For Landowners
Each section below links to resources on a different topic to give you the tools and resources you need to reach your goals. Visit each page for the full spectrum of land management topics.
Land Management Skills
A wide variety of skills are useful in land management. Here, you’ll find links to soil information; tree identification; instructions on how to use a Biltmore Stick, clinometer, compass, and angle gauge; and other technology helpful to landowners such as GPS (Global Positioning System), GIS (Geographic Information System), and Google Earth.
Wildlife
As a landowner, you have the opportunity to provide wildlife habitat for a variety of species, whether songbirds, rabbits, and squirrels in a small urban yard or deer, turkey, and quail on a larger forest tract. Here you'll find information on wildlife survival needs (food, water, shelter, and space), starting a backyard wildlife habitat, and how to attract or discourage animal species on your property.
Forest Management
The first step of forest management is to determine your goals and the objectives you will use to reach them. Information on forestry terminology, managing pines and hardwoods, timber marketing, choosing a consulting forester, and keeping your forest healthy can all be found here.
Forest Protection
There are numerous threats to the health of every woodland—nonnative invasive plants and insect pests threaten our native flora, diseases wipe out entire species of trees, and wildfire can threaten both structures and forests. Here you'll find information on how to protect, prevent, or eradicate these threats and protect the health of your woodland.
Native Landscaping
Healthy trees in the clearing around your home can provide aesthetics, shade, an increased property value, and decreased energy bills. If landscaped with native plants, this space can also provide habitat for native wildlife, require less maintenance, use less water, and provide a fire break. Information about maintaining a healthy native landscape around your home can be found here.
Water Management
Water management encompasses numerous topics. Here you'll find links to information on the different types of water that may be found on your property: stormwater management techniques, protecting streambanks, and building and maintaining a pond.
Recreation & Income
Landowners own woodland for many reasons, including aesthetics and recreation. Your land can provide economic benefits as well. Information about specialty crops such as herbs and mushrooms; forest products; building trails and roads; managing pastures and wildlife openings; and hunting leases and tourism opportunities can all be found here.
Stewardship & Liability
Stewardship of our natural resources—forests, water, soil, and wildlife—helps promote sustainability and protect our native ecosystems and habitats. Passing your land to your heirs involves keeping it healthy, protecting yourself from liability, and possibly a conservation easement. Here you'll find information on all of these land stewardship topics.