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Cooperative Forest Management Program 

 (Section 81-1409, R.C.M, 1947) 



This program authorizes the DNR&C, through the Forestry Division, to 

 cooperate with forest landowners in regard to forest management on private 

 lands in Montana. There are also provisions for cooperation with the 

 U.S. Forest Service in implementation of the related federal statute 

 (described previously). The program's objectives include the conservation 

 and perpetuation of forest and watershed lands and their resources, 

 including prevention of soil erosion and regulation of stream flow. The 

 Division is currently cooperating with public and private agencies and 

 individuals through this program. Participation is completely voluntary 

 by both parties, the state and the landowner. The landowner is under 

 no obligation to follow any recoiranendations provided by the state. 



Lack of funding and manpower constraints limit the effectiveness of this 

 program, and only about 5 percent of the total private timber owners are 

 affected. Many landowners are not aware of the technical and financial 

 assistance available to them. The state is reluctant to advertise the 

 program due to the lack of personnel to implement it effectively. 



The CFM program could be an effective vehicle for prevention and mitigation 

 of forestry related water quality impacts. However, several aspects 

 should be stressed: 1) an aggressive public awareness campaign should 

 be undertaken to adequately inform private forest landowners of the 

 services (technical and financial) available to them; 2) services should 

 stress management of a sustaining timber resource, protection of water 

 quality and utilization of BMP's, on-site evaluations of proposed harvest 



