Download PDF   Download doc

GOALS

Use educational tools and other outreach techniques to raise public understanding of sustainable forestry.

Ensure private landowners have current information about sustainable forest management

Promote the training and education of Tree Farm inspectors.

Provide funding sources to meet the needs of the Tree Farm program.

Coordinate Montana Tree Farm Program with other forestland owner organizations.

Monitor measure and report the performance of our members in achieving a commitment to sustainable forestry.

Coordinate Montana Tree Farm System program activities with American Tree Farm System and American Forest Foundation programs.

Promote cooperation with other natural resource based organizations.

Work with landowners and cooperators to better position Montana Tree Farmers for future forest certification issues.

OBJECTIVES

Inspect all Montana Tree Farms on a five year cycle and promote updating forest management plans.

Re-inspect all national random sample Tree Farm inspections.

Recruit and engage professional foresters to Tree Farm inspectors.

Hold annual inspector training and refresher sessions.

Develop a budget to meet the needs of the Tree Farm program.

Award at least one college scholarship to high school graduating seniors or current college student interested in studying forest or natural resource issues.

Update and maintain all records on current Montana Tree Farms.

Inform current tree farm members by publishing a periodic newsletter on key forest management issues.

Identify funding sources to cover operating expenses not covered by program capital investment funds.

Support continued Stewardship/Tree Farm program coordination, including development of an efficient combined Tree Farm / Stewardship re-inspection process that meets Federal Stewardship verification guidelines.

Hold an annual meeting, recognizing outstanding tree farmers and inspectors and updating members on current forest management issues.

Support Montana forest products infrastructure and public awareness.

2008 PROGRAM

Complete 100% of sample inspections by deadline established by ATFS.

Eliminate backlog of Tree Farms that have not been inspected in the last five years.

Inspect all Tree Farms due for 5-year re-inspection.

Award scholarship(s) to at least one outstanding college student.

Certify ten (10) new tree farms.

Hold an annual meeting including a field trip to view forest management practices and recognize outstanding tree farmers and inspectors.

Hold one inspector-training session for new and current tree farm inspectors.

Publish a semi-annual newsletter on current forest related issues, one of which will be a “Family Forest Edition” that is distributed to all Montana Forest Stewardship graduates, Montana Forestland Owners Association members and Tree Farm members

Maintain the National Tree Farm data base.

Prepare a program budget. Complete an annual internal audit of the financial records.

Continue to distribute new member packets to new Tree Farmers.

Send as many members to the National leadership workshop as budgets will allow.

Develop a small grant request for the year 2009.

Maintain two Tree Farm Forestry Ecosystem Learning Center sites. Maintain and update master list of Tree Farm Inspectors. Include certification expiration date

on their mailing label.

Continue to update and improve Tree Farm display board and get it out for public display.

Maintain and update Website.

Develop and maintain historical archives of the Montana Tree Farm program.

Complete the re-publish of the "Call Before you Cut" brochure and distribute to 100 real estate agencies in western Montana.

Develop Montana Tree Farm informational brochure.

Keep the Montana Tree Farm membership informed of issues at the national ATFS level.

Monitor and communicate pertinent issues to Tree Farmers.

Continue the inspector incentive program.

Support the Forest Mini-College. Recruit at least 2 Tree Farmers as members of the Steering Committee.

Publish an annual newsletter to our Tree Farm inspectors to better keep them informed of Tree Farm issues.

Establish an improved Tree Farm record keeping system, including a folder for each tree farm with past inspection history and a copy of the management plan.

Cooperate with local Chamber of Commerce’s on natural resource issues such as annual “Timber Tours”

Support the Master Forest Steward Program, including implementation of the Small Grant award to sponsor a landowner workshop.

Participate in Montana Forest Owners Association meetings.

Participate in the EQUIP Technical Working Group.

Participate in the Montana Forest Stewardship Council