Forest Practices Act

The IDL administers the Idaho Forest Practices Act (FPA), a law created in 1974 to promote active forest management and ensure that the health of forest soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, and aquatic habitat is maintained during the growing and harvesting of forest trees in Idaho.

The IDL provides assistance to landowners to establish healthy, sustainable forests and to promote compliance with the Idaho Forest Practices Act. Landowner and logger consultations, and frequent site inspections, ensure continuous growth and harvest of forest tree species; protect forest soil, air, water and resources, and maintain wildlife and aquatic habitat. Idaho’s Forest Practices identify standards for logging, road building, reforestation, streamside protection and other forest practices.

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Statutes and Rules

• Administrative Rules pertaining to the Idaho Forest Practices Act
• Forest Practices Rules Guidance
• Rulemaking

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Forest Practices Advisory Committee (FPAC)

The Forest Practices Advisory Committee (FPAC), as established by Idaho Code, provides technical assistance to IDL and the Land Board in matters relating to the Idaho Forest Practices Act.

The committee typically meets two or three times per year depending on current issues. It is comprised of nine voting members appointed by the IDL director for three-year terms. Members include a fisheries biologist; a nonindustrial private forest landowner; two forest landowners, one from northern Idaho and one from southern Idaho; two forest operators, one from northern Idaho and one from southern Idaho; two informed citizens from northern and southern Idaho; and an at-large member.

FPAC 2020 Meetings
Shade Rule Redesign Proposed to the Forest Practices Advisory Committee

• Shade Rule Redesign
• Class I Streamside Tree Retention Revised Methodology – Rationale and Explanation