Forest Stewardship Program

The Forest Stewardship Program is a cooperative effort between the Kansas Forest Service and the USDA Forest Service encouraging  private landowners to actively manage their forests and related resources, and to keep these lands in productive, healthy condition for current and future generations. It aims to increase the economic, environmental and social benefits of private forestland by enhancing and protecting timber, wildlife, soil, water, recreation, and aesthetics.

Program direction is provided by the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee (PDF), whose 17 members represent a broad spectrum of both government agencies and private organizations who share responsibility for the state’s forest resources. The Coordinating Committee has developed a five-year State Forest Stewardship Plan (PDF) that provides the frame work for the implementation of the Forest Stewardship Program in Kansas.

"Helping private landowners develop plans for the
sustainable management of their forests"

To accomplish program goals professional forestry expertise is offered to landowners to help them develop Forest Stewardship Plans (PDF) for their property free of charge. Landowners may request assistance through their District Forester.

Forest Stewardship Awards Program:
Each year the Kansas Forest Service has the opportunity to recognize landowners who are actively implementing their Forest Stewardship plans through the Forest Stewardship Awards Program. This program recognizes landowners on a district level and selects one district award winner to be the State Forest Stewardship Landowner of the Year. Nominations must be received by the Rural Forestry Coordinator by January 31st each year.  Award winners receive a sign, certificate or walnut plaque.

If you know of a landowner deserving to be nominated for the Forest Stewardship Awards Program, or you yourself would like to be nominated, please contact your District Forester and let them know.

Educating forest landowners is an important part of the Forest Stewardship Program. Each year a Fall Forestry Field Day provides a variety of forestry educational opportunities to help landowners manage their woodlands and tree plantings. Often the Field Day is hosted on the property of the State Forest Stewardship Landowner of the Year.

Additional information about the Forest Stewardship Program may be found at the USDA Forest Service National Forest Stewardship Program website.