Forest management planning for the Dufferin County Forest has three levels of increasing detail: a twenty year management plan and executive summary, a five year operating plan and executive summary, and an annual report and work schedule. The twenty year management plan provides a general goal and objectives for the long-term management of the Forest. The five year operating plan and the annual work schedule provide more details on the operational activities that will be conducted in each period. The annual report is a summary of the year's activities and is distributed widely throughout the community, as well as to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In conjunction with the twenty year management plan, a background report was produced that gives more detail about the current resources of the Dufferin County Forest and its management history.

In the development of both the management plan and the operating plan, the public is given the opportunity to participate in the process and give suggestions and guidance as to the management strategies for the Forest. In both cases, open houses are held in local communities to inform residents about the development of the plans and to solicit their input. These open houses are advertised in the local papers, as well as through a large mailing that includes all of the landowners neighbouring the County Forest. In the case of the twenty year management plan, a Forest Advisory Team is established to participate in the planning process. This Team includes representatives from the stakeholder groups that use the Forest as well as members of the public at large.