Are you a forest owner? It can be kind of scary with all the regulations, expenses, environmental consequences, and profit hanging in the balance.
If forest owner you are, consider yourself a part of a large community with a lot of influence. Nearly 10 million private forest owners "manage" timber in the United States and are responsible for a lot of wood used to make homes, furniture, paper, and for the flora and fauna that live in its shade. You are obviously interested enough to be reading this which gives you an edge up on many of those millions.
Actually, only four percent of all Americans directly own and influence American forestland and have a profound hold on its environmental potential. They most often are not armed with proper data, management information, professional forestry contacts, and usually don't have enough "plain old moral support". A grand portion of these resources can be found on the Internet - if you know where to look.
Where can you go to find this information? I think you may have just found the spot.
Before the Internet was developed, government , industry , and associations were a good bet to find forestry information . They still are a good bet now but you need to know where to find them and a contact number. There are very few groups not now available on the World Wide Web.
Let me give you an example. Say you are a new tree owner and need to find seminars, conferences, and workshops dealing with issues pertinent to the forest owner. I'll bet you don't know where to go.
Associations that represent forestry and forest owners exist both regionally and nationally. The Forest Landowners Association, Inc. (FLA) represents thousands of forest landowners from seventeen U.S. states and offers not only training material but represents you legislatively to both the state and federal government. FLA can also supply you with all types of property insurance at group rates. It is definitely worth a visit to their site.
Every timber owner has property that some governmental agency is willing to assist with its management. Let's face it, forests by their very nature, can effect more than just the owner and government has to address the broader effects.
Let us say you live or own property in the state of Alabama. You can turn to that state's forestry agency (every state has a State Forester and an associated agency) to learn more about forestry close to home. Each state supports unique growing conditions and kinds of biota. Both private and public sites in every state, like the Alabama Forest Owner's Association , are available to assist landowners in managing and gathering information about their forests. Also don't forget the U.S. Forest Service !
Last, but definitely not least in importance, is the professional. You would not, in most cases, pull your own tooth or draw up your own deed. This should be your policy when it comes to timber management.
The Association of Consulting Foresters of America, Inc. represents over 400 professionals who "consult to the public" and make your particular concerns their concerns. You do pay for these professional forestry experts but they can save you many headaches and possibly some money. Use a professional.
