Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.53515

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Board: means the board of foresters created in section 53505(1). See Michigan Laws 324.53501
  • Department: means the department of natural resources. See Michigan Laws 324.53501
  • Forester: means an individual who, by reason of his or her knowledge of the natural sciences, mathematics, and the principles of forestry, acquired by forestry education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of professional forestry. See Michigan Laws 324.53501
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Registered forester: means a forester registered under section 53509. See Michigan Laws 324.53501
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
    A registered forester shall comply with all of the following:
    (a) In his or her professional capacity, perform the following general forestry activities as necessary for the practice of sustainable forest management and silviculture:
    (i) Forest management planning.
    (ii) Forest stand improvement.
    (iii) Forest mensuration, inventory, forest products appraisal, and timber sale administration.
    (iv) Reconnaissance and mapping of forest and watershed lands; investigation of wildland soils; delineation and mapping of forestlands and forest management boundaries, not including the establishment of property corners or boundaries.
    (v) Preparation and utilization of GIS/GPS maps, equipment, and software to assist in forest management planning, planting, harvesting, and protection. GIS/GPS maps created for forest management purposes are not official survey maps.
    (vi) Forest economics.
    (vii) Forest utilization, renewable energy production, and forest product development.
    (viii) Forest protection and restoration.
    (ix) Forest regeneration, reforestation, and afforestation.
    (x) Forest nursery production.
    (xi) Application of best management practices.
    (xii) Addressing legal and social aspects of forestry and forestlands.
    (xiii) Preparation of forest management related contracts, litigation reports, timber trespass investigation, and testimony.
    (xiv) Development, maintenance, conservation, and protection of wildlife habitat and forest range resources.
    (xv) Forest recreation and environmental studies.
    (xvi) The development of access for protection and management of the resource.
    (xvii) Adaptation of forests and forest practices related to climate change.
    (xviii) Urban forestry and arboriculture.
    (xix) Utility forestry and utility vegetation management.
    (xx) Teaching collegiate-level forestry courses or forestry outreach based on sound scientific principles or conducting scientific research in forestry at an SAF-accredited university or a board-approved program.
    (xxi) Forest research and monitoring.
    (b) Fully disclose personal or financial interests in any forestry project undertaken by the registered forester if there is a potential conflict of interest.
    (c) Not accept compensation or expenses from more than 1 client or employer for the same service, unless the parties involved are informed and consent.
    (d) Not make exaggerated, false, misleading, or deceptive written or verbal statements, including, but not limited to, statements on the value of individual trees, timber, or timberlands, in the conduct of professional practice.
    (e) Clearly and accurately represent his or her qualifications, the extent of the forestry services offered, and the basis for charges for those services.
    (f) Not offer or make bribes or unlawful inducements to those responsible for letting forestry contracts.
    (g) Not interfere with competitive bidding for forestry projects, including making false representations or misleading statements about bidders, prospective bidders, or competitors.
    (h) Not issue a forestry plan, map, specification, or report prepared by that registered forester or under his or her actual supervision unless it is endorsed with the registered forester’s name and certificate of registration number.
    (i) Not endorse a forestry plan, specification, estimate, or map unless prepared by that registered forester or under his or her actual supervision.
    (j) Provide forestry services in a manner that will ensure the public health, safety, and welfare and if, in his or her professional judgment, any of these are endangered, notify the client or employer and give appropriate recommendations or instructions.
    (k) If a client or employer fails or refuses to follow recommendations or instructions under subdivision (j), notify the responsible governmental department or agency of the threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
    (l) Not violate or conceal violations of this part and not knowingly permit others to do so.
    (m) Report violations of this part to the board.
    (n) Not conspire or collude to restrain trade through price arrangement with other registered foresters or forestry firms and not engage in price-fixing activities.
    (o) Not take forestry project funds under false pretenses and not abandon a forestry project without notifying the client or employer.

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