Our Forest Action Plan identifies landscape areas where national, regional, and state resource issues and priorities converge. It is meant to be a dynamic document that utilizes the best current data available, works with stakeholders, and adequately considers other state assessments, plans, and priorities.
In this way, Iowa’s Forest Action Plan is a valuable source for communicating forest-related issues, threats, and opportunities in the state and serves as an important strategic document for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau to use for planning and funding purposes.
Maximize forest health and productivity
Actively managing private and public lands through the development of management plans and long-term forest management strategies increases health and productivity of Iowa’s forests. Using implementable, adaptive, and sustainable science-based techniques and technologies allows Iowa to protect forests from current and future threats, improve forest diversity and composition, and protect quality habitat. It is also critical that Iowa increase the number of forestry professionals statewide and grow stock and market for timber and non-timber forest products.
Strategically grow Iowa’s forests
In addition to managing our existing forestland, it is critical to continue to expand public and private forestland as well as decrease forest fragmentation and habitat loss. Encouragement of appropriate species and site selection, identifying sites that can be planted to achieve multiple benefits on the land, and facilitating the use of incentive programs help to grow Iowa’s forestland in a healthy and highly impactful direction. Trees and forests in Iowa help to grow Iowa’s economy, improve the health and well-being of Iowans, and improve soil, air, and water quality.
Promote the benefits of Iowa’s forest resources
Iowa utilizes forestry education and technical assistance through individual contacts, workshops, field days, demonstrations, and trainings to promote the benefits of Iowa’s forest resources. Through partnerships with federal state, county, local, and non-governmental organizations, Iowa is working to create and use educational materials, programming, and communications tools to reach diverse audiences about the importance of trees and forests. Recreational and wildlife capacity of forestlands is increased through alignment with other statewide plans such as the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan and the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. In addition, Iowa is working to inform and educate Iowans on forest policies and laws.
Best Management Practices
Iowa’s best management practices (BMPs) program is non-regulatory. The agency responsible for BMPs policy development is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Forestry Division.
Click here to view the most recent BMPs recommendations on the state forestry agency website.
