NR 46.18(3)(b)(b) The management plan may contain a schedule of approved but not mandatory practices for the management of forest resources other than trees including wildlife habitat, watersheds, and aesthetic features as follows:

NR 46.18(3)(b)1.1. No more than 20% of an owner’s total contiguous designated managed forest land acreage may be non-productive land, which shall be calculated in accordance with s. NR 46.17 (1) (b).

NR 46.18(3)(b)2.2. On the 80% of a managed forest land parcel required to produce or be capable of producing 20 cubic feet per acre per year, practices for the management of forest resources other than trees may be approved consistent with owner objectives as provided in subd. 2. a. and b.

NR 46.18(3)(b)2.a.a. The creation of openings and other vegetative cover not producing forest products at the level meeting density requirements under s. 77.82 (1) (a) 2., Stats., is allowed so long as the area of created openings or other vegetative cover, combined with other non-productive land, does not exceed 20% of the managed forest land parcel, which shall be calculated in accordance with s. NR 46.17 (1) (b).

NR 46.18(3)(b)2.b.b. In addition to practices approved under subd. 2. a., other practices may be approved on managed forest land to accomplish the objectives of the owner relating to forest resources other than trees if such approved practices do not significantly alter the value of the merchantable stand of timber or preclude the growing of future forest crops for commercial use. Such approved practices may include, where consistent with the landowner’s objectives, dividing clear-cuts into smaller blocks, shortening or lengthening rotations, creating irregular cutting boundaries, leaving uncut small stands, strips or individual trees on clear-cut, modifying residual basal area on partial cuts, modifying species composition, reserving den or cavity trees, substituting partial cuts for clear-cuts or substituting clear-cuts for partial cuts.

NR 46.18(4)(a)(a) The requirements of this section for management plans may be modified by the department for ownerships exceeding 1,000 acres after consideration of the following:

NR 46.18(4)(a)3.3. The existence of a management plan prepared by or for the owner and acceptable to the department. The management plan shall be readily available to the department upon written request or audit. A management plan under this section shall include all of the following:

NR 46.18(4)(a)3.a.a. Maps or a GIS database at a scale usable for forest management and showing land eligible for designation. The maps or database shall represent current conditions, and include the requirements provided for in s. 77.82 (3) (c) 4. and 5., Stats. Maps, in a format approved by the department, that show any land designated as open to public recreation and meeting the requirements in s. NR 46.21 (3) (c) shall be provided.

NR 46.18(4)(a)3.b.b. Reconnaissance data and scheduled practices using the procedure defined in subd. 4.

NR 46.18(4)(a)4.4. At the time of application to become a large ownership, submission of legal descriptions and maps or aerial photographs that meet the requirements established in s. 77.82 (3) (c) 4. and 5., Stats., for the land being entered, and a written commitment from an owner that describes the management plan that is required in subd. 3. and outlines the procedure used to update and amend the management plan, or that fulfills requirements established in subd. 6., if applicable. The information provided in this subdivision shall be updated when land is added to, transferred from, or renewed under the ownership.

NR 46.18(4)(a)6.6. If the land considered for large ownership is under a nationally recognized third-party forest certification standard with a valid certificate held by the managed forest land owner, the land may qualify as a large ownership without fulfilling requirements under subd. 3. if the owner maintains the third-party certification and provides maps, in a format approved by the department, that show lands designated as open to public recreation and meeting the requirements in s. NR 46.21 (3) (c).

NR 46.18 NoteNote: Examples of nationally recognized third-party forest certification standards include the American Tree Farm System®, the Forest Stewardship Council®, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.

NR 46.18(4)(b)(b) The department may revoke large ownership status for large ownerships failing to meet requirements established in par. (a). Large ownerships shall be notified of the cause for revocation in writing, and shall be given one year to develop a management plan under s. 77.82 (3), Stats., that contains all items listed in s. NR 46.16 (2) (f), (g), and (h).

NR 46.18(4)(c)(c) Large ownerships shall supply the department, upon written request, additional information required to determine owner compliance with s. 77.82 (1), Stats., and this section as provided for in s. 77.82 (2) and (3), Stats.

NR 46.18(5)(bm)(bm) Management plans for applications under s. NR 46.16 (1) (a) received on or before June 1 shall be prepared by a certified plan writer or the department itself.

NR 46.18(5)(bm)1.1. Management plans shall be approved by the department no later than October 1 of the year in which the order of designation will be issued. The department shall approve a management plan if all the following apply: