It started in 1950 when 28 landowners received signs recognizing their outstanding contributions in caring for their property. This is more land than what is contained in the White Mountain National Forest and represents 25 percent of the privately owned land in the state. In the early years, the first Tree Farms were clustered in the north country. Now all counties have Tree Farms ranging in size from as small as 10 acres that provide firewood, some income, recreation and enjoyment for the homeowner to as large as thousands of acres owned by forest industry. It has done more to advance good forestry in the state than any other private or public effort.
Tree Farmers keep New Hampshire green.
In this state, unlike many western states, healthy forests and environmental quality rely on the actions of private individuals. Eighty-four percent of New Hampshire is forested and more than three quarters of this forest land is owned privately. In the northeast, forest ownership is largely a private phenomenon. The Tree Farm program recognizes landowners who manage the forest as a whole using a multiple use approach. All of us benefit.