North Dakota Private Forest Improvement and Protection Program (Turtle Mountains)

This Turtle Mountains pilot pays North Dakota forest landowners an upfront $500/acre to put native forest into a 20-year forest protection agreement with a North Dakota Forest Service stewardship plan. Landowners who also sign a 20-year PLOTS walk-in hunting agreement get another $200/acre and 100% cost-share for aspen clearcut regeneration (75% without PLOTS). Grazing is not allowed on enrolled acres during the 20-year term.

• 'This program is available only in the Turtle Mountains.'

• All enrolled lands need 'a site-specific forest stewardship plan, developed by NDFS'.

• 'All stewardship plans will require aspen clearcutting on approximately 10% of the enrolled acres.'

• At least 600 of the 1,000 acres must be enrolled in PLOTS for 20 years.

20-year forest protection agreement; lump-sum upfront payments; 'grazing is not permitted on enrolled acreage during the 20-year term of the agreement'; NDGF secures aspen contractors by competitive bid; landowners may use firewood from clearcuts.

Published amounts: 'Forest protection payments - $25/year x 20 years = $500/acre'; 'PLOTS payments - $10/year x 20 years = $200/acre'; 'All protection and access payments are issued upfront in a lump sum.' Aspen management cost-share 100% with a 20-year PLOTS agreement, 75% without.

'Landowners can contact a private land biologist to discuss specific program details, agreement terms, payment rates and how to apply.'

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; pilot capped at 1,000 acres ('The OHF grant includes funding to enroll 1,000 acres of native forest into 20-year forest protection agreements.').