Illinois has over 4.8 million acres of forest land, most of which, about 83%, is privately owned. With the weather cooling down and the leaves dropping, it’s time to start thinking about forestry management plans and this season’s management goals.
In addition to potentially reducing taxes, a forestry management plan from a certified forester will provide you with information such as the species composition and condition of the trees in your woodlands, whether invasive species are present (and how to deal with them if they are), the current and potential future marketability of the timber, and recommendations on the management of the stand, such as planting new trees or thinning the ones you’ve got.
If you’ve already got a forestry management plan in place, this is the time of year to pull it out and see if any management activities are scheduled for the winter. Good work now can reap financial rewards at timber harvest down the road.
New forest landowners or forest landowners new to management are encouraged to participate in the “Beginning Forest Landowner Program” through Illinois Extension. Several Coles County landowners have participated in the last few years, and they’ve highly recommended the course. The 2024-2025 Southern Illinois Beginning Forest Landowner Course will consist of four weekend programs, Friday-Saturday, plus a few additional virtual or in-person events. Each weekend will include in-class presentations, hands-on practices, and field tours. All programs start at 9 a.m. Friday at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, 354 State Highway 145N, Simpson, IL. Some portions of the course will require short travel to other locations. For more information, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry/beginning-forest-landowner-program