N.D. Cent. Code § 15-06-38
The board of university and school lands may, in its discretion, designate any original grant lands more readily suitable for forestry than for agricultural purposes and suitable for forest management, and may direct the state forester to assume full control over the same and to apply accepted good forestry practices in the care, reforestation, fire control, and management thereof. The board may, at the end of any five-year period of such control discontinue such control and assume sole control of any lands so placed in the control of the state forester, provided that the return of such control to the board of university and school lands does not interrupt a program of forest management already in progress for which additional time is needed.
N.D.C.C. § 15-06-38