Forestry Landowner Assistance

DNR district foresters have assisted Iowans in managing and understanding their woodland resources since 1935. Your forester can help to improve your woodland for wildlife, recreation, water quality, or wood products, through tree planting, selective harvesting, and other means. Browse through the following sample management plans to see what types of information your district forester can provide:

For information about purchasing native seed-sourced Iowa-grown seedlings, visit the Iowa State Forest Nursery.

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Forest Reserve Law

Criteria for establishing and maintaining forest and fruit tree reservations:

Designation: The selection of a forest or fruit tree reservation is the prerogative of the taxpayer and shall not be denied unless the criteria set forth in Iowa Code chapter 441 and these rules have not been satisfied.

Area designated: The area designated as a forest or fruit tree reservation may be less than one legally described tract of land if the minimum acreage requirement of Iowa Code 161.2 is satisfied.

Size of reservation: A forest or fruit tree reservation must be at least 2 acres in size. The area occupied by buildings on the area of the forest or fruit tree reservation may not be included. As used in Iowa Code, the term "contiguous area" means an area of land which is not separated by public roads or streets. A "contiguous area" may include land contained in more than one legal description.

Fencing: It is not mandatory that a forest or fruit tree reservation be fenced. However, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure that livestock are not permitted on the reservation.

Number of trees: To qualify initially as a forest reservation, a tract of land must contain at least two hundred growing trees on each acre. However, if trees are removed pursuant to Iowa Code, Section 161.4, a taxpayer has up to one year to replace the trees.

Economic gain:. As used in Iowa Code, the term "gain from raising fruit or forest trees" means gain from the harvest from trees including but not limited to fruit, nuts, Christmas trees and greens, posts, poles, logs, fuelwood, pulpwood and tree sap.

Ownership: A designated area must remain so under the same ownership for a period of 10 years. If sold prior to the end of the 10 year period, taxes that would have been paid during the past 5 years of that period will be recaptured.

Protection: Areas so designated must be protected from fire and grazing.

Resources for Woodland Owners

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Cost-Share Programs Available for Private Landowners in Iowa

Several programs are available for cost-share reimbursement to private landowners engaged in forestry-related conservation work. Practices such as tree planting, forested riparian buffer installation, forest stand improvement, site preparation for natural regeneration, wildlife habitat improvement, and fencing may be eligible for cost-sharing on private lands.

Please contact your district forester to determine which of the following program is best suited to your needs and goals.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), CRP provides cost-sharing for tree planting on highly erodible row crop and pasture land through general or continuous funding. All CRP programs pay landowners annual rental payments for up to 15 years.

For more information please contact your county FSA office.

Tree Planting (CP-3) and Hardwood Tree Planting (CP-3A) practices are great ways to increase tree cover in many different locations around the state. CP-3 allows a mixture of soft and hardwood trees while CP-3A focuses primarily on hardwood trees. The Bottomland Timber Establishment (CP31) practice allows landowners to enroll some or all of their bottomland fields in continuous CRP. Planting hardwood trees and shrubs on land prone to flooding is an excellent way to control sheet, rill, scour and other erosion, among other benefits. Bottomland hardwood plantings provide financial incentives over the life of the CRP contract through annual rental payments; they also acts as living retirement accounts that continually gain value, and which can ultimately be capitalized upon 50 or more years after planting.

Forested riparian buffer strips of perennial vegetation promote sustainable agriculture by reducing soil loss, improving water quality, stabilizing stream banks, increasing wildlife habitat and improving aesthetics. Known as CP22, the installation of such buffers allows landowners the maximum amount of land that can be enrolled in continuous CRP of any available program, up to one-third more than other options.

CRP Success Stories

The Conservation Reserve Program is the most successful tree planting and reforestation program in the history of conservation in Iowa, and that success is owed primarily to the people who participate in the program and the pride that they take in their conservation accomplishments. Below is a sample of the many success stories from the program's history:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The EQIP program, administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides funding for many forestry-related activities on "private, non-industrial forest land," according to the farm bill.

For additional information: NRCS EQIP Program

Resource Enhancement And Protection Program (REAP)

REAP is a state cost share program administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) that provides cost share assistance for timber stand improvement, tree planting, site preparation for natural regeneration, and tree planting rescue treatments. Minimum project sizes are 5 acres for timber stand improvement and 3 acres for tree planting.

Please visit your nearest USDA service center or contact your district forester for more information.

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District Foresters

Forestry Staff

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