(a) The administration of the provisions of this Article shall be under the direction of the Commissioner. The Commissioner, or his authorized agent, upon receipt of a request from a forest landowner or operator for technical forestry assistance or service, may designate forest trees for removal for lumber, veneer, poles, piling, pulpwood, cordwood, ties, or other forest products by blazing, spotting with paint or otherwise designating in an approved manner; he may measure or estimate the commercial volume contained in the trees designated; he may furnish the landowner or operator with a statement of the volume of the trees so designated and estimated; he may assist in finding a suitable market for the products so designated, and he may offer general forestry advice concerning the management of the forest.

(b) For such designating, measuring or estimating services the Commissioner may make a charge, on behalf of the Department, in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of the sale price or fair market value of the stumpage so designated and measured or estimated. Upon receipt from the Commissioner of a statement of such charges, the landowner or operator or his agent shall make payment to the Commissioner within 30 days.

(c) In those cases where the Commissioner deems it desirable to so designate and measure or estimate trees without charge, such services shall be given for the purpose of encouraging the use of approved scientific forestry principles on the private or other forestlands within the State, and to establish practical demonstrations of said principles. (1947, c. 384, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 96; 2011-145, s. 13.25(ee), (ff).)