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DEP Home : Climate Change : Timber Harvest
Questions about harvesting timber and application forms on this page? Email DEP or call 311 (or 240-777-0311).Questions about sediment and erosion control permits? Call: 311 (or 240-777-0311).
Questions on NRI/FSD or exemption from the Forest Conservation Law? Call 301-495-4500 or Email Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Planning .
Montgomery Planning has general information about the Forest Conservation Law, which governs timber harvesting operations.
The County Arborist in the Department of Environmental Protection is required to review timber harvesting operations to grant exemptions from certain requirements of the County’s Forest Conservation Law under Section 22A-5(d)(1)(B) of the County Code. The County Code requires that logging or harvesting plans be consistent with County forest management objectives or otherwise appropriate. Logging and harvesting plans are reviewed for their consistency with widely accepted sustainable forest management practices such as those set forth in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2010-2014 Standard: Section 2. (PDF, 28 pp, 657KB) This standard promotes certification under the well-known American Tree Farm System . Further, the Society of American Foresters (SAF),the preeminent society of forestry professionals in the United States and internationally, is on the external review board of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
To apply for an exemption from the Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law for a sustainable timber harvest, complete the following steps.
Sediment control permits are issued through the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services. To obtain a permit:
The Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law requires the approval of the County Arborist before a timber harvest project may obtain exemption from certain provisions of the Forest Conservation Law. To obtain the County Arborist's approval:
After receiving this information, the County Arborist will contact you within 10 business days to schedule a site visit and review the information.
Review and complete the following documents: (Note that the documents may also be found on the NRI/FSD Review section on the Montgomery Planning, Development Review webpage.)
1. Sediment Control Permit (Step 1);2. Environmental Review from the DNR Natural Heritage Program (Step 2); 3. Approval letter from the Montgomery County Arborist (Step 2); 4. Completed NRI/FSD Exemption Review Application (Step 3); and5. Application Fee.
Submit all application material to the Environmental Planning by email, fax, or mail:Environmental Planning8787 Georgia AvenueSilver Spring, MD 20910Phone: 301-495-4730Fax: 301-495-1303Email: Mark.Pfefferle@MontgomeryPlanning.org
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Forest Certification: A Brief Lesson. Branching Out: Maryland’s Forest Stewardship Educator (see the second article entitled “Forest Certification: A Brief Lesson”). American Tree Farm System American Tree Farm System Third-Party Certification Sustainable Forestry Initiative Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2010-2014 Standard: Section 2 (PDF, 28 pp, 657KB) Forest Stewardship Council®
Information on how a forester can help you, how to hire a forester, and how to find a Society of American Foresters (SAF) certified professional forester.
Society of American Foresters (SAF) Phone: 301-897-8720
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service: How to find a Maryland Licensed Professional Forester (PDF, 12 pp, 335KB) (DNR Phone: 410-260-8531)
Just Say “No!” to High-Grading (PDF, 5 pp, 29KB) in Branching Out: Maryland’s Forest Stewardship Educator (see pages 1-2).
Forestry Practices to Avoid: Just Say No To High-Grading (PDF, 12 pp, 489KB) in Forest Matters: the Stewardship Newsletter, Fall 2004, Volume 7 Issue 2 (see pages 8-9).
Most owners who have five or more contiguous acres of forest land within the state of Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Forest Conservation and Management Program with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This program often provides significant savings in property taxes. Forest Conservation and Management Means Property Tax Savings (DNR publication) (PDF, 2 pp, 329KB)