FAQs
Forest Management
Forest management is the practice of caring for and maintaining a forest or woodland to achieve a set of objectives. Forest management involves various proactive activities aimed at maintaining and enhancing the resiliency, health, sustainability, and diversity of forests. Forest management practices may include:
- Tree thinning: This refers to selectively removing some trees to improve the health and growth of the remaining trees. This reduces competition for resources, improves forest structure, varies tree density, improves timber quality, and reduces wildfire risk.
- Pest & disease management: This refers to strategies and practices used to monitor, prevent, and control forest pests, diseases, and invasive species.
- Prescribed fire: This refers to setting and managing fire in woodland and grassland areas under specific conditions to achieve benefits including fuel reduction to mitigate wildfire risk, wildlife habitat improvement, disease and pest control, growth of new trees, and landscape diversity.
- Sustainable harvesting: This refers to cutting timber in a manner that promotes forest health, the growth of new trees, age-class diversification, the creation of wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration and storage, while also supporting the current and future needs of the forest industry.
- Tree planting: This refers to strategically planing the right trees in the right locations to achieve management objectives.
Proper forest management can lead to improved soil quality, water conservation, improved wildlife habitat, high quality timber, and overall ecosystem health.
Timber harvesting is the process of cutting down trees and removing them from forests to turn into wood products like lumber, paper, and fuel. It involves planning, felling, processing, and transporting logs while considering environmental and economic factors. Harvesting high-quality timber can provide significant financial benefits to landowners.
Harvesting can either be done in a sustainable manner that promotes forest resiliency, regrowth, and health OR in an unsustainable and irresponsible way.
- Sustainable timber harvesting refers to the practice of cutting trees in a manner that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Regenerative harvests promote the establishment of a new generation of trees by creating conditions that are favorable to the natural regeneration of tree species, which is critical to ensuring the presence of forests and the availability of timber for future generations.
- Unsustainable harvesting is the practice of cutting trees in a manner that compromises the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This may involve practices like high-grading, in which landowners and loggers adopt a "take the best and leave the rest" approach that degrades the long-term heath and quality of the forest. It could also include irresponsible behaviors that compromise forest or soil health or pollute waterways, or harvesting more trees than can be replaced through natural or artificial regeneration.
Carbon markets allow landowners to generate income by managing their land in ways that capture and store carbon dioxide, which helps mitigate climate change. While TDF does not directly offer services related to carbon market participation, such as project validation or carbon credit sales, we can provide recommendations and point you toward qualified consultants or organizations that specialize in this field. If you’re considering entering the carbon market, we’re happy to discuss options and help you get started in the right direction.
Learn more about carbon markets...
Talk to your local TDF area forester about carbon markets...
A Forest Management Plan is a tailored strategy for managing forested land over time, developed with guidance from forestry professionals. It serves as a personalized roadmap that reflects the landowner’s goals—including generating income, improving wildlife habitat, creating recreational opportunities, and maintaining a healthy forest for future generations.
These plans are typically developed with the assistance of a professional forester who will walk the land, assess its condition, and provide science-based recommendations to guide management decisions. Most plans cover a 10-year period and are reviewed and updated as needed.
Tennessee Division of Forestry Services
To inquire about prescribed burning or other Division of Forestry service, please contact your local TDF area forester.
No, we do not write greenbelt plans. For assistance with greenbelt plan development, we recommend reaching out to a qualified consulting forester who can guide you through the process and ensure all requirements are met.
Your yard can be a part of creating a healthier ecosystem for the larger forest community.
Typically, Division of Forestry foresters focus on larger woodlands, usually over 10 acres, but some area foresters in counties with more urban or suburban areas may make an exception.
For advice on managing smaller properties, individual trees, or a small group of trees, we recommend reaching out to your local University of Tennessee Extension Agent or contacting a local tree service company.
Find your extension agent here...
If you have a specific health concern about your urban or suburban trees, please feel free to also reach out to our Forest Health Specialist at Katherine.Kilbourne@tn.gov or Report a Pest on our forest health-focused website, ProtectTNForests.org.
