Chapter 28, PUBLIC FORESTS

28.005 Definition. “Department” when used in this chapter without other words of description or qualification means the department of natural resources.

28.01 Forestry supervision. The department shall execute all matters pertaining to forestry within the jurisdiction of the state, direct the management of state forests, collect data relative to forest use and conditions and advance the cause of forestry within the state. Cross-r…

28.015 Forestry demonstration and education center. The department shall develop a plan to establish a forestry demonstration and education center. History: 2001 a. 16.

28.02 State forests lands. (1) DEFINED. State forests lands include all lands granted to the state by an act of congress entitled, “An act granting lands to the state of Wisconsin for forestry purposes,” approved June 27, 1906; all lands donated to the state by the Nebagamon Lumb…

28.025 Annual allowable timber harvests. (1) In this section, “forested property” means forested property owned by this state and under the jurisdiction of the department from which timber is harvested. (2) The department shall establish annual allowable timber harvests for each …

28.03 State forests. (1) DEFINED. State forests shall consist of well blocked areas of state owned lands which have been established as state forests by the department. (2) NAMED. The state forests are designated as follows: (a) “American Legion State Forest” in Oneida County. (b…

28.035 American Legion State Forest. (1) The state forest located in townships 38 and 39 north, ranges 7, 8 and 9 east, Oneida County, shall be named the American Legion State Forest. (2) The department shall enter into an agreement with the Wisconsin department of the American L…

28.04 Management of state forests. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Biological diversity” means the variety and abundance of species, their genetic composition, and the communities, ecosystems and landscapes in which they occur. “Biological diversity” also refers to the var…

28.042 Forestry inventory; implementation. (1) The department shall undertake and maintain an inventory of forested areas on land owned by the state, including the areas of timber in these forested areas that have been or are to be harvested for purposes of state forestry managem…

28.045 Educational requirements for field foresters. (1) Every person hired as a field forester by the department on or after November 20, 2003, shall have received a bachelor’s or higher degree in forestry from a school of forestry with a curriculum accredited by the Society of …

28.05 Timber sales; state forests. (1) LIMITATIONS. Cutting shall be limited to trees marked or designated for cutting by a forester employed by the department or by an individual determined by the department to be qualified to do such marking or designating and who is under the …

28.06 Forest nurseries. (1) LIMITATION. Only planting stock of species and sizes suitable for forest and woodlot planting and for planting by school pupils, including pupils at a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), to celebrate arbor day under s. 118.025 shall be produ…

28.07 Cooperation. The department may cooperate with the University of Wisconsin System, with departments and agencies of this or other states, with federal agencies and with counties, towns, corporations and individuals, to promote the best interest of the people and the state i…

28.08 Income. All income from state forest lands shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the conservation fund. History: 1977 c. 418.

28.085 Timber. The department shall allocate for forest grants under s. 26.38, for the forestry education grant program under s. 26.40, for school forest transportation funding under s. 26.39 (5), for transfer to the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (km) for master logger appren…

28.10 County forests. The county board of any county may by resolution establish a county public forest and acquire land by tax deed or otherwise for that purpose.

28.11 Administration of county forests. (1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to provide the basis for a permanent program of county forests and to enable and encourage the planned development and management of the county forests for optimum production of forest products to…

28.15 National forests. (1) In this section: (a) “Cooperative agreement” means an agreement between the secretary or the governor and the secretary of the federal department of agriculture under which the department is responsible for conducting forest management activities on fe…

28.20 Community forests. Any city, village, town or school district may acquire land, engage in forestry and appropriate funds for such purpose. The forest property may be located outside the city, village, town or school district limits. History: 1985 a. 218; 1993 a. 246.

28.21 Management. Any municipality, by registering its forest with the department, shall be eligible to receive free planting stock from the state forest nurseries and the services of foresters in preparing and carrying out planting and forest management plans. No trees shall be …

28.22 Timber sales; community forests. Any sale of timber from a community forest shall be based on the scale, measure, or count of the cut products. Any sale of timber with either an estimated volume of at least 500 cord equivalents or an estimated value of at least $10,000 from…

28.23 Income. All income from community forests shall be paid into the treasury, but may be assigned to the support of any legally authorized activity.

28.99 Parties to a violation. (1) Whoever is concerned in the commission of a violation of this chapter for which a forfeiture is imposed is a principal and may be charged with and convicted of the violation although he or she did not directly commit it and although the person wh…