As used in this part, the words and phrases defined in sections 50102 to 50105 have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

    (1) "Agency of this state" means a board, bureau, commission, department, or other division of the executive branch of government of this state.

    (2) "Board" means the board of directors of the forest improvement district.

    (3) "Bond" means a bond, note, or any other instrument issued to evidence indebtedness.

    (4) "Cost-share payment" means a payment made by a forest improvement district pursuant to section 50145 to a member who owns or occupies forest land.

    (5) "County with high unemployment" means a county with an annual unemployment rate, as reported by the Michigan employment security commission, higher than the mean annual unemployment rate of this state.

    (6) "District" or "forest improvement district" means a governmental subdivision of the state established under section 50123.

    (1) "Fish and wildlife habitat improvements" means measures designed to protect, maintain, or enhance fish and wildlife habitats.

    (2) "Follow-up work" means forest practices to promote the survival of seeds or seedlings planted or the protection or enhancement of other work previously undertaken under this part.

    (3) "Forest improvement project" or "project" means each of the following:

    (a) Production, processing, handling, storage, marketing, or transportation of forest resources, conducted in carrying out the purposes of this part, including sawmills, hardboard mills, power stations, warehouses, air and water pollution control equipment, and solid waste disposal facilities.

    (b) Forest practice or follow-up work.

    (c) Study, planning, or other work intended to improve forest lands or forest resources or to demonstrate means of improving forest lands or forest resources.

    (4) "Forest land" means a tract of land or the timber rights in that land owned or occupied by a member, which land is at least 10% occupied by forest tree species with a growth potential of 50 cubic feet per acre per year and consists of 40 acres or more. Forest land includes land from which forest tree species have been removed and have not been restocked, but does not include land converted to uses other than the growing of forest tree species or land currently zoned for uses incompatible with forest practices.

    (5) "Forest management plan" means a forest and land management plan submitted to a district pursuant to subpart 5.

    (6) "Forest practice" includes, but is not limited to, the following:

    (a) The preparation of management plans for forest land.

    (b) The improvement of forest tree species.

    (c) Reforestation.

    (d) The harvesting of forest tree species.

    (e) Road construction associated with the improvement or harvesting of forest tree species or reforestation.

    (f) Use of chemicals or fertilizers for the purpose of growing or managing forest tree species.

    (g) The management of slashings resulting from other forest practices.

    (h) Any other actions intended to improve forest land or forest resources.

    (7) "Forest resources" means those products, uses, and values associated with forest land, including recreation and aesthetics, fish, forage, soil, timber, watershed, wilderness, and wildlife.

    (8) "Gross territorial boundary" means the jurisdictional limit of the area of the district within which landowners are eligible for membership in the district.

    (9) "Proposed gross territorial boundary" means the proposed jurisdictional limit of the area of the district within which owners or occupiers of land are eligible for membership in the district.

    (1) "Harvest" means the point at which timber that has been cut, severed, or removed for purposes of sale or use is first measured in the ordinary course of business as determined by reference to common practice in the timber industry.

    (2) "Land occupier" or "occupier of land" means a person who is in possession of forest land whether as a lessee or tenant, or otherwise.

    (3) "Landowner" or "owner of land" means a person who holds an ownership interest in forest land and is a voluntary member in the district.

    (4) "Member" means a person who is a voluntary participant in a district and who owns or occupies forest land within the gross territorial boundaries of a district.

    (5) "Notice of a hearing" means notice as required by the open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

    (6) "Project costs" means the sum total of all reasonable or necessary costs incurred for carrying out the acquisition, construction, or undertaking of a forest improvement project under this part. Project costs include the following costs: studies and surveys; plans, specifications, and architectural and engineering services; legal, marketing, or other special services; financing, acquisition, demolition, construction, equipment, and site development of new and rehabilitated buildings; rehabilitation, reconstruction, repair, or remodeling of existing buildings; interest and carrying charges during construction and before full earnings are achieved, and operating expenses before full earnings are achieved or for a period of 1 year after the completion of construction, whichever occurs first; and a reasonable reserve for payment of principal and interest on bonds of a district.

    (1) "Reforestation" means planting of tree seedlings, cuttings, or seed.

    (2) "Small business entity" means a business enterprise with $500,000.00 or less average annual gross revenue during its last 3 tax years.

    (3) "Stumpage value" of timber means values determined from log grade value tables adopted or used by the department.

    (4) "Timber" means wood growth, mature or immature, growing or dead, standing or down. Timber does not include any of the following:

    (a) Christmas trees and associated greens.

    (b) Material harvested from an individual's own land and used on that land for the construction of fences or buildings or for other personal use.

    (c) Fuel wood harvested for use in individual homes.

    (5) "Timber owner" means a person who holds an ownership interest in forest tree species on forest land. An ownership interest includes a license or other right to timber on state lands.

    (6) "Timber volume agreement" means that portion of the difference between the allowable cut volume and a projected future need volume which can be committed to a person.

    (7) "Unit of proper measurement" means a unit of measurement commonly used in the timber industry for measuring timber and harvested timber products.

    (1) The purpose of this part is to stimulate improved management and utilization of forest land and forest resources within this state as recommended by Jaakko Poyry and company, Helsinki, Finland, in Michigan's timber resource development project. Economic and community development opportunities based on the forest resource will be enhanced by ensuring adequate future high-quality timber supplies, increased employment opportunities, a diversified economy, and other economic benefits and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the public benefit of present and future generations.

    (2) The primary purpose of this part is to demonstrate and improve the timber productivity of forest land within this state. Consistent with this purpose, the objective is to effect a utilization of waste material and determine the commercial feasibility of that waste material, as well as to improve all forest resources, such as fish and wildlife habitat and soil resources, so that the overall effect is to improve the total forest resource system.

     This part, being necessary to secure the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the citizens of the state, shall be liberally construed to effect the public policy and purposes declared in this subpart.