Silviculture Best Management Practices

Florida’s Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) are forest land management guidelines designed as the minimum standards necessary for protecting and maintaining the state’s water quality and wetland ecosystems during forestry activities. As such, they represent a balance between overall natural resource protection and forest resource use.

Florida’s Silviculture BMPs were first established in the mid-1970s in response to the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 and should be applied on all bonafide ongoing forestry operations, especially those adjacent to waterbodies, wetlands and sinkholes. Silviculture BMPs may be enforced by federal, state and local authorities through reference of regulatory statute or rule. However, Silviculture BMPs are not intended for use during tree removal or land clearing operations associated with development or other activities that have non-forestry objectives.

The Florida Forest Service serves as the lead agency responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of Silviculture BMPs in Florida. The Forest Hydrology Section is available to provide specialized information and guidance about Florida’s Silviculture BMPs. 

Filing a Silviculture BMP Notice of Intent

By filing a Silviculture BMP Notice of Intent,  a landowner (or their representative) becomes eligible for a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards for the pollutants addressed by the BMPs.

This is very important for properties that fall within one of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s adopted Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs).

In addition, the Florida Right to Farm Act, with some exceptions, will prohibit local governments from regulating a silvicultural activity related to water quality when the landowner has filed a Silviculture BMP Notice of Intent and is properly implementing applicable BMPs. 

To file a Silviculture BMP Notice of Intent:

1. Download the Notice of Intent to Implement Silviculture Best Management Practices[ ] (NOI).
2. Complete the NOI form and BMP Checklist. Please be sure to submit a separate NOI form for each property owner name as recorded by the property appraiser’s office.
3. Mail the completed form to the address found at the bottom of the form. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.
4. Implement applicable Silviculture BMPs and keep required records to maintain a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards.

For more information about Florida's Silviculture BMP program, please contact the BMP Forester in your region.