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N E W S ...R E L E A S E
American Tree Farm System Recognizes
Family Forest Stewardship Plans
Approved by DNR as Meeting Certification Requirements
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the
American Tree Farm SystemŽ (ATFS) announced today that ATFS
certification universally recognizes DNR-approved multi-resource Forest
Stewardship Plans as meeting management planning requirements for
family forest landowners.
"ATFS recognition of the Forest Stewardship Plans will expedite
the process for landowners interested in applying for
certification. This should strengthen the public's confidence that
wood from Washington's
family forests is grown and harvested in an environmentally responsible
way," said Doug Sutherland, Commissioner of Public Lands.
Bob Simpson, Senior Vice
President, American Forest Foundation, the Tree Farm programs parent
organization, echoed these sentiments. "This recognition will open
the door for thousands of Washington's family forest owners seeking
affordable certification of their forest management, allowing them to
stay competitive in today's shrinking global economy," said
Simpson.
Previously, these plans met or exceeded the Tree Farm certification
standard for management plans. However, prior to today's
announcement, each individual plan still needed to be reviewed and
evaluated for approval. Today's recognition provides a programmatic
level approval for all landowners with these plans.
Forest stewardship plans help landowners to
integrate multiple resource issues in the management of the property as
a valuable legacy for future generations. These issues include: timber,
fish, wildlife, soils, water, wetlands, forest health, aesthetics,
recreation, special forest products, cultural resources, threatened and
endangered species, and wildfire hazard reduction. The plan defines a
landowner's objectives, describes the current condition of natural
resources present on the property, and outlines a ten-year action plan
to achieve the landowner's goals while maintaining and enhancing those
resources.
Washington State
is the birthplace of the American Tree Farm SystemŽ beginning with
the certification of the first Tree Farm near Montesano in Grays Harbor County in 1941. Today, the
national program includes 87,000 certified Tree Farms on 27.5
million acres in 46 states.
Family forest owners are proven dedicated stewards of
forestlands. In Washington
State, nearly
half of the privately owned forests, approximately 3.2 million acres,
are in family forest ownership. These landowners operate according
to the State's forest practices rules, among the most environmentally
responsible and protective in the nation. By following these
rules, landowners with an approved Forest Stewardship Plan, or other
forest management plan acceptable to the Tree Farm Program,
qualify for ATFS certification of forested properties of
10 or more acres.
The DNR Forest Stewardship Program,
in cooperation with Washington State University Extension, offers
landowners an 8-week Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Course which
teaches landowners how to prepare a Forest Stewardship Plan. The
course is offered at several locations statewide. The WSU Natural
Resource Extension website includes a course schedule (see http://ext.nrs.wsu.edu/forestryext).
DNR will collaborate with ATFS to promote awareness of today's
announcement. Landowners interested in learning more about Forest
Stewardship Plans or Tree Farm certification can contact the DNR
Stewardship Forester through the agency's region office, which serves
the county where their land is located. Information about DNR
regions is available at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ .
The Forest Stewardship Program provides free on-site forest management
advice to owners of five or more forested acres. The program,
administered by DNR's Small Forest Landowner
Office, is part of a nationwide landowner assistance program
financially supported by the USDA Forest Service.
Administered by Commissioner Sutherland, DNR has offered assistance
programs for family forest owners throughout the agency's fifty year
history. Sutherland is the 12th Public Lands Commissioner since
statehood in 1889.
The American Tree Farm SystemŽ (ATFS) is a national program that
promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and
outreach to private family forest landowners. ATFS is a
program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization
that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and
informed decision-making about our communities and our world.
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