Whether you manage a small plot of land or vast acreage, a well-crafted land management plan helps:
- Maintain compliance with state and federal regulations
- Clearly defines your property management goals
- Establishes action plans to guide your efforts and assess progress
Furthermore, land management plans are used to evaluate the effectiveness of management practices, stressing site evaluations, proper identification of management challenges, and timely site monitoring.
The first step in creating a land management plan is to assess the current state of your property to identify necessary work. Based on the assessment’s findings, land managers typically implement 5- or 10-year plans based on needs, goals, and funding. Land management plans primarily focus on the conservation, restoration, and overall stewardship of a property.
Seasonal planning is a key part of effective land management. Specific, timely actions done throughout the seasons can support your long-term management goals.
Don’t Fall Behind!
The dormant season is the ideal time to start planning for the next growing season, with a variety of work that can be done before the ground freezes. Here are some targeted activities that can jump-start your property management goals and improve ecosystem health on your property.
- Woody Invasive Plant Control – The dormant season allows you to control woody invasive species with lower impacts to native or sensitive vegetation.
- Tree/Shrub Planting – Both fall and winter, before the ground freezes, are great times to plant your container or ball-and-bagged plants. This extra time before spring helps them grow their roots further into the ground, giving them a better chance of surviving the cold. This is also a great time to order spring bare-root tree installation materials since they sell fast.
- Prescribed Burning – Fall through spring are ideal times to complete prescribed burns, which help increase ecosystem health and reduce invasive plant and insect populations. Prescribed burns require time for planning, permitting, preparation, and the right conditions, so getting prescribed burn projects on the books sooner rather than later is key to having a successful burn.
Bring In The Experts
Land management plans are tailored to your specific needs. Davey Resource Group has the hands-on experience and scientific background to boost natural areas and help them thrive. To learn more about land management plans, contact your local Davey office.
Article Contributors:
Corine Peugh, Principal Consultant & Restoration Services Team Lead, Davey Resource Group, Northeast Ohio
