Alabama EQIP Forest Health Special Initiative 2008

The Alabama Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Forest Health Special Initiative is designed to promote and inform private forest landowners about timber stand improvement practices that can improve growth, reduces risks and improve forest health. Timber stand improvement is an intermediate treatment made to improve the composition, structure, condition, health, and growth of even- or uneven-aged stands.

Forestland makes up about two-thirds of the state and many of these acres are overstocked and at risk of wildfire damage. Alabama and many of our neighboring states have experienced abnormally dry conditions. These adverse conditions have fueled severe wildfires that are destroying our natural resources.

Although most people don't realize it, insects and diseases harm the forest even more than wildfires. In fact, they destroy 43 times more trees than wildfires. Pine bark beetles are the most destructive forest insects in the South.

The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is Alabama’s most significant forest insect pest. In recent years SPB levels have reached epidemic status and destroyed millions of dollars worth of timber.

The Pine engraver beetle (Ips spp.) is another pine bark beetle that has had severe impact on our forest. Because Ips infestations tend to be relatively small and scattered, they usually cannot be effectively controlled or salvaged, but their economic costs may approach those caused by SPB.

The purpose of the Forest Health Special Initiative is to address these concerns.

Basic Guidelines and Eligibility Requirements

Lands eligible for the Forest Health Initiative is pine forest lands that are overstocked and subject to fire hazard, disease, or insect infestation. Lands currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), EQIP, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), or other Farm Bill Programs are ineligible.

1. Must be a minimum of 10 forested acres.
    
2. The maximum number of acres for prescribed burning and firebreaks is 500 acres. This payment is for one year only.
    
3. The maximum number of acres for Timber Stand Improvement (pre-commercial and commercial thinning) is 200 acres. Eligible acres have a Southern Pine Beetle score 100 or more.
    
4. If forest landowner is willing to receive training to become a Certified Burn Manager they are eligible to receive a one-time payment of $375 upon providing proof of certification.
    
5. The Alabama Forestry Commission will develop a Stand Management Plan for each approved applicant on the offered acres and NRCS will develop a conservation plan for reporting forest management and related wildlife practices.

Approved Conservation Practices

These documents require Adobe Acrobat. (Will open in another window.)

Prescribed Burning

Applying fire to predetermined areas under conditions that the intensity and spread of the fire are controlled.

   Jobsheet 338 - Prescribed Burning

Firebreak and Fuel Break

Firebreak - A strip of bare land or fire-retarding vegetation.

Fuel Break - Control and reduce the risk of the spread of fire by treating, removing ,or modifying vegetation, debris, and detritus.

    Jobsheet 394:  Firebreak

Timber Stand Improvement

Pre-commercial Thinning - Removing undesirable trees from non-merchantable pine stand and lowering the density to acceptable level.

    Pre-commercial Thinning of Pine Stands Specification Sheet

Heavy Thinning of Pine Stands - Removing undesirable or lower quality trees from a merchantable pine stand and lowering the density to acceptable level. From a forest management perspective, the "lower quality" or "poor quality" trees are trees which will remain pulpwood quality regardless of size or age.

    Heavy Thinning of Pine Stands Specification Sheet (revised 10-16-07)

    Jobsheet 666:  Timber Stand Improvement

Contact Information

For more information about the Alabama NRCS Forest Health Initiative contact Tim Albritton, State Staff Forester, Phone: 334-887-4560.

<Back to EQIP