Vermont Woodlands Association

VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION'S (VWA) MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PRACTICES OF PRODUCTIVE STEWARDSHIP, USE, AND ENJOYMENT OF VERMONT'S WOODLANDS. WE ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY DELIVERING PROGRAMS FOR LANDOWNERS, THE PUBLIC, AND POLICYMAKERS THAT SUPPORT FOREST HEALTH, FOREST ECONOMY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, RECREATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF FORESTS FOR TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ONE OF VWA'S PROGRAMS IS THE VERMONT TREE FARM PROGRAM, A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM UNDER AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION'S AMERICAN TREE FARM SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM GIVES FAMILY FOREST OWNERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR WOODLANDS SUSTAINABLY. WITH OVER 80% OF VERMONT'S FORESTS PRIVATELY OWNED, VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION ENVISIONS A FUTURE WHERE VERMONT'S PRIVATE FORESTS REMAIN INTACT AND HEALTHY, SUPPORTED BY AN INFORMED AND INSPIRED CONSTITUENCY. FOUNDED IN 1917, VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST FORESTRY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY

WOODLAND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION- VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION OFFERS YEAR-ROUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CITIZENS, LANDOWNERS, YOUTH, PROFESSIONALS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COMMUNICATE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FORESTS, HIGHLIGHT EXEMPLARY ACTIONS OF WOODLAND OWNERS AND MANAGERS, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON THE RANGE OF CHALLENGES FACING FOREST LANDOWNERS AND MANAGERS TODAY, SUCH AS CLIMATE RESILIENCY, EMERGING CARBON MARKETS, LEGACY PLANNING, INVASIVE FOREST PESTS, AND PLANTS. THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE FOREST DEPENDS ON MANAGEMENT. VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION PROVIDES WORKSHOPS, WALKS, AND WEBINARS HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN SUPPORTING THE FULL RANGE OF VALUES WE DERIVE FROM OUR FORESTS- FROM CLEAN WATER AND AIR TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND STORAGE TO WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FOREST PRODUCTS. IN 2022, VWA OFFERED OVER 35 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.

VERMONT TREE FARM PROGRAM- VERMONT TREE FARM PROGRAM IS A LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM OF THE VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION THAT PROVIDES THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION THAT FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MEET A HIGH STANDARD OF SUSTAINABILITY. THE VERMONT TREE FARM PROGRAM IS PART OF THE AMERICAN TREE FARM SYSTEM. VERMONT TREE FARMERS MANAGE THEIR FORESTS TO PRODUCE WOOD, CLEAN WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND A RANGE OF OTHER OBJECTIVES. TREE FARMERS SHARE A UNIQUE COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING WATERSHEDS AND WILDLIFE HABITATS, CONSERVING SOIL, AND PROVIDING RECREATION, AND AT THE SAME TIME PRODUCING WOOD PRODUCTS ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS. VERMONT HAS OVER 450 CERTIFIED TREE FARMS TOTALING 156,000 ACRES.

WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP SUPPORT (MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM)- VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION IS A STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION. OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE FOREST LANDOWNERS, FORESTERS, NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS, FORESTRY AND WOOD PRODUCTS BUSINESSES, AND FRIENDS. WE OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BRING MEMBERS TOGETHER TO LEARN, NETWORK, AND GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR WOODLAND. IN ADDITION, VWA SUPPORTS MEMBER ADVOCACY BY INFORMING OUR MEMBERSHIP OF FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION THAT COULD IMPACT PRIVATE FOREST LANDOWNERS. VWA COMMUNICATES WITH OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS THROUGH A WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER, WEEKLY POLICY UPDATES, A QUARTERLY PRINT NEWSLETTER, AND A COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TO NORTHERN WOODLANDS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE CENTER FOR NORTHERN WOODLANDS EDUCATION. OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM REACHES OVER 800 INDIVIDUALS AND IMPACTS OVER 200,000 ACRES OF PRIVATELY OWNED AND MANAGED FORESTS