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Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to know about trespassing on Timberland?
Timber Trespass: How To Prevent It From Happening To You (PDF Document)
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What is Current Use?
New Hampshire's current use program was enacted as an open space conservation measure. It is a taxing strategy aimed at making it easier for landowners to keep their open space undeveloped. Instead of being taxed at its real estate market value, land is taxed on its income-producing capability. In other words, land is taxed as a woodlot or a farm, not as a potential site for houses.
Current Use is a voluntary program in which landowners may enroll undeveloped land ten acres or larger in the program by applying to the municipal assessor by April 30th. By taxing land at its current use value, as compared to its potential development value, landowners can afford to keep land in productive forest, farm, or other open space.
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Who participates in Current Use?
Today, nearly 3 million acres (almost 60% of the state's taxable private land) are enrolled in the program by some 27,000 landowners. Contrary to popular notions, the average family with land in current use has below the average median household income. For these and many other New Hampshire landowners, current use is the vital means by which they can afford to keep their lands.Current Use Booklet for 2007 - 2008
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Is it important to select a certified logger to harvest timber?
How you sell your trees, and select the professional contractors who can do the work, are important considerations. They can either perpetuate the many values of your forest for a long time, or badly damage the land and your personal and aesthetic pleasure. Taking time to select the right logger for you is an important step in conserving your forestland for future generations.
The New Hampshire Timberland Owner's Association (NHTOA) maintains a directory of certified loggers and forest product truckers. These individuals have completed the NH Professionals Loggers Program, a voluntary certification program administered by the NH Timber Harvesting Council to promote safe operating skills and industry professionalism. A list of loggers in your area is also available from your county's UNH Cooperative Extension office.
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Are there state laws and permits required that affect timber harvesting?
There are multiple permits required for both Harvesting For Development and Routine Harvesting. Whether it is a Notice of Intent to Cut, Dredge-and-Fill Permit, or Wetlands Forest Management Minimum Impact Notification etc., The NHTOA can assist you in learning more. For a copy of the UNH Coop Extension NH Timber Harvesting law booklett in PDF: http://extension.unh.edu/forestry/Docs/gtnhthl.pdf
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Does Timber Harvesting really effect the economy in New Hampshire?
The logging industry in New Hampshire is a well-established and significant portion of the state's employment base, especially in the northern regions. In addition to licensing professional foresters, New Hampshire has laws regulating logging, including a 10% timber tax (or yield tax) paid to municipalities, wetland permits when appropriate, best management practices to protect streams, and a requirement to avoid timber trespass.
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What are NH's basal area requirements?
New Hampshire State Requirements
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What are NH's Timber tax values? - below are two good web-sites for that answer!
Average Stump Value List(Document) (Word Document)
Stump value List (Website)
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How do you figure wood by the cord?
In New Hampshire there is only one legal way to sell wood, and that is by the full cord.4'x4'x8'. This is true regardless of if it is in log length, 4 foot bolts or cut and split. As you probably know, the smaller the pieces of wood are, the more compact it piles and the more wood fiber is actually in the pile. The amount of "shrinkage" when the wood is bucked and/or split is highly variable depending on the size of the logs and how strait they are. Small, cracked? logs can not be piled very efficiently and will have a lot of air (space between the logs) in the pile. When it is cut, split and piled, it might add up to only half of the original volume. This equates to effort as well. It takes a lot more effort to cut and split a cord of small wood than one form larger logs. I have never seen a conversion factor of log loads converted to cut and split fire wood. If you could find one, I think it would be unreliable because of the explanation above. There are tables that will give you cord wood volumes for individual logs or trees. This would not be a practical method. There are some rules of thumb. There about 2 cords (log length volume) to 1,000 board feet of logs. A tri-axel log truck holds about 6,000 to 7,000 board feet of logs. That would come out to about 13 (log length) cords. Once it is cut and split, it will be much more compact.as much as 25%. So you might get 9 actual cords or a pile of 16" fire wood, 4 feet high and about 200 feet long. Half a load would be half that amount. But remember, the actual yield could vary a lot down to a half or less depending on the material in the load and how well it is packed. If you buy log length wood, it will be difficult to check on what your actually getting. I hope this is of some help.
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Where can I find the State Of New Hampshire Current Use Criteria Booklet?
The New Hampshire Current Use Criteria Booklet can be found right here (Word Document)
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What are the New Hampshire stream crossing guidelines?
Recently, members have expressed interest in knowing the guidline governing stream crossing in New Hampshire. In a effort to clear any misconceptions or confusion we are offering a link to a document that outlines the rules very clearly. For more information or further clarification contact Jasen Stock at 224-9699.
New Hampshire Stream Crossing Guidelines (Word Document)
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Are You Wondering About Our Comments on the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement?
To read the NHTOA position about the Umbagog Plan please click here (Word Document).
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What are New Hampshire's Vernal Pool Rules?
NHTOA members have expressed a concern over rules that govern vernal pools in the state of New Hampshire. In a effort to clear any misconceptions or confusion we are offering a link to a DES document that outlines these rules. For more information or further clarification contact Jasen Stock at 224-9699.
Vernal Pool Rules (PDF Document)
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