Forest Landowners_Content Page_Woodland Owner Orgs

Woodland Owner Organizations

American Tree Farm® System

Logo for the American Tree Farm System.

The ATFS is committed to sustaining forests, watersheds and healthy habitats through the power of private stewardship. The ATFS has established standards and guidelines to meet to become a certified tree farm. As part of these standards, private forest owners must develop a management plan based on these standards and own ten or more contiguous forested acres. Landowners already enrolled in an ATFS group certification program (such as the Wisconsin DNR Managed Forest Law program) are automatically considered certified tree farmers.

Private forest landowners interested in becoming tree farmers can contact the Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee or their local DNR forester. If necessary, foresters can work with landowners to schedule an inspection visit by an ATFS certified tree farm inspector at no charge to the landowner. Certified tree farmers can display the tree farm sign and are eligible to participate in the ATFS Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year recognition program. Certified tree farmers can also subscribe to the American Tree Farmer magazine, and receive notices of conferences, conventions, field days and study tours on forestry.

For information on tree farming in Wisconsin, contact:

Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee
PO Box 285
Stevens Point WI 54481
715-252-2001

Email: witreefarm@gmail.com
Website: witreefarm.org [exit DNR]

Cooperative Development Services

Logo for Cooperative Development Services.

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is a nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. It has assisted in the development of over 15 sustainable forest owner cooperatives and associations and promoted sustainable forestry practices by family woodland owners in the upper Midwest since January 1998. The goal of these local initiatives is to provide family forest owners with good returns on the sale of forest products while maintaining or improving the ecological and aesthetic condition of their woods.

CDS assists new and established groups of woodland owners with:

  • developing business plans;
  • strategic planning;
  • grant and loan procurement;
  • member recruitment; and
  • other technical assistance.

Cooperative Development Services
Bob Olson
131 West Wilson St Suite 402
Madison WI 53703
651-265-3682

Email: bolson@cdsus.coop
Website: cdsus.coop  [exit DNR]

Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA)

An updated logo for the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.

Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA) is a nonprofit [501(c)(3)], educational association by and for private woodland owners in Wisconsin. Let WWOA assist you in keeping your woods healthy! WWOA offers year-round educational opportunities for new and experienced private woodland owners who want to learn more about all aspects of their woodlands. Local members also open their woodlands for free tours so others can share the experience of owning woods and see how they have enhanced their land for wildlife, clean water, healthy trees and recreational experiences.

WWOA publishes the quarterly, award-winning magazine Wisconsin Woodlands and the biannual News from Wisconsin's Woods newsletter. WWOA sponsors workshops, conferences, field days and a three-day annual meeting held each year in September. WWOA chapters, found throughout Wisconsin, are a great way to learn more about local issues and meet neighboring woodland owners.

WWOA serves on various statewide committees representing private woodland owners' interests, including legislation, sustainable science and broader natural resource issues. This helps keep members up to date on information in these areas.

Let WWOA help you find the resources you need to enhance your woods and keep it healthy. Visit our website at wisconsinwoodlands.org  [exit DNR] to learn more and contact us for a free information packet with a copy of Wisconsin Woodlands.

Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association
Nancy Bozek, Executive Director
PO Box 285
2000 Maria Drive
Stevens Point WI 54481-0285
715-346-4798

Email: wwoa@uwsp.edu
Website: wisconsinwoodlands.org  [exit DNR]

Wisconsin Forestry Cooperatives

A highly stylized piece of art, featuring a path winding through a forest.

There is currently one woodland owner cooperative providing forestry services in Wisconsin. It provides a range of services to members, including land stewardship education, development of woodland management plans, sustainable harvesting, processing and marketing. 

Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative (serving northeastern Wisconsin)
6063 Baker Lake Rd
Conover WI 54519
715-479-8528
Fax: 715-479-8528

Email: partnersinforestry@gmail.com
Website: partnersinforestry.com  [exit DNR]