For Landowners
Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin
The tools you need to do right by your land
When you enroll in the Family Forest Carbon Program you receive the financial and technical resources you need to improve the health and value of your woodland. The forest management practices available to forest owners in Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin are designed to promote sustainable forest management, resulting in higher quality timber, improved wildlife habitat and increased carbon storage.
Use our secure mapping tool to select your property and find out if you qualify.
Eligible Counties
- Eligible Counties
- Ineligible Counties
County and state boundaries sourced from the United States Census Bureau in 2021.
Eligible Counties
Michigan
Baraga County Dickinson County Gogebic County Houghton County Iron County Marquette County Ontonagon CountyMinnesota
Becker County Cass County Crow Wing County Hubbard County Morrison County Wadena CountyWisconsin
Ashland County Iron County Vilas CountyUse our secure mapping tool to select your property and find out if you qualify.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for these practices, you should:
- Have forested property in Michigan (Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette and Ontonagon counties), Minnesota (Becker, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison and Wadena counties), or Wisconsin (Ashland, Iron and Vilas counties).
- Own 30 or more acres of non-planted, naturally regenerating trees on your property.
- Have the legal right to harvest on your land.
- Be able to commit to a 20-year agreement.
The Family Forest Carbon Program is continuing to expand into new regions. If you would like to know when we open enrollment in your area, please join our mailing list.
Forest Management Practices
There are currently two Forest Management Practices available to landowners in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin: Growing Mature Forests and Promoting Diverse Forests.
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Both practices are designed to help you grow a more robust forest through sustainable management and harvesting over the next 20 years.
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Growing Mature Forests is designed to increase carbon sequestration and storage by delaying harvesting until your trees have reached a certain size (minimum forest stand stocking of 130 sq. ft/acre.) The current payment rate for this practice is $200/acre over the 20-year enrollment period.
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Promoting Diverse Forests improves forest carbon storage by increasing the number of living trees retained during coppice or clearcut harvests. The current payment rate for this practice is $150/acre over the 20-year enrollment period.
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Salvage harvesting for personal use, like firewood, is permitted under both practices. Click the link below for details on firewood allowances.
Practices were selected through consultation with a team of regional forestry, wildlife and climate experts in line with the Climate Change Field Guide for Northern Wisconsin Forests guidelines.
Is This Program Right For You?
The program is a good fit for landowners who:
- Want professional guidance in managing their land sustainably
- Need a Forest Management Plan or to have their existing plan updated
- Could benefit from financial assistance with covering the cost of owning and caring for their land
- Understand the financial and ecological benefits to allowing their forest to mature before their next harvest
- Would like management flexibility (ie. the option to do some sustainable harvesting)
- Care for the planet and would like to join a community of likeminded landowners in their region
Consulting Foresters
If you already work with a forester who knows your forest and your goals, that is great news. Ask them to contact us to be added as a consulting forester for the Family Forest Carbon Program.
Ready to get started? Check your eligibility below or give our team a call at (844) 790-0045.
Use our secure mapping tool to select your property and find out if you qualify.