# Forest Stewardship Program and Windbreak Renovation Initiative

> Advice and site visits from North Dakota Forest Service (North Dakota State University) (University / extension) for ND, United States.

Official page: https://www.ndsu.edu/ndfs/stewardship
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/nd-ndfs-forest-stewardship-program · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** Free on-site visit and management advice for private owners of native forest, pine or aspen stands and windbreaks; windbreak owners can also get a renovation plan and cost-share

The North Dakota Forest Service Forest Stewardship Program assists private forest landowners to encourage and enable active, long-term forest management of native forests, pine stands, aspen pockets and windbreaks. Landowners request an on-site visit through an online Survey123 form. Since 2015 the Windbreak Renovation Initiative has offered technical and financial assistance to private windbreak owners statewide; the technical assistance request is free and projects are handled first come, first served. The page also describes the Forest Stewardship Tax Law, which lets landowners in participating counties pay a fixed $0.50 per acre per year in property tax on forested acres that meet certain conditions.

## Who qualifies

Private forest landowners in North Dakota; the page lists no acreage or other requirements. The Windbreak Renovation Initiative is for private windbreak owners statewide.

## How to apply

Submit the on-site visit request (Survey123 form) linked on the stewardship page, or contact Forest Stewardship Manager Matt Olson, Lisbon, 701-683-4323, matthew.p.olson@ndsu.edu, or a stewardship specialist in Bottineau (701-228-5490), Walhalla (701-680-9832) or Lisbon (701-683-4323). Windbreak Renovation Initiative requests use a separate Survey123 form on the same page. The Forest Stewardship Tax Law has an overview document and enrollment application linked on the page.

**For:** Landowners, Farmers

> Note: Windbreak Renovation Initiative cost-share amounts and the conditions for the Forest Stewardship Tax Law are not stated on the page; the tax law applies only in participating counties.