Title XVI — CONSERVATION, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

254.010. Citation of law. — This law shall be known and may be cited as "The State Forestry Law". ­­-------- (L. 1945 p. 672 § 2) CROSS REFERENCE: Encouragement of forestry and prevention of fires, Const. Art. IV § 36

254.020. Definitions. — As used in this chapter, the following words mean: (1) "Best management practices", forest management practices, as defined by the commission in consultation with the clean water commission, that ensure protection of water quality; (2) "Commission", the co…

254.030. Forest districts authorized — state forester authorized. — The commission may create such forest districts as it may deem to be appropriate, having due regard for the character and extent of the timber stands, similarity of forest problems, convenience of administration …

254.040. Designation as forest croplands, application for — refusal, appeal from — size of tract and value limitations. — 1. Any person desiring to have lands designated as forest croplands shall submit an application to the state forester on forms provided by the commission. The…

254.050. Certification of forest croplands, where filed. — For all such lands which have been accepted and classified by the commission as forest croplands, a certificate shall be issued in quadruplicate by the commission; and the original thereof shall be filed in the commission…

254.060. Transfer of ownership. — The transfer of the ownership of any such forest croplands shall not affect any classification thereof as such. ­­-------- (L. 1945 p. 672 § 16)

254.070. Commission-owned lands eligible as forest croplands — rate of compensation to county — acreage to be certified by commission. — 1. The commission may classify as forest croplands any lands conveyed to the state for use of the commission. The commission shall pay to the c…

254.075. State-owned lands, exemptions for. — State-owned lands, used by the commission and classified as forest cropland will not be subject to any ad valorem tax nor subject to any penalties if removed from the forest cropland classification. ­­-------- (L. 1974 H.B. 1210, A.L.…

254.080. Time limit on tax relief for private land — reclassification procedure. — Any privately owned lands approved and classified by the commission as forest croplands as defined in this chapter shall receive partial relief from taxation, as provided in said chapter, during a …

254.085. State land may retain classification indefinitely. — Any lands owned by the state of Missouri, used by the commission, and classified as forest cropland as defined in this chapter may retain such classification for an indefinite period, so long as said lands continue to …

254.090. Tax rate on privately owned forest cropland. — Privately owned lands classified as forest croplands under this chapter shall be assessed for general taxation purposes at three dollars per acre, and taxed at the local rates of the county wherein the lands are located. Lan…

254.100. Private plan of forest management — partial tax relief — revisions. — 1. Any person owning or controlling forest land may inaugurate and develop his own plan of management and employ such standards and methods of forest management as may suffice in the judgment of the co…

254.110. Compensatory payments to counties. — 1. The commission shall determine as of January first of each year the number of acres of privately owned forest cropland which has been accepted in each county under this chapter. The commission shall pay to each county in which thes…

254.120. Tax relief not to affect valuation of other property. — The assessor shall not increase the valuation of property other than forest lands owned by any person so as to make up for loss of taxable property value because of the forest croplands tax relief provided for in th…

254.130. Compliance with forest management rules and regulations required. — All persons interested in any way in the forest croplands or the cutting of crops therefrom covered by this chapter shall comply with and follow such forest management rules and regulations as are requir…

254.140. Firewood and domestic use timber cutting permitted. — Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the right of any such person to cut from said forest croplands owned or controlled by him, firewood and timber for his own domestic use. ­­-------- (L. 1945 p. 67…

254.190. Separate taxation on certain products. — If any oil, gas, stone, coal, or other material is obtained from any such forest croplands, this may be assessed separately and taxed at the local rates; otherwise the operation of the property tax shall not be changed, except as …

254.200. Forest cropland, grounds for declassification — effect of. — 1. When any lands have been so classified the classifications shall be continued as long as proper forest conditions and practices are maintained and continued thereon, and for such periods of time as do not ex…

254.210. Owner to reimburse state upon cancellation of classification — penalty. — When a classification shall have been cancelled for cause, the owner of such lands shall make reimbursement to the commission in a manner as the director of revenue shall prescribe for the grant wh…

254.220. Removal from classification by owner, payments required. — In the event an owner of forest croplands may desire to remove his land from classification, he may do so by making reimbursement to the commission in a manner as the director of revenue shall prescribe for the g…

254.225. Forest landowner cost-share incentive program authorized, reimbursements provided, when — application, procedure. — 1. The commission may administer a forest landowner cost-share incentive program to promote sustainable forestry on private lands. Such program may provide…

254.230. State forester and commission employees, duties of. — It shall be the duty of the state forester and other employees as appointed by the commission: (1) To promote forestry by assisting any person in forest management, the planting of trees, the conservation and developm…

254.240. Enforcement powers of state forester and commission employees. — The state forester and other employees as appointed by the commission shall have power: (1) To enforce any and all provisions of this chapter and all rules and regulations made by the commission; (2) To ent…

254.250. Powers of agents of commission. — Each agent of the commission authorized to do so by the commission shall have power: (1) To employ such other person or persons as may be suitable and needed to render assistance in preventing the spread of, or in suppressing forest, bru…

254.260. Enforcement of provisions, by whom — duties. — 1. It shall be the duty of every authorized agent of the commission to assist in the enforcement of this chapter and any such rules and regulations of the commission; and it shall be the duty of all sheriffs, marshals, const…

254.270. Fire control and timber trespass activities intensified, when — provisions for added protection. — 1. Fire control and timber trespass activities will be intensified and may be extended to include all woodlands in the state as deemed in need of such protection by the com…

254.290. Penalty for obstructing enforcement. — Any person who shall obstruct or prevent or attempt to obstruct or prevent any officer, agent, employee or deputized person under this chapter or any such rules and regulations, while in the performance of his duties, or in the exer…

254.300. Violation of chapter a misdemeanor. — Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any of such rules and regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. ­­-------- (L. 1945 p. 672 § 22) CROSS REFERENCES: Arson, reckless burning, 569.040 to 569.060 Negli…