Appendix C TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROTOCOL ELIGIBILITY PNIF landowners who own at least 10 acres of qualifying forestland and have a desire to manage their property according to the program standards may participate in the Forest Stewardship Program. To qualify, forest land must have existing tree cover or other woody vegetation, or suitable to grow such vegetation, and be owned by an individual, group, association, private corporation,or other legal private entity. Landowners who are interested in the Forest Stewardship program must enroll their entire contiguous property into the program; however open pasture, cropland, or water body acreage will not be eligible for plan preparation cost share assistance. PROGRAM ENROLLMENT Landowners who are interested in the Stewardship Program should visit their local WVDOF Service Forester, the Division of Forestry website at or a participating certified Forest Stewardship Consulting Forester to learn more about the program. It is the responsibility of the agency representative and/or consultant to carefully explain to each landowner the benefits of the program and the procedures involved in the development of their Forest Stewardship plan. Landowners should also understand that the purpose of the program is to encourage active forestland This includes measures to increase timber growth, improvement of wildlife habitat and management. opportunities for recreational pursuits, but not necessarily public access for recreation. To be eligible for cost share, landowners must obtain and complete a Forest Stewardship Program Application and send it to their appropriate Service Forester. If a consultant is selected to develop the plan, a Vendor Registration and Disclosure Statement form, and a W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification form must also be submitted. The Service Forester will send the original application form, Vendor Registration form and W-9 form to the designated State Office. The Stewardship Application is needed for accounting purposes for cost-shared plans. If the Service Forester will be preparing the plan, landowner information will be recorded on the Record of Request Ledger. STEWARDSHIP PLAN WRITER CERTIFICATION Professional foresters and technicians, licensed in West Virginia, who want to be included on the Certified Forest Stewardship Consulting Forester list and be eligible to prepare Forest Stewardship plans must attend at least two (2) training sessions sponsored by the Forest Stewardship Program each State fiscal year, (July 1 June 30). The training sessions are designed to provide continuing — education for professional foresters, Society of American Foresters Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits, and provide an opportunity to relay program administration information on to participating Consulting Foresters.
Appendix C TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROTOCOL ELIGIBILITY PNIF landowners who own at least 10 acres of qualifying forestland and have a desire to manage their property according to the program standards may participate in the Forest Stewardship Program. To qualify, forest land must have existing tree cover or other woody vegetation, or suitable to grow such vegetation, and be owned by an individual, group, association, private corporation,or other legal private entity. Landowners who are interested in the Forest Stewardship program must enroll their entire contiguous property into the program; however open pasture, cropland, or water body acreage will not be eligible for plan preparation cost share assistance. PROGRAM ENROLLMENT Landowners who are interested in the Stewardship Program should visit their local WVDOF Service Forester, the Division of Forestry website at or a participating certified Forest Stewardship Consulting Forester to learn more about the program. It is the responsibility of the agency representative and/or consultant to carefully explain to each landowner the benefits of the program and the procedures involved in the development of their Forest Stewardship plan. Landowners should also understand that the purpose of the program is to encourage active forestland management. This includes measures to increase timber growth, improvement of wildlife habitat and opportunities for recreational pursuits, but not necessarily public access for recreation. To be eligible for cost share, landowners must obtain and complete a Forest Stewardship Program Application and send it to their appropriate Service Forester. If a consultant is selected to develop the plan, a Vendor Registration and Disclosure Statement form, and a W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification form must also be submitted. The Service Forester will send the original application form, Vendor Registration form and W-9 form to the designated State Office. The Stewardship Application is needed for accounting purposes for cost-shared plans. If the Service Forester will be preparing the plan, landowner information will be recorded on the Record of Request Ledger. STEWARDSHIP PLAN WRITER CERTIFICATION Professional foresters and technicians, licensed in West Virginia, who want to be included on the Certified Forest Stewardship Consulting Forester list and be eligible to prepare Forest Stewardship plans must attend at least two (2) training sessions sponsored by the Forest Stewardship Program each State fiscal year, (July 1 — June 30). The training sessions are designed to provide continuing education for professional foresters, Society of American Foresters Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits, and provide an opportunity to relay program administration information on to participating Consulting Foresters.
Forest%20Stewardship%20Op%20Guide%2011%2028%2017.docx