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The
Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has partnered with the USDA’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a special initiative under the
Fiscal Year 2008 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The
EQIP Forest Health Special Initiative is designed to promote and inform
private forest landowners about timber stand improvement practices that can
improve growth, reduce risks of insects and diseases, and improve forest
health.
Eligible lands include pine forest lands that are overstocked and subject to
fire hazard, disease, or insect infestation. Applicants must meet the basic
guidelines and eligibility requirements:
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Must be a minimum of 10 forested acres.
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The maximum number of acres for prescribed burning and firebreaks is 500
acres. This payment is for one year only.
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The maximum number of acres for Timber Stand Improvement (pre-commercial
and commercial thinning) is 200 acres. Eligible acres have a Southern
Pine Beetle score of 100 or more.
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Forest landowners willing to receive training to become a Certified Burn
Manager are eligible to receive a one-time payment of $375 upon
providing proof of certification.
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The Alabama Forestry Commission will develop a Stand Management Plan for
each approved applicant on the offered acres, and NRCS will develop a
conservation plan for reporting forest management and related wildlife
practices.
Approved Conservation Practices include:
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Prescribed Burning - Applying fire to predetermined areas under
conditions that the intensity and spread of the fire are controlled.
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Firebreak - A strip of bare land or fire-retarding vegetation.
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Fuel Break - Control and reduce the risk of the spread of fire by
treating, removing, or modifying vegetation, debris, and detritus.
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Timber Stand Improvement - Precommercial Thinning - Removing undesirable
trees from non-merchantable pine stand and lowering the density to
acceptable level.
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Heavy Thinning of Pine Stands - Removing undesirable or lower quality
trees from a merchantable pine stand and lowering the density to
acceptable level. From a forest management perspective, the "lower
quality" or "poor quality" trees are trees which will remain pulpwood
quality regardless of size or age.
Lands
currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), EQIP, Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), or other Farm Bill Programs are
ineligible.
Signup for this program at
your local NRCS office. Contact your NRCS District Conservationist or your
AFC County Manager for more information about the EQIP Forest Health
Initiative
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