In addition to the requirements of Section 4797, to be eligible to participate in agreements pursuant to Section 4795, or receive loans pursuant to Section 4796, the landowner shall do all of the following:

(a) Submit a long-term forest and land management plan for approval by the director. In the event that the proposed project includes preparation of the management plan, the plan need not be completed at the time of application; provided, that no other forest resource improvement project on forest lands within the same ownership not covered by a management plan may be approved by the director until the management plan has been approved pursuant to this subdivision. The plan shall cover all forest lands within the same ownership which include or are contiguous to the parcel to which a proposed forest resource improvement project applies. The plan shall set forth an analysis of forest land conditions and capabilities, including its original forest type if determinable. The plan shall describe the landowner’s management objectives and shall provide for the eventual harvest of sawtimber within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the preparer of the plan. The plan shall also describe the forest resource improvement work and other measures necessary to do all of the following:

(1) Protect, maintain, and enhance the forest resource system.

(2) Prevent or mitigate erosion, deterioration of soil resources, and pollution by natural and manmade causes.

(3) Optimize the timber growth potential of the land consistent with maintaining the productivity of related forest resources now and in the future.

The plan shall be prepared or approved as to content by a registered professional forester. Such a plan, when approved by the director, shall fulfill the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 51113 of the Government Code. Consistent with this section, the director shall prepare, and submit to the board for its review and approval, guidelines specifying the factors to be considered and information which should be included in management plans submitted pursuant to this section.

(b) Submit a project application in the form prescribed by the director containing such information as the director deems necessary to evaluate the proposed forest resource improvement project.

(c) Agree to comply with state or federal laws applicable to the work carried out pursuant to the proposed forest resource improvement project.

(d) Agree to comply with such forest land conservation measures and fish and wildlife habitat protection guidelines as may be set forth as part of the cost-sharing agreement or loan agreement executed pursuant to Section 4795 or 4796. Such measures shall be designed to insure that work carried out pursuant to such agreements is conducted in a manner to protect, enhance, and maintain the forest resource system to the greatest degree feasible. In the event that required land conservation measures or fish and wildlife habitat protection guidelines are not followed and significant damage to the forest resources occurs as a result, the director may take corrective action in accordance with the procedures of Sections 4607, 4608, 4609, 4610, and 4611.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1181.)