What is the basal area law and does it apply?
The basal area law requires you to leave 50% of a stand of healthy trees next to a public highway or waterway. However, it applies only to trees left standing. It doesn’t apply to trees on the ground, leaners, and standing trees with their tops broken off. These can all be removed without a variance to this law. You would only need to request a variance to the basal area law if you are cutting more than 50% of the still standing healthy trees. The application to exceed the basal area law is available on the web http://www.dred.state.nh.us/divisions/forestandlands/reference/documents/Basalareavar4_02.pdf or from the Forest Rangers, or the County Foresters.
