In response to the request by the West Virginia Forestry Association’s board of directors’ request, Mona Griswold - as Chair of the WV Tree Farm Committee - made a presentation on the foundations and background of the Tree Farm Program. The following are excerpts from her remarks:
Enter the American Tree Farm System [ATFS] -
* Started in 1941 in response to poor land taxation policies, fire prevention issues and concerns about government intervention. "From its inception, the tree farm program focused on fire prevention outreach and support for self-regulation of privately owned forestland."
* First Tree Farm was 120,000 acre Weyerhaeuser property in Washington State.
* Tree Farm name started as a way for people to understand forestry by relating it to an agricultural crop.
* American Forest Product Industries (AFPI) sponsored program in 1942.
* Currently sponsored by the American Forest Foundation (AFF).
There are approximately 82,000 family forests and 24 million acres in the program.
Present Day US Forest Facts -
* There are approximately 22 million family forest owners in the United States.
* These family forest owners are responsible for approximately 35% of America’s forestland.
By comparison, the U.S. government owns approximately 33% of our nation’s forestland.
Why Tree Farms Are Important -
* 25% of clean water originates in private forests
* 60% of all at-risk species rely on private forests
92% of wood and fiber comes from private forests
