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property includes a barn and a cabin that petitioner uses as his
personal residence.
In October 1995, petitioner engaged Robert G. Rynearson to
prepare a forest management plan (FMP) for his property. The
cost of the FMP was $1,800. The FMP states that petitioner’s
objectives are to improve the property’s long-term timber
production, as well as to enhance the wildlife, recreational, and
aesthetic values potential of the property. To attain these
objectives, the FMP cites the need to improve growing conditions.
According to the FMP, a 1988 fire left much of the property
“occupied by live brush interlaced with standing and down fire
killed brush and trees.” These conditions impede successful
growth and are a continuing fire hazard. The report concludes
that the property is in a good location with respect to possible
timber and fuelwood markets.
At some time after October 1995, petitioner conducted a
“pilot test” planting of 51 Coulter pine trees. According to
petitioner, the pilot planting was unsuccessful because his land
could not support commercial Coulter pine trees. By the end of
1996, petitioner had not decided which species of trees to plant
and had not harvested any of the existing trees on his property.
As of March 2001, petitioner had not commercially harvested
any trees, had not planted any new trees, and had not decided
which species of trees to plant. Petitioner is still considering
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Last modified: May 25, 2011