The state forester, with the sanction of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, may, upon request, assist and cooperate with any agency of the United States government; all state, county, and municipal agencies; and with any corporation, association, partnership, or individual owning or controlling any forestland, woodland, shelterbelt, or rangeland in the management and protection of such forestland, woodland, shelterbelt, or rangeland, including:

1. (1) Preparation of plans for management and protection of forest health including during a declared forest insect or disease emergency;
2. (2) Management, surveying, harvesting, marketing, and processing of forest products; and
3. (3) Collection of receipts from the sale of federal timber and depositing them in the forestry fund as provided in § 41-20-22. In providing timber sale assistance pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section, on private lands, the state forester shall determine that such assistance is not reasonably available through a consulting forester. If the assistance is determined to be unavailable from a consulting forester, the state forester may provide the assistance after courtesy notification to private industrial foresters. However, the assistance provided is limited to thirty man-days over a period of six years per individual owner.

Source: SL 2013, ch 196 , § 9; SL 2021, ch 1 (Ex. Ord. 21-3), § 51, eff. Apr. 19, 2021; SL 2022, ch 160 , § 1.