We’d like to share some insight and information about an association that has toiled in the trenches for private forest landowners for more than 75 years. We are delighted to be associated with this group, and encourage our readers who are forest landowners or have an interest in the health and well-being of private forestland in the USA to consider membership in this fine organization.
The Forest Landowners Association
The Forest Landowners Association (www.forestlandowners.com) was founded as the “Forest Farmers Association” in 1941 in Jacksonville, Florida, by a group of timberland owners who wanted a stronger voice in matters affecting their business. The 1940s, like today, was a time when the best interests of timberland owners were threatened by unfavorable legislative action. Since then FLA has grown into a vocal advocacy group, providing collective muscle behind the voices of forest landowners who provide us with a wealth of natural resources (wood, water, wildlife, clean air, recreation) across the United States.
Forest Landowners Association (FLA) membership is diverse, consisting of small non-industrial private landowners, large institutional forestland investors, industrial forestry organizations, consulting foresters, lenders, and academics – anyone with a stake in the health of America’s private forests. The Association provides a variety of ways for its members to share concerns and core values, and is especially active in legislative issues that affect forestry and the forest landowner.
In a recent Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C., FLA identified key issues that affect forest landowners when it comes to managing their working forests. These issues, explained in detail at www.forestlandowners.com, focus on several guiding principles:
- FLA believes that the maintenance of free and open markets is vital to the preservation of private forests.
- FLA believes that society cannot reap the numerous benefits of forests without secure private property rights.
- FLA believes federal tax policies based on equality and certainty are required to encourage the nation’s private forest landowners to make sustained, long-term capital investments in forest management.
Forest America
The Forest Landowners Association is a hands-on entity that provides a wealth of information about the issues that affect forest landowners as well as opportunities to participate in activities that address these issues and concerns. Periodic board meetings, regional events and an annual national conference provide valuable networking opportunities and educational updates on trends in the forest community. Recently, FLA was instrumental in the development of the Forest America website (www.forestamerica.org), “an initiative among private forest landowners and those representing all aspects of forestry to promote the management, stewardship and sustainability of America’s forests. Forest America is committed to continuous improvement and supporting U.S. private forest landowners’ efforts to increase confidence and trust in today’s management and sustainability of working forests.”
Since its unveiling, Forest America has served as a valuable educational resource for those interested in staying abreast of forestry issues.
FORECON is pleased to be actively involved on both the regional and national levels with the Forest Landowners Association, and encourages all who have an interest in keeping America’s private forestlands healthy and economically viable to consider joining this great organization. For further information, please visit the FLA website at www.forestlandowners.com. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at FORECON should you have any questions.