How do I get my property certified?
What is a TREASURE Forest Certification?
The TREASURE Forest Award is earned by private landowners who display their commitment to manage their forestland for multiple-uses on a sustainable basis. This recognition program includes a numbered and signed TREASURE Forest certificate, a TREASURE Forest sign to display on the property, and a TREASURE Forest hat. When the award is given, the land is called a Certified TREASURE Forest and the landowner is called a TREASURE Forest Landowner.
In the 1970s, under the direction of State Forester Bill Moody, the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee (now the Alabama Natural Resource Council) created the TREASURE Forest Program as a way to recognize landowners who went “above and beyond” in the way they cared for their forest land. This program has continued for nearly fifty years as the premier recognition program for Alabama forest landowners.
Later in the 1990s, the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association was started as an independent organization to support TREASURE Forest landowners. Our association was not created as a requirement for certification, but as a resource for landowners interested in becoming certified and as a support group for certified landowners. ATFA has served as a conduit of information for landowners to help them better manage their property as well as supporting the certification program. As such, you do not have to be a certified TREASURE Forest landowner, or a landowner at all, to be a member of the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association (Click here for Membership information) and you do not have to be a member of the ATFA to receive your certified TREASURE Forest designation.
Six Steps to a Certified TREASURE Forest
The following TREASURE Forest Minimum Standards and Basic Guidelines are designed to help landowners, natural resource managers, and others involved in promoting the TREASURE Forest Program know what level of achievement is required to earn the TREASURE Forest Awards.
Anyone owning ten or more acres of forestland can receive the TREASURE Forest Award. To be eligible, a landowner must do the following with respect to all their forestland in Alabama.
- Identify one primary and at least one secondary management objective for the property based on the following list of choices (Generally, the primary objective accomplishments are more intensive and should reflect a higher percentage of the work performed on the property):
2. Possess a written multiple-use forest management plan for the property.
3. Actively practice multiple-use forest management plan on the property consistent with TREASURE Forest Minimum Standards and Basic Guidelines.
4. The property must be nominated by a member with one of the member agencies or groups of the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee. Nomination forms can be found at the bottom of this page.
5. The property must be inspected by a registered forester and a wildlife biologist. This will be arranged for you a no cost.
6. The nomination and inspection report must be submitted to the TREASURE Forest Subcommittee of the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee for review and approval.
For help with forest management plan and activity, contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office.
If you would like to be considered for the Certified TREASURE Forest award, or know someone who may qualify, contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office or other member agency/group of the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee. They will be happy to assist you with any step in the process.
To nominate someone for the TREASURE Forest Award, please complete the form below.