P1000542NorthWoods was recently recognized by the Forest Guild for our work in the Lydia Spitzer Demonstration Forest with our enrollment in the Forest Guild Model Forest program. The mission of the Model Forest program is to “recognize places, people, and relationships that foster sustainable forest management and demonstrate successful silviculture,” falling in perfect alignment with our own goals for the Spitzer Forest. Becoming part of the Model Forest program involved a written application, submission of management and certification documents, and a late-winter site visit with a review committee of Vermont Guild foresters.

As the review team wrote in their evaluation, “The

[NorthWoods] forest managers are thoughtful in their silvicultural approach and consider site and stand conditions when prescribing and implementing treatments… NWSC has a long and strong tradition of providing educational opportunities for resource professionals, landowners and the public.”

The Forest Guild is a 501(c)3 non-profit professional organization of foresters and allied natural resource professionals. With members nationwide, the Guild’s mission is to practice and promote responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. The Guild engages in education, training, policy analysis, research, and advocacy to foster excellence in stewardship, support practicing foresters and allied professionals, and engage a broader community in the challenges of forest conservation and management. To learn more about the Forest Guild, visit their website at http://www.forestguild.org.

Stay tuned for next month’s update on recent and upcoming work in the Spitzer Forest! And in the mean time, check out the Lydia Spitzer Demonstration Forest page to see what we’re up to.