1. Chris Demers University of Florida - IFAS School of Forest Resources & Conservation (352) 846-2375 cdemers@ufl.edu http://sfrc.ufl.edu/forest_stewardship

2.  The wise use and management of forest resources that maintains and enhances the value of those resources for present and future generations.

3.  Encourage and help landowners to actively manage their renewable natural resources now and for the future.

4.  Any private non-industrial landowner with a minimum of 20 acres  What if less than 20 acres?

5.  Technical assistance – Management Plan ◦ Division of Forestry, private consultants ◦ Cost-share programs: Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, USDA, other partners  Opportunities to learn and network ◦ UF-IFAS, public and private partners  Increased economic opportunity  Documentation of active management ◦ Timber ad valorem assessment  Recognition as a leader in resource management with sign, certificate and publicity (if desired)

6.  Management Plan ◦ Landowner objectives ◦ Property location, history, resource assessment ◦ Management recommendations ◦ Map, activity schedule ◦ Supplemental information  160 acres or less? ◦ DOF County Forester or Private Consultant  More than 160 acres? ◦ Private Consultant

7.  Events ◦ Workshops – 3 or 4 series / year ◦ Tours – 4 or more properties / year ◦ State-wide videoconferences on various topics  Publications ◦ Quarterly Newsletter – The Florida Forest Steward ◦ Extension Publications available at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/  Web ◦ Master Tree Farmer / Wildlifer on-line:  http://www.forestryvideos.net/series/mtf  http://www.forestryvideos.net/series/mw ◦ Webinars ◦ Recorded events sfrc.ufl.edu/forest_stewardship

8. 1. Nomination by neighbors, private or agency professionals or you 2. Management plan preparation 3. Practice implementation 4. Approval of completed practices 5. Forest Steward Certification

9.  Timber  Wildlife  Recreation / Aesthetics  Soil and Water Conservation  Grazing

10.  Fill out and send in an application: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_management/cfa_steward_index.html  Call your Florida Division of Forestry County Forester http://www.fl-dof.com/field_operations/county_foresters/index.html Partnerships are the key!