WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                       Ch. 2

3.  RELEASE OF SEEDLINGS FROM COMPETING
VEGETATION;

4.  ANIMAL DAMAGE CONTROL OF SEEDLINGS;
AND

5.  OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT THE SECRETARY
REQUIRES.

(III) "REFORESTATION" . DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
GROWING OF CHRISTMAS OR ORNAMENTAL TREES.

(3) (I) "TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT" MEANS ANY
PRECOMMERCIAL CULTURAL OPERATION MADE TO IMPROVE THE COMPOSITION,
CONSTITUTION, CONDITION, AND INCREMENT OF A TIMBER STAND.

(II) "TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT" INCLUDES TREE
REMOVAL, GIRDLING, POISONING, AND PRUNING ACTIVITIES THAT:

1.  ARE NOT DONE ONLY TO HELP
REGENERATION; AND

2.  DO NOT RESULT IN IMMEDIATELY SALABLE
FOREST PRODUCTS.

(B)  APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY.

A PERSON WHO OWNS OR LEASES 10 TO 500 ACRES OF LAND MAY
APPLY FOR REFORESTATION OR TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT CERTIFICATION
UNDER THIS SECTION IF THE LAND IS:

(I)  CAPABLE OF GROWING MORE THAN 20 CUBIC FEET
OF WOOD PER ACRE PER YEAR; AND

(II)  AVAILABLE FOR THE APPLICATION OF
SCIENTIFIC FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF
GROWING AND HARVESTING FOREST TREE SPECIES.

(C)  INITIAL CERTIFICATION.

THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE AN INITIAL CERTIFICATION OF
REFORESTATION OR TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT TO AN APPLICANT WHO
OWNS OR LEASES 10 TO 500 ACRES OF LAND THAT IS USED AS COMMERCIAL
FOREST LAND OR THAT IS BEING RESTORED AND IS CAPABLE OF GROWING A
COMMERCIAL FOREST, IF THERE IS:

(1)  A SUCCESSFUL PLANTING OF THE REQUIRED MINIMUM
NUMBER OF SEEDLINGS WITH ACCEPTABLE SPECIES; OR

(2)  TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE
WITH A FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOPED BY A REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL FORESTER.

(D)  FINAL CERTIFICATION.

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