrubs. This book is available for pick up in our office

Backyard Woods: These packets were developed by the U.S. Forest Service and The National Arbor Day Foundation. The packets include a forty page informational booklet covering twelve management topics common to woodland owners with technical information and a paper handout for each topic. The topics include Making a Master Plan, Chainsaw Safety, Protection from Wildfire, Managing Hazardous Defects in Trees, Disease and Insects, Attracting Wildlife, Protecting Water Quality, Improving Timber Value, Tree Pruning, Tree Planting, Special Forest Products, and Wood Products. This book is available for pick up in our office.

Information about tree planting and care can be found on the MN DNR website by clicking here.

1889 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 • Phone: 218.326.0017 • Fax: 218.326.8938