Utah State University Extension has released a series of forestry fact sheets designed to assist landowners and others in managing Utah’s forests. These technical guides provide information on various aspects of forest and tree care, ranging from land maintenance to timber sales.
Landscape and Tree Maintenance
The publications offer specific guidance for managing individual trees and residential landscapes. Additionally, the guide on Windbreak Benefits and Design provides an overview of using trees and shrubs as windbreaks and discusses the benefits and design requirements for such structures.
To address wildfire concerns, the Extension provides a guide on Firewise Plants for Utah Landscapes, which describes the characteristics of firewise landscapes and lists specific plant examples suitable for use in Utah.
Forest Management and Timber Operations
For larger-scale land management, the fact sheets cover professional forestry practices and economic considerations:
- Forest Management Planning: A guide discussing the definition of forest management planning, its benefits for landowners, and the preparation process.
- Timber Sales: An introductory publication outlining 12 steps to follow to assist in a successful timber sale and important points for preparing a timber harvest.
- Tree Appraisal: A fact sheet establishing species ratings intended for use by tree appraisal experts utilizing the trunk formula method to determine the monetary value of trees in Utah.
- Streamside Management: Information regarding streamside management zones (SMZ), including how to identify them and recommendations for forest practices within those zones.
Forestry Terminology and Resources
To assist with technical understanding, the Extension has provided a selection of forestry terms. These terms are organized into categories including general forestry, silviculture, timber harvest, taxation, and the measurement of forest resources.
