Forest Management

The application of principles and practices for the regeneration, utilization, and conservation of forests to meet the desired goals and objectives while maintaining the productivity of the forest.
Prescribed fire rolling across forest ground
  • Hardwood forests are complex ecosystems and are much more unforgiving to site conditions than their softwood counterparts.  Hardwood forests typically contain a variety of tree and brush species. However, hardwoods, like pines can be artificially established and grown in plantation settings to achieve a desired timber production goal.  Why hardwood  Typically, hardwood forests are associated […]
  • Fire is a normal, natural, and essential process in the Texas landscape, and has been used for centuries, even before European settlement. Prescribed fire is important for sustainable ecosystems today as it is one of the most effective, cost-efficient land management tools.   Conducting a prescribed burn can produce a host of ecosystem and fire mitigation […]
  • A written management or stewardship plan is the foundation of responsible forest stewardship. They enable you to make informed decisions about the future of your property. Both types of plans will divide your property into separate stands based on the differing conditions and management concerns or goals within those portions.  Management plans  A management plan is […]
  • Salvaging logs following weather-related disasters pose many challenges for landowners, foresters, timber buyers, loggers, and mills.   For example, salvaging fallen trees (downed logs) requires different skills and equipment than does harvesting standing timber. Landowners are often challenged with having an adequate logging workforce to salvage as much of the timber as possible before rot sets […]
  • Guide for planting of pine seedlings, container or bareroot, in the area primarily east of I-45 known as the Pineywoods region of East Texas, and primarily in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Regions 87B, 133B, 150A, and 152B.  For information regarding planting and establishment of Longleaf Pines, please see […]
  • Guide for planting of longleaf pine seedlings in the native range located primarily in the southeastern region of the area east of I-45 known as the Pineywoods region of East Texas, and primarily in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Regions 152B, southern portion of 133B, and the eastern portion […]
  • Guide for planting of hardwood seedlings in the area east of I-45 known as the Pineywoods region of East Texas, and primarily in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Regions 87B, 133B, 150A, and 152B.  Purpose Applicable to Species to consider Any native hardwood species, including sawtooth oak, suitable for […]
  • Texas forests are managed to supply wood for an array of goods and products. The forest products industry is a vital part of the Texas economy. Generating billions of dollars in direct and indirect impact and thousands of jobs.  We search for new opportunities in the existing forest industry and emerging markets. We also assist landowners, […]
  • Wildlife management and forest management go hand in hand.  We offer assistance to landowners to help improve habitats for wildlife on their property.   Every property is unique in its approach to management, and different management practices will be needed to accomplish diverse landowner objectives. Although the practices listed below may not be applicable to every […]
  • What is thinning in forestry? How to prune a tree Harvesting timber Streamside management zones Prescribed burning explained What is a prescribed burn? Planning a prescribed burn What is a timber appraisal? Shelterwood harvest What is a blowdown?
  • When there is an ice storm or sudden freeze, your property’s trees might be adversely affected.  The most common form of damage is branch loss. The sudden additional weight of snow or ice can be enough to cause weaker limbs or sometimes the entire tops of trees to snap off and fall.   If a freeze […]
  • Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. The carbon from CO2 is then stored as woody biomass, leaf litter, deadwood, and soil organic carbon for decades.   The carbon stored in healthy forests is becoming a potential source of income for forest landowners through carbon offset markets.  Carbon offsets  Forest conservation, reforestation or […]
  • Forest Certification Programs Forest Certification Programs are designed to identify and recognize well-managed forest lands. Certifying your forest can be beneficial for helping you properly manage your forest as well as providing greater marketing opportunities when it is time to harvest.   There are several forest certification programs that share the same approaches and concerns while […]
  • A timber sale requires careful consideration and preparation. The cumulative efforts and expenses of managing your forest over many years are at stake. And the condition of your forest after the sale greatly affects your forest’s future productivity.  Preparation  Have a plan. The most important building block that contributes to a successful timber sale is to […]
  • The Forest Legacy program is a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the State of Texas that helps protect important forests at risk of being converted into non-forest uses.   The program encourages private landowners to voluntarily protect their forests by agreeing to conservation easements. These easements are legal agreements that limit certain uses of […]
  • 14.4 million acres of forested lands in Texas are suitable for timber production, which can potentially degrade water quality if done improperly.   Forestry BMPs are conservation practices that protect soil and water resources. Two key elements necessary for growing a healthy, sustainable, and productive forest. BMPs can include methods such as leaving a buffer zone […]
  • Trees, shrubs, bushes, and grasses are important vegetation. They:  Vegetation that benefits the ecosystem and works within the objectives of your land should be cared for and encouraged.  Certain types of vegetation, however, are only considered beneficial when in desired locations and can be considered “brush” otherwise.   Brush is a general term for woody shrubs, […]
  • Management Forests provide a essential econimc, social, and environmental functions. All of which are increased when managed well. Managing forestes also keeps them productive and safe from catasrphic loss to insects, diseases, extreme weather events, and wildfires.
  • For a century, we have provided Texas with seedlings from state nurseries.  Seed for these nurseries was originally provided from forest stands harvested in the region but now come from seed orchards established with trees selected for growth, form, and disease resistance as our tree improvement programs developed.    Tree improvement is a scientific process using […]
  • Much of East Texas was once dominated by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests but have been in decline for decades.   Longleaf pine ecosystems, like most forested ecosystems in the South, are dependent on frequent, low-intensity fires. The ecosystem thrived when forest fires burned every two to seven years, when lightning and Native Americans regularly caused fires. Native […]
  • Texas A&M Forest Service and prescribed fire  We conduct prescribed fires on State Forests and state lands to reduce hazardous fuels. This protects surrounding communities and provides wildland training opportunities for local cooperators like fire departments and natural resource agencies.   Our prescribed burn managers hold NWCG Prescribed Burn Boss Type 2 qualifications, and all […]
  • Ensuring trees, forests, and related natural resources are sustained for the benefit of all  We developed and regularly update the Texas Forest Action Plan to make sure that Texas forest resources are effectively managed and conserved.  The plan is based on three national themes: conserve working forests, protect forests from harm, and enhance public benefits […]
  • Tools & Applications

