A minimum tract size of 25 acres used for the growing and harvesting of forest crops and certified by the American Tree Farm System through the New Jersey Tree Farm Committee shall be required.

Tree harvesting shall be in accordance with a forest management plan prepared by the New Jersey Bureau of Forest Management or a consultant forester who is a graduate of an accredited school of forestry. The selection cut silvicultural method shall be used which is designed for a sustained yield. No clear cutting of trees shall be permitted. In no case shall more than 30% of the trees in any tree harvesting area be removed during any one tree harvesting operation. The forestry management plan shall contain all of the information required to be submitted for a tree-removal permit as specified in Chapter 24, Tree Preservation and Protection.

No tree harvesting shall be permitted in areas where tree harvesting has occurred in the past and the remaining trees have not reached merchantable size as determined by the New Jersey Bureau of Forest Management or a consultant forester who is a graduate of an accredited school of forestry. No tree harvesting shall be permitted in areas where existing access roads, skid trails, stream crossings, landings and other disturbed areas have not been restored or replanted in conformance with this chapter or prior approvals for tree harvesting.

For the purpose of enforcement, the staging by area of a tree harvesting operation may be required. All restoration requirements shall be completed in one designated area before tree harvesting in a subsequent area shall be permitted except that access roads to the subsequent area may be preserved for the duration of that operation.

The number and length of access roads and the number of stream crossings shall be kept to a minimum clearance width and shall be curvilinear in layout so as not to create an open corridor effect.

Except where it is necessary to cross a stream, access roads shall not be permitted within 200 feet of a stream, watercourse or wetland.

Landings shall not be located in poorly drained areas or closer than 200 feet of any stream, watercourse or within 100 feet of a public right-of-way.

Tree harvesting shall not be permitted within 100 feet of a public right-of-way, stream, watercourse or wetland, or within 50 feet of a property line or on slopes in excess of 30%. Trees shall be directionally felled away from such areas.

No access roads shall be located on lands in excess of a 30% slope.

Fire access roads shall be kept open at all times and no tree harvesting shall be permitted on Class 5 or above Class 5 fire days. All power equipment shall have spark arresters or mufflers.

No tree harvesting shall be permitted on Sundays or legal New Jersey holidays.

All hangers shall be removed and no slash shall be left in areas where tree harvesting is not permitted. All slash shall be cut to be no higher than six feet from the ground.

At the termination of tree harvesting, all access roads, stream crossings, landings and primary skid trails shall be regraded and stabilized with vegetation. Where necessary, drainage diversion devices and other protective improvements shall be installed to prevent soil erosion, and access roads shall be closed by boulders or otherwise to prevent access by vehicles.