Forest Planning_Content Page_Public Comment

Stakeholder Input Opportunities for Forestry Documents

The DNR Division of Forestry prioritizes soliciting stakeholder input on division documents. As a division, we are committed to informing and involving our stakeholders in the development and review of materials that guide our programs.

Inviting stakeholders to provide input is not only good customer service. It also creates opportunities to identify potential concerns and unforeseen impacts, understand diverse perspectives and determine the level of stakeholder support for division documents.

To provide feedback on a document, email the staff member listed in the "Contact Person" column. Clicking on their name will take you to the staff directory, where you'll find their contact information.

Documents available for stakeholder input

Document TitleContact PersonDue Date for CommentsDescription of Document and Proposed ChangesComment Summary and Final Document
Public Forest Lands HandbookDoug Brown07/15/2025

The Public Forest Lands Handbook gets updated every 2 years to review current process/procedures, incorporate approved policy changes, update language, improve clarification, process and fix broken links. The major updates at this time include new internal review language for County Forest lands and Department managed lands, revised chapter content to improve consistency, and GNA updates.

For a detailed summary of the changes, read the full Change Summary for Public Forest Lands Handbook Update.

Fire Management HandbookEric Martin05/21/2025

Fire Management Handbook (HB4325.1)

The Fire Management Handbook has been updated to reflect changing policy needs and operational efficiencies, as detailed in the summary of changes document below:

 
Forest Tax Law HandbookSkya Murphy05/15/2025

Forest Tax Law Handbook Chapter 310: Tax Law Dispute Resolution Process

The completely revised Chapter 310 documents the procedures for routine resolution of disagreements within the Tax Law Section and provides a formal dispute resolution process (DRP) mediated and decided by the Chief State Forester with potential 3rd party consultation. Appendix 310A provides guidelines for contracting third party consultants. The DRP is a voluntary instrument available to all landowners for use in deciding forestry-related disputes, and to Certified Group Members for resolving disputes related to conformance with MFL Certified Group Rules. Participation in the DRP does not affect any individual’s rights to appeal a department decision under s. 227.42, Wis. Stats.

The Forest Tax Law Handbook serves to digest the law relating to the forest tax programs and provide guidance for the administration and implementation of the Tax Law programs. The Handbook embodies statute and rule and provides greater procedural detail to ensure consistency in their application.

Six stakeholder comments were received, resulting in the following editorial changes shown in the updated DRP:

  • Added Tax Law Team Leader responsibility to ensure full flexibility is consistently offered on a regional basis.
  • Added language emphasizing Tax Law's commitment to communicating openly, offering flexibility and providing landowners multiple options to achieve compliance at each level of the DRP.
  • Added additional responsibilities to all parties to the dispute. First, be prompt and forthcoming in responding to other parties’ requests for pertinent information, and second, provide reasonable expected and desired timeframes for responses to inquiries and other actions taken to resolve disputes.
  • Clarified that the department will bear the cost of contracting a cooperating forester as a third-party consultant if deemed necessary by the Chief State Forester.