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What Landowners and Others are Saying About SFN's Group Certification Program

“I got involved in sustainable forestry because I'm interested in managing my forest in a way that closely resembles natural processes. Making money isn't my only goal, although it is one of them. I also want to provide wildlife habitat, restore native ecosystems, and live in a place that I enjoy being in. I got involved with SFN because I found its goals and vision compatible with mine.”

Tony Bland, certified landowner, Mississippi

“Southern landowners want to practice forestry that protects ecosystems, and consumers are demanding sustainable forest products, but current markets in the region just don’t support it. Forest management focused on quantity rather than quality has resulted in reduced profitability for landowners, lower quality wood, and reduced competitiveness for our region’s industry. SFN’s Group Certification Program is empowering family forest owners in the South to participate in a new market that can help us conserve our forests while restoring our forest industry’s competitiveness.”

Don Handley, professional consulting forester, Handley Forestry Services, South Carolina

Don has over 50 years in the timber industry, and helped write the FSC’s forestry standards for the Southern region.

“FSC certification recognizes the excellent forest practices we insist on and provides access to good markets for our products.  Group certification reduces our costs and simplifies the process, too.  We’ve been stewards of this land for thirty years and our children want to keep our farm and forest productive into the future. Affordable certification and strong markets for FSC certified forest products will help us do that.” 

Harry Groot, founder and CEO, Blue Ridge Forest Cooperative, Virginia

"The Nature Conservancy is pleased to be a part of the FSC pilot.  The lands enrolled by TNC are managed for long-term conservation, rather than timber production, providing an additional set of land management goals to the project.  Through TNC's involvement landowners may become more familiar with alternative, yet economically viable management goals and methods in addition to timber production, that focus on conservation value, wildlife habitat, ecological health and biodiversity protection."

Matthew Miller, The Nature Conservancy, Mississippi

"As forest landowners we knew we needed to manage our property well but were frustrated because most management practices we were reading about were financially motivated. This did not correspond with our values.  We want to be part of a communal effort to improve things in the forest environment in addition to enjoying the economic benefits associated with forest management.  The support materials and the network SFN provides have allowed us to do that.”

Jim and Kathleen Sullivan, certified landowners, Mississippi

“Thanks to the SFN and our FSC certification, we can now practice forestry on our farm like we have long desired. We are able to selectively harvest trees and still live in a forest, not a clear cut. Through the Blue Ridge Forest Cooperative, we’re joining others to add value and market our responsibly harvested forest products all thanks to SFN and the FSC label.”

Jim Minick, certified landowner, Virginia

"This group certification program gives interested landowners with small to medium-sized holdings a cost-effective means to have their forest management activities validated by a third-party.  Additionally, as a consulting forester I was gratified that my silvicultural prescriptions on the tracts we considered were already compatible with the program."

Stephen Whitfield, Registered Forester, Whitfield Forestry Consultants, North Carolina