Conserve
Forest Development
NativState's Improved Forest Management (IFM) plans are better for habitat, better for wildlife, and better for landowners.
Our foresters and environmental engineers work directly with small to medium-sized landowners to understand landowner’s long-term goals for their property. Our plans are tailored to every project and designed to produce the most possible carbon revenue per acre through sustainable forest management. Enrollment is easy. Here’s how we do it.
Optimizing value
When evaluating a property, NativState takes into account the long-term goals of the landowner and carbon registry certification criteria to determine whether a deferred harvest or selective cut forest carbon program will work best to achieve the goals of the Improved Forest Management plan. The main difference between the two is whether or not timber will be harvested for commercial purposes, which has an effect on the amount of carbon offsets that can be achieved. It is possible that both plans can be applied to a single property.
In a deferred harvest program, a forester would identify portions of a forest that would be suited for actions like the removal invasive or non-native species, cuts to plant food plots, soil and water mitigation, or other non-commercial management practices. This approach is particularly suitable for landowners that wish to enhance the recreational and conservation value of their properties. It also has the greatest potential to generate revenue from the sale of carbon offsets. Due to their nutrient-rich soil and 60-plus year harvest rotations, and ability to produce large volumes of carbon credits, bottomland hardwood forests are excellent candidates for deferred harvest.
Some properties are more appropriate for a selective cut program, which allows for some commercial timber harvest. For example, mixed forest stands of pine and hardwoods are a perfect fit for this program because landowners can harvest the most valuable timber while improving habitat and generating carbon offsets.
Each forest management plan is finalized in a carbon agreement, which sets parameters such as the term of the agreement, purpose of the agreement, royalty amounts paid to the landowner, and the type of harvest allowed.
