Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner    -    James R. Karels, Director
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Division of Forestry Shield Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Forestry Home > Forest Management > Forest Hydrology >
Silviculture Best Management Practices

BMP Courtesy Checks
Solutions to Better Water

What Are Silviculture Best Management Practices?

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP's) are land management guidelines designed to help forest landowners conduct forestry activities near waterbodies and wetlands in a manner that is environmentally sound.

Avoid These Warning Signs

  • Sediment (Streams, Lakes and Rivers
  • Organic Debris (Logging Slash in Streams)
  • Nutrients (Timber Harvesting & Fertilization)
  • Elevated Water Temperature (No Shade)
  • Chemicals (Herbicide Application)

Join In, Make a Difference

The use of Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMP's) benefit the forest landowner and forestry in many ways.

BMP's protect our natural water resources from degradation and sedimentation that can sometimes occur because of erosion during and immediately after forest operations.

Silviculture BMP's maintain shelter and food for aquatic organisms and wildlife species.

The use of BMP's during normal ongoing forestry operations exempt landowners from the costly process of acquiring permits; however, a permit is required for culvert placement, road construction when crossing streams and wetlands.

Silviculture BMP's are required in all forestry operations adjacent to waterbodies and wetlands by federal, state and local authorities through reference or regulatory statute.

Set a Higher Standard, Use the BMP Manual

wetland photograph Shading - Stability - Filtering
Florida's Silviculture Best Management Practices Program is one of the South's first quasi-regulatory environmental protection programs addressing forestry activities. The program was established in the mid-seventies in response to mandates given each state under the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act.

The Florida Division of Forestry has served as lead agency in the development, implementation, and monitoring of Silviculture BMP's statewide. Florida's first Silviculture BMP Manual was published in 1979, providing written forest management guidelines for landowners. A system of monitoring was also established and the Division conducted its first BMP Compliance Survey in 1981, showing 93% compliance on over 100 sites.

Don't Get Left Behind! Stay Informed With a BMP Courtesy Check

The Division of Forestry provides a voluntary silviculture BMP Courtesy Check. The on-site inspection will evaluate present or past (within a two year period) forestry operations such as timber harvesting, site preparation, forest roads, stream crossings, etc. To obtain additional information about Florida's Silviculture Best Management Practices such as to. . .
  • Request a BMP Courtesy Check.
  • Request a free copy of Florida's Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual.
  • Request information for forestry BMP Workshops for loggers, landowners, and natural resource managers. These one to two-day workshops are conducted throughout Florida and consist of a morning classroom session with a variety of speakers who have practical field experience in using BMP's.

Best Management Practices (BMP) Foresters Protect Water Quality

Florida's Silviculture BMP Program is one of the south's first to address forest operation activities. The Division's BMP Foresters are strategically located throughout the state to provide information, recommendations and technical assistance for proper BMP implementation prior to, during, and after forestry operations. BMP Forester range map.

Contact Us

To help keep forestry growing and Florida water resources clean, contact your nearest BMP Forester for assistance: Division of Forestry
Hydrology Section
Telephone: 850/ 414-9934
Email: vowellj@doacs.state.fl.us or limar@doacs.state.fl.us