FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Forest Recreation and Aesthetic Enhancement

The Connecticut Forest Stewardship Program offers private forest landowners a unique opportunity to enhance the recreational enjoyment and aesthetic value of their property. The first step is to develop a "Forest Stewardship Plan" for the property which describes the forest resource, the landowner's management goals, and the recommended practices or activities to be carried out over a ten year period on the land. Once the plan has been developed and approved, many of the conservation practices it calls for will be cost-sharable under the Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP).

Those landowners who include forest recreation and aesthetics as a management goal can take advantage of a variety of practices designed to improve the use and aesthetic quality of private woodlands. The following recreation and aesthetics related activities are currently being cost-shared:

Establishing Recreation Trails and Walkways

Establishing access corridors through wooded areas for walking, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling with the intent of forest-based recreation. Trails are built to increase the attractiveness and usefulness of an area, but they must also take into account the protection of soil, plant, and animal resources, and cultural or historic sites.
Cost-sharing available for: trail design, layout, and construction; design and construction of foot bridges; tree pruning near trailways; and associated soil erosion control measures such as installing waterbars and planting permanent vegetative (grass) cover on or near trails.

Protecting, enhancing, or restoring aesthetic qualities of the forest landscape through any of the practices listed below. Aesthetic quality is often a subjective judgment; however, here it entails making scenic improvements readily seen by the landowner that promote forest landscape diversity and healthy ecosystems, and are based on sound stewardship practices.

Tree and Shrub Planting

Planting native trees and/or shrubs to add to aesthetic quality and species diversity, and to enhance wildlife habitat.
Cost-sharing available for: purchase and planting of recommended trees and shrubs.

Thinning or Releasing Trees

Removal or deadening of competing trees to improve the growth and vigor of selected remaining crop trees with aesthetic value.
Cost-sharing available for: thinning or releasing trees in non-commercial stands, including planning, layout, and tree-marking time of a professional.

Creating Scenic Vistas

Removing or clearing vegetation in small designated openings (less than one acre) within forested areas for the purpose of creating or enhancing a scenic vista. Vegetation must be lopped to the ground, and chipped on site or removed from the site. Trees that enhance or frame the vista may be left in the cutting area. The vista must be maintained for at least 10 years.
Cost-sharing available for: creation of scenic vistas, including planning, design, and layout.

Tree and Shrub Pruning

Removing live or dead branches from selected trees and shrubs to enhance their aesthetic quality and vigor. Trees must be pruned to a minimum height of eight feet, except when the landowner wants to maintain limbs for aesthetic value. Not more than one-third of the live crown of a tree or shrub may be removed in any one pruning.
Cost-sharing available for: pruning selected treees and shrubs. (Cost-sharing for the pruning of aesthetic crop trees within 250 feet of a dwelling is subject to approval.)
Cost-sharing not available for: pruning of Christmas trees, orchards, or nursery stock; pruning with the use of a chainsaw.

Establishing Permanent Vegetative Cover

Planting permanent grasses and legumes on disturbed areas or on other areas needing vegetation to stabilize the soil, to reduce downstream sediment and runoff, and to improve wildlife habitat and visual appeal. These are areas where there is existing or potential soil erosion and where slopes are generally less than eight percent. Examples include landings or yarding areas, gently sloping skid roads, and trails.
Cost-sharing available for: establishment of permanent vegetative cover, including seedbed preparation; and purchase and application of lime, fertilizer, chemicals, and seed.