Bill and Joan Arsenault - 2013 Western Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year
Oregon Tree Farmers Receive Annual Sustainable Forestry Honor Sponsored by STIHL
WASHINGTON—The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, has named Bill and Joan Arsenault of Oregon the 2013 Western Region Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year, an annual sustainable forestry honor sponsored by STIHL, Inc.
Every year, ATFS inspecting foresters and state committees nominate certified Tree Farmers whose conservation efforts, outreach efforts to their community, and advocacy for sustainable forest management exceed expectations.
Bill and Joan moved to their woodlands in 1976 and Paradise Creek Ranch was certified soon after, in 1978. A high priority for the couple is protection of water quality on their Tree Farm. There are a number of streams on their land that are classified as large fish bearing streams. Coho salmon, a species in decline, are found in some of the streams on the Tree Farm.
The Arsenaults follow best management practices including installation of fences to keep livestock out of the streams; close adherence to the Oregon Forest Practices Act’s stream protection rules; water temperature monitoring; and minimization of road surface erosion.
“Bill and Joan have been avid supporters of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. They have been involved in and promoted stream enhancement projects on Paradise Creek and beyond. Their management is guided by a stewardship ethic that gives thoughtful consideration to long term sustainability,” said Dan Newton, chief forester for the western region with the Weyerhaeuser Company.
Paradise Creek Ranch is a shining example of sustainable forest management for wood, water, wildlife and recreation. Bill and Joan and their fellow regional awardees were chosen after Tree Farm site visits by Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year inspecting forester judges. The National Tree Farmer of the Year, announced at July’s National Tree Farmer Convention in Minneapolis, is chosen from among these regional honorees, who will all attend this year’s convention and participate in a panel discussion about their sustainable forestry work.
The Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year awards are generously sponsored by STIHL, Inc., manufacturer of the number one selling brand of handheld outdoor power equipment in America. STIHL is proud to support the accomplishments of hard-working Tree Farmers from across the country. The four regional awardees will each receive a $500 Gift Certificate from STIHL and travel assistance to the National Tree Farmer Convention.
The other regional awardees are John William Bembry of Georgia, Jo Arington of Wisconsin, and Allen R. Yale, Jr. of Vermont.
Contact: Amanda Cooke, Media & Marketing Manager, acooke@forestfoundation.org or
202-463-2731.
The American Tree Farm System® is a network of 82,000 family forest owners sustainably managing 24 million acres of forestland. It is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland system in the United States, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. The American Tree Farm System® is a program of the American Forest Foundation. Learn more at www.treefarmsystem.org/awards-recognition.
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