Growing Mature Forests: Midwest
The Growing Mature Forests practice is available for eligible landowners in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Designed for forests primarily made up of hardwood forest types, this practice helps landowners improve the health, resilience, and long-term value of their woodlands while receiving annual payments. By allowing trees to grow longer and reducing harvest intensity, Growing Mature Forests increases carbon storage while supporting wildlife habitat, water quality, and overall forest health.
Use our secure mapping tool to select your property and find out if you qualify.
Program at a glance
- Annual payments: $10.50 per enrolled acre
- Contract length: 20 years
- Minimum enrollment: 30 forested acres
- 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:
- At least 30 acres of eligible forestland
- Hardwood forests must be naturally occurring (not plantations)
- Forests must meet minimum harvestable stocking requirements
- The enrolled area cannot already be subject to legal restrictions that prohibit timber harvesting
Our foresters will help determine whether your property qualifies.
What You'll Be Responsible For
The Growing Mature Forests practice uses a deferred rotation approach, meaning trees are allowed to grow longer before harvest and harvest intensity is reduced over time. Once enrolled, you'll work with your forester throughout the life of your contract.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing or updating a forest management plan
- Following harvest guidelines if you choose to harvest
- Reporting tree measurements before commercial harvests
- Completing a harvest attestation after commercial harvests
- Completing a simple forest condition attestation every five years
- Allowing occasional monitoring visits if your property is randomly selected
Harvesting
Harvesting is not required.
If you choose to harvest, you'll work with an FFCP Qualified Forester to ensure your harvest aligns with your contract and long-term forest health goals.
The program also includes a personal use allowance for activities such as collecting firewood or completing small timber stand improvement projects.
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 Growing Mature Forests practice and explore how the Family Forest Carbon Program can help you achieve your stewardship goals.