Customized Forestry for Maximum Growth & Return.

Southern Land

Management Services

Walk the Land with Billy: Clear, Profitable Forestry Plans

I’m Billy Lipthrott, a 35-year forester and former Rayonier Resource Land Manager who spent 31 years selling and stewarding timber across ten North Florida counties (St. Johns, Putnam, Clay, Marion, Union, Columbia, Baker, Nassau, Flagler, and Suwannee). I’ve planted nearly 100 million seedlings, guided stands through two full rotations, and I now bring that experience to private landowners through independent consulting focused on strong markets, healthy forests, and top-value timber sales.

Most landowners leave money on the table because their forest is managed with a “broad brush.” My approach is different: every acre is treated as its own site, evaluating soil, drainage, landscape, and understory, then matched with the right genetics and silvicultural regime. The result is faster growth, better survival, and higher net return without sacrificing stewardship.

From timber marketing and sale administration to reforestation plans, thinning/harvest scheduling, road building and maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance, I align every operation with Florida’s Best Management Practices and file the required Notice of Intent for Minor Silvicultural Systems with the Water Management Districts when applicable. If you want a clear, profitable plan for your property, built on local knowledge and proven results, I’d be glad to walk it with you and provide a free evaluation.

Healthy forests aren’t luck, they’re managed. Acre by acre, we match genetics to your soil and drainage, time harvests right, and market timber for top value while protecting water and wildlife.


Schedule a complimentary on-site evaluation and get a site-specific plan for every acre.

Timber sales: Best-price outcomes, BMP compliant operations, Florida-smart strategy

Why choose SLMS:

  • Local markets, timed right. Billy prices, positions, and times your sale for the best stumpage because when you sell can matter as much as what you sell.

  • Site-specific strategy. Every stand is evaluated by soil, drainage, landscape, and understory so the cut list, specs, and replant plan match your acres—not a generic playbook.

  • Quality loggers & clean contracts. Access to proven crews and established wood markets, with contracts designed to protect your land and your price.

  • BMP + NOI handled. Roads, access, culverts, and paperwork are planned to Florida Best Management Practices standards, including Notice of Intent for Minor Silvicultural Systems when required.

  • Start-to-finish oversight. From bid packages to scale-ticket reconciliation and close-out, Billy manages the details so you don’t have to.

Billy Lipthrott brings 35 years of Florida forestry and decades of timber-sale administration to your side of the table, combining local market know-how with on-the-ground oversight so you capture top value without the headaches.

How we can help you…

Reforestation / Silviculture

  • Overview: Long‑term productivity starts the day you replant. Billy matches genetics and density to your soil and drainage, supervises planting quality, and sets your first‑thinning targets from the start.
    Deliverables: Planting plan, vendor scope, field supervision, survival check, chemical/mechanical release plan.
    Why it matters: Correct establishment can add years of growth and product class upgrades.

Harvest Oversight & Contractor Management

  • Overview: On‑site representation ensures logging quality, safety, BMP/SMZ compliance, and aesthetics.
    Deliverables: Daily production log, photo reports, punch‑list, final inspection and sign‑off.
    Why it matters: Peace of mind and clean close‑outs.

Storm Response & Salvage

  • Overview: Wind, insects, and disease demand rapid action. Billy prioritizes safety, value recovery, and re‑establishment.
    Deliverables: Damage assessment, salvage marketing plan, contracts, reforestation prescription.
    Why it matters: Minimizes losses and resets the rotation quickly.

Timber Sales & Marketing

  • Overview: Marketing to multiple buyers with a professional bid package (or direct‑to‑mill when advantageous) secures the best stumpage price and contract terms.
    Deliverables: Cruise/readiness check, bid package, buyer list, contract, scale ticket reconciliation, close‑out.
    Why it matters: You capture market highs while protecting your land and interests.

Roads, Access & BMP Compliance

  • Overview: Access that holds up in Florida weather requires planning and the right paperwork. Billy lays out roads, specifies culverts/surfacing, coordinates NOI filings when applicable, and monitors work.
    Deliverables: Access map, specs, vendor scopes, NOI docs, inspection checklists.
    Why it matters: Keep projects moving and protect water resources.

Wildlife & Aesthetics (Optional)

  • Overview: Enhance habitat and how your property feels to walk through without hurting growth.
    Deliverables: SMZ enhancement plan, openings/edges map, species recommendations.
    Why it matters: Healthy, attractive land is more enjoyable and valuable.

Forest Inventory & Appraisal

  • Overview: Volumes by product, values by current comps, and a cut‑list strategy that aligns with stand objectives.
    Deliverables: Stand table, product mix, stumpage comps, value estimate, recommended timing.
    Why it matters: Decisions backed by numbers before you negotiate.

Thinning & Rotation Planning

  • Overview: The right thinning at the right time increases growth and stability while improving cash flow. Final harvests are timed for market and regeneration windows.
    Deliverables: Schedule with density/BA targets, revenue timing, and replant plan.
    Why it matters: Healthier stands, safer logging, and better lifetime returns.

Our Services

  • Overview: Long‑term productivity starts the day you replant. Billy matches genetics and density to your soil and drainage, supervises planting quality, and sets your first‑thinning targets from the start.
    Deliverables: Planting plan, vendor scope, field supervision, survival check, chemical/mechanical release plan.
    Why it matters: Correct establishment can add years of growth and product class upgrades.

  • Overview: Marketing to multiple buyers with a professional bid package (or direct‑to‑mill when advantageous) secures the best stumpage price and contract terms.
    Deliverables: Cruise/readiness check, bid package, buyer list, contract, scale ticket reconciliation, close‑out.
    Why it matters: You capture market highs while protecting your land and interests.

  • Overview: Volumes by product, values by current comps, and a cut‑list strategy that aligns with stand objectives.
    Deliverables: Stand table, product mix, stumpage comps, value estimate, recommended timing.
    Why it matters: Decisions backed by numbers before you negotiate.

  • Overview: On‑site representation ensures logging quality, safety, BMP/SMZ compliance, and aesthetics.
    Deliverables: Daily production log, photo reports, punch‑list, final inspection and sign‑off.
    Why it matters: Peace of mind and clean close‑outs.

  • Overview: Access that holds up in Florida weather requires planning and the right paperwork. Billy lays out roads, specifies culverts/surfacing, coordinates NOI filings when applicable, and monitors work.
    Deliverables: Access map, specs, vendor scopes, NOI docs, inspection checklists.
    Why it matters: Keep projects moving and protect water resources.

  • Overview: The right thinning at the right time increases growth and stability while improving cash flow. Final harvests are timed for market and regeneration windows.
    Deliverables: Schedule with density/BA targets, revenue timing, and replant plan.
    Why it matters: Healthier stands, safer logging, and better lifetime returns.

  • Overview: Wind, insects, and disease demand rapid action. Billy prioritizes safety, value recovery, and re‑establishment.
    Deliverables: Damage assessment, salvage marketing plan, contracts, reforestation prescription.
    Why it matters: Minimizes losses and resets the rotation quickly.

  • Overview: Enhance habitat and how your property feels to walk through without hurting growth.
    Deliverables: SMZ enhancement plan, openings/edges map, species recommendations.
    Why it matters: Healthy, attractive land is more enjoyable and valuable.

It’s your time now

“Just as trees weather seasons, find strength in your adaptability. Let your journey be a tapestry of growth, and remember, even the darkest woods have the potential for the brightest paths.”

— Sylvan, 2024