New Jersey § 13:1l-31

§ 13:1l-31.

a. The department shall establish a forest stewardship program under which an owner,

in conjunction with a forester or other professional selected by the owner from a

list of foresters approved by the department, or from a list of other professionals

authorized by the department in consultation with the forest stewardship advisory

committee established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2009, c. 256 ( C.13:1L-36 ), may prepare a forest stewardship plan for land, five acres or greater in area,

submit the plan to the department for approval, and implement the plan as approved,

or as subsequently amended with the approval of the department. A forest stewardship plan, at a minimum, shall: (1) conform with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2009, c. 256 ( C.13:1L-36 ) designed to ensure the sustainability of forest lands; (2) list the owner's long term stewardship goals for the forest land; and, for each

year that the plan applies, list the activities to be implemented that year, including

the activities designed to ensure the sustainability of the forest land as well as

activities designed to eliminate excessive and unnecessary cutting, and provide the

rationale for each activity listed; and (3) establish the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting necessary to document implementation

of the forest stewardship plan, including documentation of activities and inspections

performed. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of P.L.2009, c. 256 ( C.13:1L-34 ), a forest stewardship plan submitted for land in the pinelands area shall comply

with the standards of the comprehensive management plan for the pinelands area adopted

pursuant to P.L.1979, c. 111 ( C.13:18A-1 et seq. ). b. The department may elect to inspect the forest land, prior to determining whether

to approve a forest stewardship plan, in order to assess the appropriateness and sufficiency

of the proposed plan. After the department approves a forest stewardship plan, the forest land shall be

subject to inspection by the department during one of the first three years following

approval and at least once every three years following the first inspection. c. A forest stewardship plan shall be valid for a period of 10 years, unless sooner

terminated by the owner or revoked by the department. To continue, without interruption, participation in the forest stewardship program,

an owner shall prepare a new or revised forest stewardship plan pursuant to subsection

a. of this section and, in accordance with procedures established by the department,

obtain the department's approval of the new or revised forest stewardship plan prior

to the expiration date of the current forest stewardship plan. d. A forest stewardship plan approved pursuant to this section shall be considered

to be a woodland management plan pursuant to section 3 of the “Farmland Assessment

Act of 1964,” P.L.1964, c. 48 ( C.54:4-23.3 ) when the approved forest stewardship plan is submitted as part of an application

for valuation, assessment and taxation pursuant to the “Farmland Assessment Act of

1964,” P.L.1964, c. 48 ( C.54:4-23.1 et seq. ).