Forest Association boasts landowner opportunities

The Texas Forest Association has compiled a brochure that list cost-share programs available to landowners that can help reduce the cost of managing forest lands.

"This brochure was developed to provide landowners with a summary of federal programs that are available to assist landowners with tree planting and management practices on their forest lands," said Ron Hufford, executive vice president of the association.

"Landowners Guide to Costshare Programs," produced by TFA's Sustainable Forestry Initiative Committee and the Texas Reforestation Foundation, explains six cost-share programs available to forest owners.

The cost-share programs available include the Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Grassland Reserve Program, Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program, Wetland Reserve Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

"Since 2002, more than 28,000 acres have been reforested in East Texas using costshare programs," Hufford said, "and more than 12,000 acres were reforested in 2007 alone."

The brochure is available at the Texas Forestry Association office at 1903 Atkinson Drive, Lufkin, or on the website at www.texasforestry.org.

The association is a non-profit trade association whose members grow, manage, harvest and process the forest resource in Texas.