About
The Florida Tree Farm Program was established in 1946 to demonstrate that Florida forest landowners were practicing sustainable forestry. The program grew in the 1980s and there were approximately 3,000 certified Tree Farms in Florida in the early 1990s. The program lost momentum in the 1990s due to economic and volunteer constraints. However, the program gained momentum again in the mid-2000s with the help of the Florida Forest Service, a few forest industry leaders, and other dedicated volunteers.
Today, the program has been revitalized by strong leadership, robust landowner outreach partnerships, and increasing industry demand for certified wood. The Florida Tree Farm Program became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2016 and is managed by volunteers from state agencies, private organizations, and Tree Farm landowners.
The program continues to demonstrate that forest landowners practice excellent stewardship. With the help of numerous inspecting foresters, Florida Forestry Association, Florida Forest Service, University of Florida, dedicated landowners, and forest industry the program is thriving. Currently, there are about 1,200 Certified Florida Tree Farms comprising over 969,000 acres. Two successful initiatives of the program include the Annual Jon Gould Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year and the Glen Harris Tree Farm Inspector of the Year Awards. A landowner tour on the selected Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year attracts many landowners and offers an excellent networking and educational opportunity to participants. Tree Farm tours are also an opportunity to recognize the many sponsors and donors that contribute to the Program.
Learn more about the activities and accomplishments of the Florida Tree Farm Program on our page with the Florida Forestry Association
Resources
Florida Forest Service
The Florida Forest Service works to protect and manage the forest resources of Florida, ensuring that they will be available for future generations. They manage 1 million acres of state forests for multiple public uses, including timber, recreation and wildlife habitat. They provide technical information and grant programs to landowners to help them improve their forestland. Through wildfire prevention and suppression we work to protect homeowners from the hreat of damage in a natural, fire-dependent environment.
Florida Forestry Association
The Florida Forestry Association is forestry and advocacy professionals committed to promoting the responsible and sustainable use of our state's forest resources. Join to get connected to advocacy, education, and networking opportunities.
Florida Land Steward Program
The Florida Land Steward Program is an extension program of the University of Florida IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. The program provides educational and networking services to landowners enrolled in the Florida Tree Farm Program, Florida's Forest Stewardship Program, and anyone interested in long-term land stewardship. These services include events, webinars, a quarterly newsletter and publications on various topics, web site, social media, and regular email updates. To sign up for regular Florida Land Steward email updates, which include the latest calendar of events, news about assistance programs and other opportunities, and a link to the quarterly newsletter, send an email to fls@ifas.ufl.edu. Please include your name and a little about your interest in this service. Learn more about the Florida Land Steward Program at the link below.