# Title 4.1 — Agriculture

## 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

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.

Any political subdivision of the state may provide financial aid or supportive services to the
trees for North Dakota program.