    Tour this story map to learn more about Chinese tallow identification, ecology, ecological threat, distribution, invasion potential, and treatment options in Texas.
  • The Shaded ReLeaf Dashboard helps Rio Grande Valley communities most impacted by excessive heat. It combines geospatial satellite data, Social Vulnerability Index, and tree canopy info to guide strategic, high-impact tree planting initiatives.
  • Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives uses research to guide tree planting for better mental and physical health. Trees enhance well-being through tree-lined streets, treescapes near schools and medical facilities, and nearby greenspaces.
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    The Texas Forest Action Plan is the state’s plan to make sure that Texas forest resources are effectively managed and conserved. You can explore the data behind the plan in our Forest Action Plan Data Explorer.
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    Helps landowners find land management service providers, assists service providers in aggregating land management services, and works for any size property.
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    A mobile app for iOS and Android that allows users to inventory and map trees, generate reports, and transfer data across devices. Features iTree compatibility and exports data to CSV files for use in Excel.
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    The Texas Forestry BMPs app is based on the Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Handbook publication, often referred to as the “Blue Book”, the state manual for protecting water quality during forest operations.
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    Plan My Land Operation allows you to make a map of your property while taking a deeper dive into operational considerations as you manage your land. You can identify sensitive areas, determine soil suitability, create elevation profiles, and calculate recommended culvert size.
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    Displays predicted urban growth areas, urban tree canopy (UTC) for selected communities, and models future UTC based on management policy.
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    Helps users maps trees with obvious defects that have a probable or imminent likelihood of failure and identifies treatment. It guides through identifying hazards, helping protect communities mitigate tree-related damage.
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    The My City’s Trees application enables anyone to access Urban FIA Data and produce custom analyses and reports.
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    Texas is under threat of losing much of its working forests to non-forest uses. Learn more about the ecologically important forests protected by the Forest Legacy Program in this story map.
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    The Model Public Tree Ordinance tutorial helps cities create effective public tree ordinances to achieve Tree City USA status. Download a fillable public tree care ordinance document to get started on enhancing urban tree management.
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    Map My Property provides landowners and other interested users a quick and simple tool for making a map of their property that can be shared with others. It also provides a variety of historical imagery and other mapped data for context.
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    The Texas Forest Information Portal is the one-stop shop for everything related to trees and forests in Texas. This interactive, spatially based platform is designed for landowners, communities, professionals, and the general public to find useful insights into Texas forest resources.
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    The Timberland Decision Support System is a web-based decision support tool for non-industrial private landowners and others who are interested in timberland investment and management.
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    The Forest Drought application allows users to explore past, current, and future drought conditions on Texas forestland, bringing together data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, NOAA, and Texas A&M Forest Service. You can create a custom report to save or share.
  • Interactive story map with information on disturbance impacts and how to manage forests threatened by disasters such as hurricanes.
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    A story map summarizing the BMP Implementation Monitoring Program’s 10th round in 2018.
  • Story map highlighting challenges and benefits of managing hardwood forests
  • Tools & Applications

    Forest Herbicide Prescriptions is a tool for finding the best silvicultural herbicide prescription to match your need.
  • Tour through the state forests and arboretums managed by Texas A&M Forest Service that serve as educational resources for Texans and visitors.