People around the world recognize Vermont for its wide-open spaces and colorful woods. Many private forest owners in the State of Vermont however, see it as a responsibility to care for these natural treasures rather than just admiring them from afar. And, it is exactly at this point Vermont consulting foresters become extremely useful. They are professionals who know how to use natural resources efficiently. They provide landowners with independent and qualified technical advice in achieving both their economic and ecological goals as well.

A significant feature of the Vermont consulting foresters' service package is drafting the forest management plan. Such plans are akin to detailed maps which firstly pinpoint and then take stock of the state of trees, soil and major wildlife pests. Next, in the light of the findings, the foresters tailor the thinning, planting, and harvesting aspects of the strategy. This ensures that the forest integrates well with the environmental variations to one degree or another as foreseen even to the long term in climate change scenarios.

In addition to the wellbeing of the environment, Vermont consulting foresters can provide local landowners with guidance on legislative requirements, help them obtain their paperwork in order and take advantage of tax benefits that can indeed be quite significant. The Usage Value Appraisal (UVA) program, a.k.a. "Current Use", stands as a leading example. Obtaining a management plan formulated by a professional expert is the cornerstone requirement for landowners to seek tax relief through this program.

Consulting foresters draft these papers and check the land regularly to make sure it still meets the state requirements.

Moreover, these professionals serve as valuable go-betweens when a landowner opts to carry out a timber harvest. They assist in marking individual trees to be cut, estimating the timber volume, and managing the harvesting to ensure the remaining stand is safeguarded. Being independent, their focus on the long-term health of the ecosystem is not compromised by the desire for short-term gains.

In fact, Vermont consulting foresters are a link between private landowners and professional land managers. Thanks to their efforts, our forests will continue to supply us with clean water, a wide variety of wildlife, and sustainable timber products, not just today but for future generations as well.