(a) A person who owns timberlands that are to be devoted to uses other than the growing of timber shall file an application for conversion with the board. The board shall, by regulation, prescribe the procedures for, and the form and content of, the application. An application for a timberland conversion permit shall be accompanied by an application fee, payable to the department, in an amount determined by the board pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) The board shall establish, by regulation, a system of graduated timberland conversion permit fees to finance the cost of administering this article.
(c) For purposes of this section, “growing of timber” shall include restoration and conservation forest management activities, which may include the removal of commercial species, if necessary to achieve specific forest health and ecological goals, including the restoration and conservation of oak woodlands, grasslands, wet meadows, and other ecologically important or unique habitats, that are not conducted in conjunction with the cutting or removal of trees or other forest products during the conversion of timberlands for other uses, including, but not limited to, residential or commercial developments, production of other agricultural crops, recreational developments, ski developments, water development projects, and transportation projects.