Aitkin County Landowners Recognized for Forest Stewardship
Aitkin SWCD Hosts Forest Certification Tour
 

Aitkin, MN (9/17/07) - Aitkin, MN  - The Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) hosted a forestry workshop on Saturday, September 8th. The workshop featured a tour of forestry practices and recent logging operations.  The day also included recognition of the Aitkin County landowners who recently had their forests certified through the SWCD’s group certification program. The tour was held at Roger Howards property.  Roger is a member of the group certification program.
 
“The group certification program offers woodland owners the opportunity to practice forest stewardship and market certified products,” says Dennis Thompson, District Forester with the Aitkin County SWCD.
 
The certification confirms that the forest management meets the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an internationally recognized certification program.  
 
Woodland owners in Aitkin County who have a Forest Stewardship Plan are eligible to join the SWCD's certification program.
 
The SWCD's group certification project has been supported with assistance from Dovetail Partners and by funding from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources and a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service-USDA.
 

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Pictured from left to right are: Bob Kangas, Steve Hughes, Julie Hughes, Doug Landsverk, Dawn Coughlin, Brian Coughlin, Roger Howard, Linda Howard, Roger Goeschel, and Dennis Thompson. Other certified landowners not pictured are: Courtney Fields, Marv Midthun, Dennis Miller, Mike Monson, William Schmidt, Doug Solseth, and Keith Spading.

For more information:

Dennis Thompson, Aitkin SWCD 218-927-6565, dennis.thompson@mn.nacdnet.net

For previous news about the project, click here.