Grow Older Forests
The Grow Older Forests practice is available to eligible landowners in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
The Grow Older Forests practice rewards family forest owners for allowing their forests to mature naturally over time. By committing to no commercial timber harvesting during the 20-year contract, your woodland can store more carbon, support wildlife, and become healthier and more resilient.
This practice is ideal for landowners who want to protect mature forests while continuing to enjoy their property for recreation and other non-timber uses.
Use our secure mapping tool to select your property and find out if you qualify.
Program at a glance
- Annual payments: $15.80 per enrolled acre
- Contract length: 20 years
- Minimum enrollment: 30 forested acres
- No commercial harvesting during the contract
- Premium Partnership available: Earn a contract value that's 35% higher by completing a few additional program requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate, your property must generally meet the following requirements:
- Include at least 30 acres of eligible forestland
- Consist primarily of naturally occurring Maple-Beech-Birch forests (not plantations)
- Meet minimum harvestable stocking requirements
- Not be subject to legal restrictions that prohibit timber harvesting
- Not be enrolled in forestry programs that require timber harvesting
If your property has existing harvesting commitments, Enhance Your Woodlands may be a better fit. Our foresters can help determine which practice is right for you.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Once enrolled, you'll work with your forester throughout the life of your contract.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing or updating a forest management plan
- Refraining from commercial timber harvesting during the contract period (except for limited permitted removals approved by your FFCP Forester)
- Completing a simple forest condition attestation every five years
- Allowing occasional carbon monitoring visits if your property is randomly selected
Harvesting
Although harvesting is not allowed under this practice, you will have a personal use allowance (which can be used for firewood collection or other small timber stand improvement activities) that scales with enrolled area.
Personal Use Allowance
- 5 cords/year for 30-199 acres
- 10 cords for 200-299 acres
- 15 cords for 300-399 acres
- 20 cords for 400-499 acres
- 25 cords for 500+
Why Landowners Choose This Practice
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Receive consistent annual payments throughout your contract, providing a reliable source of income from your woodland. These payments can help offset the costs of owning and managing your property, while giving you an opportunity to earn additional income without selling your land or timber.
Work alongside professional foresters who understand the unique needs of family-owned woodlands. Your forester can provide guidance tailored to your property and goals, answer questions, and help you make informed decisions that support the long-term health and management of your forest.
Receive a customized forest management plan that meets both your goals and program requirements or receive an acreage-based stipend to offset the cost of working with an independent consulting forester.
You maintain full ownership of your property throughout your participation in the Family Forest Carbon Program. You can continue making decisions about your land and how you use it, while following the program’s guidelines for participating acres. The program is designed to support your goals as a landowner, not take control of your property.
Enrolling your land doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying it. You can continue using your woodland for many of the activities you already enjoy, including hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, and maple syrup production. The program is designed to fit alongside the ways family forest owners use and enjoy their land today, while supporting the long-term health of the forest.
This practice can provide benefits beyond annual payments, helping support the long-term health, resilience, and productivity of your woodland. By allowing your forest to continue growing and developing over time, participation can also contribute to broader benefits for your land such as:
- Improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity
- Improve soil health and water quality
- Increase forest resilience over time
- Support invasive species management
- Connect you with a community of fellow family forest owners
Once enrolled in FFCP, we have a team of Community Managers dedicated to checking in with you throughout your enrollment. They can provide you with additional resources, educational opportunities, and ways to connect with like-minded landowners and forestry professionals.
Premium Partnership
Looking to maximize your earnings? The Premium Partnership offers a contract value 35% higher than the standard offer.
In exchange for a few additional steps, you may also become eligible for other conservation and agricultural programs.
Ready to Learn More?
See if your woodland qualifies for the Grow Older Forests practice and explore how the Family Forest Carbon Program can help you protect your forest while earning guaranteed annual payments.