Delaware forestry law assigns department duties and defines forests

The Department of Agriculture carries out state forestry work and may work with people and public agencies on forestry programs. Its duties include enforcing forestry laws, protecting forest land, improving publicly owned forests, gathering forest information, and helping prevent and suppress forest, brush, and grass fires. The Department may cooperate on forest protection, tree growth, help for private forest owners and forest businesses, research, education, surveys, and public recreation.

For this chapter, a “forest” is an area that meets the stated size, width, and tree-cover tests. The area must be at least 1 acre and 120 feet wide, with live trees covering at least 10% of it. It can also include land that formerly had such cover and will grow trees again naturally or through planting.

The text defines terms used in the community forestry subchapter, including community forestry plans, local governments, tree resources, and urban forestry. The definitions cover trees on streets, in parks, and on other public land, as well as tree cover in and around communities. A community forestry plan should use an accurate inventory, show publicly owned areas, set goals, and describe strategies and a budget.