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Landowner Objectives <br />Forest management objectives are the overarching goals that the landowner wishes to work <br />towards. Setting realistic and well - defined objectives is the first step in determining the direction <br />that management will take. Ms. Ennis' objectives include: <br />1) Protection and enhancement of soil and water resources: Growing trees almost <br />always improves soil tilth, stability, water holding capacity, and fertility. Threats to soil <br />and water quality most often occur during or after poorly executed forest management <br />practices as erosion from forest roads, chemical run -off, compaction from logging <br />equipment, or damage to stream banks. Protecting soil and water through the <br />implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and thoughtful harvest planning <br />can reduce negative impacts on and off the property and is an important consideration <br />with any management activity. <br />2) Generation of income from sound silvicultural practices: Long -term forest <br />management for income not only includes the planning of timber harvests, but also the <br />implementation of strategies for promoting the most profitable species for each site and <br />controlling competing species that may reduce stem quality and growth rates in crop <br />trees. Frequently seen only as a source of income, well planned harvesting operations <br />often present the best opportunities to achieve other forest management objectives as <br />well. <br />3) Conservation of open space through the sale of development rights: Conservation of <br />working lands is important for the long -term prosperity of our region. As more and <br />more productive farm and forestland is converted to residential or commercial uses, the <br />remaining lands become more critical both for the environmental services they provide <br />and their contribution to the rural economies that the region depends on. For the private <br />landowner, conservation frequently means making a personal commitment to maintain <br />their property in an agricultural or forested state. This commitment can often be <br />leveraged to generate cost -share assistance from government agencies, income from <br />NGO's for the purchase of development rights, or to take advantage of tax incentives. <br />4) Facilitate the use of permaculture concepts: Permaculture is a system of ecological <br />design that builds on the relationships between living things to create low maintenance <br />horticulture systems modeled on natural ecosystems. In essence, permaculture is <br />applied ecology with a focus on achieving productive and stable systems to sustain <br />human life. Many permaculture writings focus more heavily on food production than <br />on timber production, but the principles are transferrable. Experimentation with <br />production models is completely compatible with the other management objectives and <br />almost unlimited opportunities are present on this property for agroforestry, forest <br />gardening, and production of non - timber forest products. <br />5) Maintenance and improvement of wildlife habitat: Healthy, well managed forests <br />provide habitat for a wide variety of game and non -game wildlife species. In central <br />North Carolina, common species include white - tailed deer, wild turkey, woodcock, <br />bobcat, beaver, as well as many species of woodpeckers, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, <br />small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and other invertebrates. Typically, <br />F. <br />151 <br />