2021 North Dakota Century Code
Title 4.1 - Agriculture
Chapter 4.1-21 - Forestry


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CHAPTER 4.1-21 FORESTRY 4.1-21-01. State forester - Appointment - Qualifications - Duties. The board of higher education shall appoint the state forester. 1. The state forester must be a graduate of an accredited school of forestry with a minimum education of a bachelor of science degree in forestry. The state forester shall serve as the director of the state forest service and, subject to the approval of the board of higher education and the president of North Dakota state university, may employ assistants and secure office facilities and equipment necessary for the administration of this chapter and the performance of the powers and duties of the office. 2. The state forester shall: a. Supervise the raising and distribution of seeds and forest tree planting stock as provided in this chapter. b. Promote practical forestry and compile and disseminate information relative to practical forestry to landowners, community groups, schools, and other organizations interested in forestry. c. Encourage the development, use, and wise stewardship of forest resources. d. Provide assistance to landowners, producers, and public bodies relating to forestry, reforestation, protection of forest resources, prevention and suppression of fires, planting of trees and shrubs, and the growing, harvesting, marketing, and management of forest resources. 4.1-21-02. State nursery - Maintenance - Purpose. A state nursery, under the direction of the state forester, must be maintained at Towner. The nursery shall propagate seeds and forest tree planting stock adapted to the climatic conditions of this state. 4.1-21-03. Powers - Cooperative state agreements. Under the general supervision of the board of higher education, the state forester may: 1. Establish procedures for the administration of this chapter. 2. Provide grants to, and enter cooperative agreements with, public and private entities for purposes consistent with this chapter. 3. Establish councils to advise the state forester on the administration of this chapter. 4.1-21-04. State forester reserve account. The state forester reserve account is established as a special account in the state treasury. All moneys received for charges in excess of the cost of production of seedlings from the state nursery must be deposited in the reserve account. The state forester may use the reserve account within limits of legislative appropriations for expenses relating to nursery seedling losses or other unanticipated events requiring additional funding as determined necessary by the state forester. If the balance of the state forester reserve account exceeds one million five hundred thousand dollars, charges for state nursery seedlings must not exceed estimated production costs until the account balance is less than one million two hundred thousand dollars, at which time the state forester may charge one hundred ten percent of production costs. 4.1-21-05. Distribution of seeds and planting stock. Seeds and planting stock from the state nursery may be distributed by the state forester to citizens and landowners of this state upon payment by them of a price not greater than one hundred ten percent of the cost to the state of production in the case of planting stock or collection in the case of seeds, and the cost of transportation from the nursery. The seeds and planting stock may be used to establish or reestablish forests, windbreaks, shelterbelts, living Page No. 1 snow fences, farm woodlots, Christmas tree plantings, wildlife habitats, and other conservation tree plantings and for erosion control and water quality management. 4.1-21-06. State forester may accept land for forestry purposes. The state forester may accept gifts, donations, or contributions of land suitable for forestry purposes and may enter agreements for acquiring, by lease, purchase, or otherwise, such lands as in the state forester's judgment are desirable for state forestry purposes. 4.1-21-07. Obligations incurred in acquiring land - Payment. Obligations incurred by the state forester in the acquisition of land under this chapter must be paid solely and exclusively from revenues derived from that land, and may not impose any liability upon the general credit and taxing power of the state. 4.1-21-08. Powers of state forester when lands acquired or leased. When lands are acquired or leased under section 4.1-21-06, the state forester may make expenditures from any funds not otherwise obligated for the management, development, and utilization of those areas. The state forester may provide recreational services within those areas and may charge a user fee in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of providing those services. The state forester may sell or otherwise may dispose of products from those lands and may make necessary rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter. 4.1-21-09. Revenue received from lands acquired or leased - Regulations governing Payments in lieu of taxes. All revenues derived from lands acquired or leased under this chapter must be segregated by the state treasurer for the use of the state forester in the acquisition, management, development, and use of such lands. However, from those revenues derived from agricultural leases there must be paid over to the governing body of the county in which those lands are located, an amount sufficient to cover the loss of tax revenues, if any, resulting from such acquisition or lease. 4.1-21-10. State forester may sell, exchange, or lease lands. The state forester may sell, exchange, or lease lands under the state forester's jurisdiction when in the state forester's judgment it is advantageous to the best orderly development and management of state forests and state parks, except any sale, lease, or exchange may not be contrary to the terms of any contract that the state has entered. 4.1-21-11. Agreements for shelterbelt lands by state. Any board or officer having the control or management of any real estate belonging to or controlled by this state or any of its political subdivisions may enter agreements with the officers and agents of the United States for the improvement by the United States of any of those lands by the establishment and maintenance on those lands of shelterbelts composed of trees, other plants, and necessary protective structures and works. Every agreement must describe particularly the land to be covered by the shelterbelt, must be recorded at the expense of the United States in the county where the land is situated, and thereafter all leases, sales, and other disposition of such land are subject to the agreement. 4.1-21-12. Trees for North Dakota program and trust fund. The trees for North Dakota program is created for the public purpose of strengthening the tradition of tree planting and management in this state. A special fund known as the trees for North Dakota program trust fund is established in the state treasury. Income earned on moneys in the fund must be credited to the fund. The state forester shall deposit all program funds received from governmental and private sources in the trust fund. Program funds may be expended for direct costs or distributed for grants and contracts by the state forester within the limits of legislative appropriations for defraying the costs associated with execution of the trees for North Dakota program. Page No. 2 Any political subdivision of the state may provide financial aid or supportive services to the trees for North Dakota program. Page No. 3
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