Forest Landowner Resources
Being a forest landowner can be overwhelming at times, but there are many resources available to help you develop a sustainable working forest.
Forest Certification Programs
Forest Certification Programs are designed to identify and recognize well-managed forest lands. Certifying your forest can be beneficial for helping you properly manage your forest as well as providing greater marketing opportunities when it is time to harvest.
There are several forest certification programs that share the same approaches and concerns while highlighting different issues.
- The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) provides forest certification for Non-Industrial Private Forests (NIPF) and Family Forests. The Texas Tree Farm Program is overseen by a committee that is part of the Texas Forestry Association (TFA).
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) provides forest certification for organizations and industry companies that own or manage forest lands in the United States or Canada.
- The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) provides forest certification that is a voluntary, market-based approach designed to improve forest practices worldwide.
Professional consulting foresters and land management vendors
A professional consulting forester can help you properly manage your forest land by providing services such as management plans, timber volume and value estimates, timber harvests, reforestation, prescribed burning, and many other forest management practices.
- My Land Management Connector can help you find a professional consulting forester and land management vendors in your area.
- Texas Accredited Foresters Council (TAF), Society of American Foresters (SAF) Certified Forester, and the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) are other options to help you locate a private consulting forester near you.
Texas Pro Logger
A certified Texas Pro Logger is trained in sustainable forestry practices to increase environmental awareness when conducting timber harvests. This training is provided by the Texas Logging Council.
Join a forestry association
Joining a local or state forestry association provides you with networking opportunities with local landowners and service providers, current information on natural resource politics and policies, conservation, and timber management.
Texas Forestry Association (TFA) is the statewide non-profit trade association for Texas forestry. It is guided by a conservation philosophy and offers programs for almost every Texan interested in conservation, business, history, education, wildlife, and more.
There are also several local county associations that consist of one or multiple county memberships. These local forest landowner associations provide you with excellent opportunities to meet and learn about other forest landowners and timber industry professionals located near you.