Forest Stewardship and Certification

Responsible Staff:

Cliff O’Rear, AFF – Tree Farm Program Administrator Ashley Smith, AFA – SFI-SIC State Coordinator

Focus

Promote wise stewardship of Alabama’s natural resources and provide education opportunities to forest landowners to help them protect and improve their forests.

Goals

• Conduct workshops and hands-on learning experiences for forest landowners.

• Develop management plans and provide technical assistance to forest landowners.

• Provide technical training to loggers and forestry professionals to increase their understanding of sustainable forest management.

• Increase acres of certified forests by enrolling landowners in the Tree Farm Program.

“RESPONSIBLY SOURCED FIBER IS THE FOUNDATION FOR WESTROCK’S OPERATIONS AND KEY TO ACHIEVING OUR GOAL FOR PRODUCTS TO BE 100% RECYCLABLE, COMPOSTABLE OR REUSABLE BY 2025. WE WORK JOINTLY WITH THE ALABAMA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION TO ENGAGE AND CERTIFY LANDOWNERS TO THE AMERICAN TREE FARM PROGRAM, WHICH RECOGNIZES SUSTAINABLE STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES ON THEIR LAND. THE SUPPORT WESTROCK RECEIVES FROM AFA IS A CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR IN HELPING LANDOWNERS ACHIEVE THIS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION.”

Participation in Alabama’s Landscape Management Plan increased from

25% in 2021 61% in 2022 to

Over 180 in attendance at ANRC Landowner Conference where Alabama’s Tree Farm awards were presented.

Almost 500 in attendance at AFA Annual Meeting where Tree Farm Auction and Raffle were held.

Tree Farm National Leadership Conference was virtual for 2022.