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177 <br /> Forest Stewardship Program Resource Elements <br /> The following thirteen (13) natural resource elements are addressed in all Forest <br /> Stewardship Management Plans when they are present and/or applicable to the landowner <br /> and the management of their property: <br /> Soil & Water Biological diversity Aesthetic quality <br /> Recreation Timber Fish& wildlife <br /> Threatened & Endangered Forest health Archeological, cultural & <br /> Species historic sites <br /> Wetlands Fire Carbon cycle <br /> Range/Silvopasture/Agroforestry <br /> This document provides information on the 13 required Forest Stewardship Program <br /> natural resource elements, Your Forest Stewardship Plan will likely contain additional <br /> details on these resource elements as they relate to your property and management <br /> objectives. Your plan may not address one or more of these resource elements if they <br /> were not observed on your property or was not identified as one of your management <br /> objectives. If you would like more information, contact your Forest Stewardship <br /> Program plan writer or local NC Forest Service (NCFS) office. Additional information <br /> and brochures may be available through your local NCFS office or at: <br /> http://www.ncforestservice.loy//publications.htrn <br /> Soil and Water <br /> Soil fertility is of major importance when it comes to forest management. Just as fertile <br /> soil is needed to produce high quality agricultural crops, specific soil conditions are <br /> required to grow good quality timber stands. Soil requirements vary by tree species. In <br /> forest silviculture, soil productivity is expressed as the"Site Index." Site index (SI) is the <br /> measure of growth in a tree species on a particular soil over a 25 or 50-year period. It is <br /> important to understand the nature of your tract's soils and to avoid heavy equipment use <br /> on certain soil types during wet conditions. Information on local soils and accompanying <br /> data can be found on the Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS)website: <br /> http://soils.usda.gov/ <br /> All forestry activities must protect water quality and comply with, among others, the <br /> North Carolina Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality(FPGs). Refer to <br /> the following website on FPGs: <br /> http://neforestservice.goy/publications/Forestry%20Leaflets/WQOI.pdf NCFS personnel <br /> can perform FPG site inspections upon request. <br /> 19 <br />