The Community Forestry Resource Center established by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes responsible forest management through collaboration, support and assistance to sustainable forestry cooperatives and associations of private forest owners. There is increasing interest by private forest owners to protect their forests from over harvesting and mismanagement. Forestry cooperatives and organizations are proving to be effective ways for forest owners to proactively pursue good forest management. For example, landowners in Wisconsin and Minnesota have banded together to form new generation cooperatives. Forestry certification programs provide these cooperatives a means to assure responsible forest management.
Certification has broad benefits for forest owners and cooperatives.
Improved forest management and access to new markets are two tangible benefits that are already being realized by existing forestry cooperatives. Community Forestry Resource Center has been collaborating with existing Sustainable Forestry Cooperatives and associations in North America since 1998 to develop resources and infrastructure to help facilitate their healthy development. Background information from other Community Forestry Groups. Referrals for business planning, feasibility studies and financing. Samples of incorporation documents, bylaws, funding proposals and other materials.