One South Whitehall Township couple has taken their interest in the environment one step further than many others and developed a 10-year plan to protect the forest land around their home.

Marie and Paul North's property along Victoria Lane was recently honored with a Forest Stewardship Award with help from Tim Latz, service forester with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.

"Our property is the only Stewardship Forest in South Whitehall," Marie North said. "We not only manage this for ourselves but for the quality of life for our neighbors and for future generations."

Latz said the Forest Stewardship Program is for any non-industrial private landowner.

The plan is written based on the landowner's goals.

Through the plan, they reach their goals for the property, Latz said.

He said the Forest Stewardship program is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry administrates the plans in Pennsylvania.

"Over 70 percent of forest land is owned by private forest landowners," Latz said. "Most of them own less than 10 acres of forest property."

According to a Penn State publication titled, "Forest Stewardship: Our Link to the Past Our Legacy for the Future," the Forest Stewardship Program was first authorized under the Forestry Title of the 1990 Farm Bill.

The program does not tell landowners what to do on their own land. Instead, it helps them find the best way possible to do what they want.

Information, education and technical assistance is provided to encourage private forest landowners who keep their lands and natural resources productive and healthy.

Latz said the plan take into account the goals and interest of the landowner.

In the Norths' plan, they were interested in the wildlife and what the forest provides them as well as protecting the health of the forest.

"Once we learn the goals and interest of the landowner, we inventory the property and write up recommendations on how they can meet their goals," he said.

Marie North said when she and her husband first saw their property in 2007, it was so beautiful,

"Some of the trees are 80 to 120 year old and the wildlife includes birds, foxes, deer and chipmunks," she said. "Our goal is not to destroy it."

For information about the Stewardship Forest Program, contact the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA or call Tim Latz at 610-799-3800.