1.  Call your State Forester and request a Forest Management Plan.  Most States have professional Forestry Departments that will provide you with a free inspection of your property and will provide  a plan that will address your management goals.

2.  The most common management recommendation that I have provided landowners is to just let your forest grow.  The forest should be inspected every 10 years by your forester.

3. Don’t feel pressured by a Timber Buyer.  Get timber sale information from your State Forester before you decide to sale.  I see too many landowners get cheated over their timber.

4.  Most importantly plan for the future.  It takes 80 to 100 years to grow hardwoods in Tennessee.  Be a good Forest Steward.  The next generation, our children,  depends on us to provide them with resources that are as good or better than what we have inherited.  Your State Forester can provide you with the planning needs to just that, provide a quality forest for the next generation.

5. Forest management plans should address current issues such as exotics species, erosion of soils, timber stand improvements and  carbon sequestration.  The University of Tennessee Forestry Department provides good  forestry management information at the following UT Extension  web site.