Forest Practice
CAL FIRE regulates $1 billion annually worth of California timber production and enforces the associated laws protecting the environment.
California’s forest landscape is diverse and complex, featuring the largest, tallest, and oldest trees in the world. CAL FIRE enforces the Forest Practice Rules for timber landowners on non-federal, State, and private lands lands through a variety of timber harvesting plans and ministerial notices submitted by Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs), timberland owners, and Licensed Timber Operators (LTOs). All harvesting documents specify the method of harvesting and measures to avoid and minimize the potential for adverse environmental impacts. Approval is dependent on conformance with the State Forest Practice Rules. Timber Harvesting Plan approval also includes an extensive multi-agency and public review process. CAL FIRE inspects timber harvesting operations and can take enforcement action if Forest Practice Rule violations are alleged to have occurred.
CalTREES
The California Timber Regulation and Environmental Evaluation System (CalTREES) is the online Forest Practice permitting and document management system for CAL FIRE and Review Team agencies (State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Geological Survey). It is designed to efficiently process, review, and store timber harvesting documents and allow public access to information, provide comment, and improve transparency.
Safely cut and remove trees as a licensed timber operator (LTO).
Explore timber harvest plans and watersheds by region though an online mapping application.
Forest Practice GIS manages spatial data related to timber harvesting.
- Timber Harvesting Plan Filing Checklist
- Timber Harvesting Plans
- Timber Harvesting Forms
- CalTREES FAQs and Training
- Board of Forestry
Does CAL FIRE need to approve my plan?
- California Condor Experimental Population in Humboldt County
- Western Bumble Bee
- Crotch Bumble Bee
- Franklin’s Bumble Bee
- Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee
- Anadromous Salmonid Protections Rules: Revised Interpretive Questions and Answers for RPFs and Landowners
- CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife for other sensitive species information
- Accelerated Wood Recruitment and Timber Operations: Process Guidance from the California Timber Harvest Review Team Agencies and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Wood for Salmon Working Group White Paper
- Designing Watercourse Crossings for passage of 100-Year Flood Flows, Wood, and Sediment (8/17)(10 MB PDF)
- Flood Prone Area Considerations in the Coast Redwood Zone (11/05)(3MB PDF)
- Forestry Report #7: Post-Fire Salvage Logging Guidance