If you need tree service work completed on your land, reach out to an ISA Certified arborist. ISA Certified arborists have completed training to earn credentials as a professional, qualified tree care expert. It is important to hire a certified arborist to avoid inadvertently causing lasting harm or damage to your trees.
The Division of Forestry's East Tennessee Nursery cultivates millions of native trees and shrubs each year and offers them in bulk at affordable prices to individuals and to public, nonprofit, and private organizations. The nursery exists to promote reforestation and the expansion of rural and community forests.
Orders can be placed online between September and April each year.
Learn about financial assistance programs for tree planting...
Financial assistance to landowners is available through a number of agencies and programs. Most programs require the landowner to contribute a share of the cost.
Each agency and program has a different objective; some emphasize protection of water quality and others wildlife or renewable energy. The overall purpose is to encourage landowners to implement forestry practices.
The requirements to qualify for cost share programs vary. The Division of Forestry’s role in administering specific programs also varies from marketing other agency’s programs to 100% program administration.
See what programs are available to you...
Contact your local forestry office for additional program information...
No, the Division of Forestry does not provide tree removal or pruning services to private individuals and organizations.
If you need tree service work completed on your property, reach out to an ISA Certified arborist. ISA Certified arborists have completed training to earn credentials as a professional, qualified tree care expert. It is important to hire a certified arborist to avoid inadvertently causing lasting harm or damage to your trees.
Interested in having a Smokey Bear program at your event, school, or organization? Please contact your local TDF area forester to inquire about availability.
For assistance with a forest health issue on a property of 10+ acres, reach out to your local TDF area forester.
For advice on managing smaller properties, individual trees, or a small group of trees, we recommend reaching out to your local University of Tennessee Extension Agent or contacting a local tree service company.
Find your extension agent here...
If you have a specific health concern about urban or suburban trees, please feel free to also reach out to our Forest Health Specialist at Katherine.Kilbourne@tn.gov or Report a Pest on our forest health-focused website, ProtectTNForests.org.
If you need tree service work completed on your land, reach out to an ISA Certified arborist. ISA Certified arborists have completed training to earn credentials as a professional, qualified tree care expert. It is important to hire a certified arborist to avoid inadvertently causing lasting harm or damage to your trees.
Burn permits are required for burning natural debris from Oct 15 to May 15 every year. To get a permit, please visit:
Forest Industry
Forests provide "non-traditional" benefits, including water quality and quantity protection, habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals, air quality, opportunities for recreation, aesthetics, carbon sequestration, and open spaces.
Watersheds depend on healthy forests and riparian buffers for maintaining water quality. The Division is currently implementing strategies to identify landowners who, through planting forested riparian buffers, will ensure these watersheds continue to produce clean, abundant water for public use.
The Division's Reforestation Program is uniquely positioned to produce genetically improved seed and seedlings specifically tailored to allow efficient and effective tree planting practices associated with implementing these strategies.
In addition, an expanding body of research indicates that trees, forests, and green spaces, as well as time in nature, provide a multitude of physical and mental health benefits, including stress and anxiety reduction, increased immune system function, faster healing, and improved ability to concentrate.
The forest products industry has a substantial impact on Tennessee's economy. Since 83% of forests in Tennessee are privately owned, strong forest products markets are the best incentive for many landowners to keep their forests as forests.
Diverse, competitive, and sustainable forest products markets are a strong motive for family woodland owners to keep their forestland intact and forested. Active forest management, which includes timber harvesting, increases disturbance and diversifies forests so they can be more resilient on the Tennessee landscape.
In addition, the forest industry employs 85,000 people in Tennessee, while producing sustainable and renewable raw materials and wood products.
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Tennessee Matters is a half hour weekly Public Affairs program from the Tennessee Radio Network hosted by John Clark. This episode features an interview with Tim Phelps, former TDF Public Information Officer, and with Larry Pitts, Tennessee Forestry Association Workforce Development Coordinator, to talk about Tennessee forests, the forest industry, and August/September statewide wildfire conditions.