Title 11, Natural Areas and Recreation

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Commission” means the state forestry commission;(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of agriculture;(3) “Department” means the department of agriculture;(4) “Division” means the division of forestry with…

(a) There is created within the department a state forestry commission. The commission shall consist of seven (7) members, each of whom shall be a citizen of this state, and be eighteen (18) years of age or older. Each member shall be appointed by the governor. In making appointm…

(a) The commission shall submit to the governor the names of three (3) qualified individuals for the position of state forester. From these nominees, one (1) individual may be selected for such position. The person so appointed shall have not less than five (5) years' experience …

(a) The state forester, by and with the approval of the commissioner of agriculture, has the authority to recommend the sale, exchange, or lease of lands under the jurisdiction of the division when, in the judgment of the state forester, it is advantageous to the state to do so, …

There is created and established a division to be known as the division of forestry, which shall be administered as a division of the department of agriculture. The division will be under the direct supervision of the state forester.

It is the purpose of the division to develop, implement, and promote those public forestry programs and policies that protect, conserve, and efficiently utilize the state's forest resources.

The division of forestry is authorized to accept gifts, donations or contributions of land suitable for forestry purposes.

The division and each county, municipality or other political subdivision of the state are empowered to expend money from available sources to purchase or to aid in the purchase of areas of land for forestry purposes within the meaning of this chapter, such areas to become the pr…

The division is authorized to implement and develop programs to protect the state's forests.

The division, through its authorized employees and agents, may, at any time, go upon any land within this state for the purpose of investigating, preventing, or controlling forest, woods, brush, or grass fires of any nature, or to take other action necessary for the control of fo…

(a) The legislative bodies of counties within the state are authorized and empowered to cooperate with the division of forestry in the protection of forests within their respective counties from fire and forest pests. (b) The county legislative bodies are authorized to appropriat…

The division of forestry, with the approval of the commissioner, may execute agreements with federal agencies for providing fire detection, presuppression, and suppression services on federal lands.

The division has the power to enforce all conservation laws and regulations of the state affecting matters or materials under the jurisdiction of the division.

Any person, firm, or corporation negligently or willfully setting fires shall be civilly liable to the division for any expenses incurred in extinguishing such fires.

The division is authorized to give grants to rural communities for the purposes of organizing, training, and equipping participating volunteer fire control organizations. Funds may be made available annually to organizations on a matching cost share basis. To qualify for funding …

Article I. The governor, on behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact, in substantially the form hereinafter set forth, with any one (1) or more of the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and …

When the governor has executed the compact on behalf of this state and has caused a verified copy thereof to be filed with the secretary of state, and when the compact has been ratified by one (1) or more of the states named in § 11-4-501, then it shall become operative and effec…

In pursuance of article III of the compact, the director of the division of forestry, within the department of agriculture, shall act as compact administrator for the state of Tennessee of the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact during the director's term of of…

The director of the division of forestry, as compact administrator, shall be vested with all powers provided for in the compact and all the powers necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the compact in every particular.

It is unlawful for the compact administrator or the director's representative, and/or the members of the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact advisory committee representing the state of Tennessee, to make any agreement, to create any obligation, or to commit th…

The division shall acquire, develop, and administer forest tree seedling nursery sites and facilities as necessary to assure the long-term production of seedlings in sufficient quantity and quality for purposes of reforestation, and shall maintain a tree improvement program to as…

The division is authorized to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of respective reforestation and forest improvement programs, including the reclamation and stabilization of critically eroding areas and those cost share programs intended to protect and imp…

The division is authorized to establish a state reforestation incentive program. The purpose of the program is to encourage the reforestation of suitable open lands, cutover, or other nonstocked or understocked forests, and severely eroding areas. Program funds will be made avail…

The state forester is authorized to develop policies and procedures for implementation of the program. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as may be needed to implement the state reforestation incentive program.

(1) The division is authorized to provide technical forestry information, advice, and related assistance to landowners, managers, forest operators, wood processors, agencies, organizations, and individuals. Such assistance and services may include:(1) Inspection and examination o…

The division is hereby authorized to make grants using federal and/or state funds to qualifying cities, towns, municipalities, and other communities for purposes of establishing cooperative urban forestry programs. The division is authorized to develop policies and procedures for…

In order to promote forestry on nonindustrial privately owned lands, the division is authorized to provide assistance in the establishment of forest landowner associations which encourage and promote improved forest protection, management, reforestation, and forest products marke…

The department of agriculture, through the division, is authorized to establish and manage a system of state forests to provide for the multiple use management of the various renewable and nonrenewable resources such that those resources are utilized in the combination that best …

The division will prepare and periodically revise a comprehensive state forest system plan that describes policies, procedures, methodologies, and management guidelines for implementation of the state forest system.

The state forester, by and with the approval of the commissioner of agriculture, shall cooperate with the executive director of the wildlife resources agency in furtherance of the policy of this state to protect and propagate wild animals, wild birds and fish, and, by and with th…

The division of forestry is authorized and empowered to acquire by purchase, gift, lease, or otherwise, and hold title thereto in the name of the state, lands to be known as state forests.

The state forester or the state forester's authorized representatives are empowered and authorized to examine delinquent tax lists in the hands of the trustees of the various counties of the state, as well as the commissioner of revenue, and shall cooperate with the county truste…

When the state has acquired title to lands sold to satisfy liens for delinquent taxes, and same have been proclaimed and dedicated by the governor to the public use as state forests, the state forester shall have the same authority and power to administer and manage such lands as…

(a) As used in this section, “free-use area” means an area where residents of this state may remove downed and dead timber from a state forest, without cost, for their own personal use as firewood for home heating and cooking; provided, that none of the firewood is offered for sa…

The division may conduct other programs and activities, not described in this chapter, which shall further the purpose of the division to protect, conserve and promote the state's forest resources.