What are Cooperating Foresters?

Cooperating Foresters are private consulting or private industry foresters that have received training from the Center for management and certification and are approved by the Center to work with forest landowners on the development of forest management plans. These foresters are trained on the specific standards to meet the Forest Stewardship Council® and the American Tree Farm System as well as the policies and procedures to maintain certification in the Center's group.

Why do I have to use one?

The Center utilizes Cooperating Foresters to reduce the cost of audits on potential group members.  The Center assumes that by the use of a Cooperating Forester many of the requirements of certification have already been met. For example, when submitting a landowner's management plan to the Center it is assumed that a Cooperating Forester will have updated management plans to reflect searches of a reputable database for rare, threatened, and endangered species as well as archaeological sites.  Cooperating Foresters will have already been trained on the specific type of forest stand treatments (timber harvests) that are permitted under the certification standards.  By knowing ahead of time that the Cooperating Forester has completed these tasks the Center can reduce the cost in terms of auditing to the landowner by assuming compliance in these requirements.

How much do they cost?

Cooperating Foresters are private individuals and firms and set their own rates for services. Cooperating Foresters are trained on the minimum requirements to meet certification and can give landowners cost estimates to prepare management plans, conduct inventories, and any other task to get certified. These payments and fees to Cooperating Foresters are separate and in addition to the fees to maintain membership in the group detailed in the Forest Management Section of the website.

How to become a Cooperating Forester?

If you’re interested in becoming a Cooperating Forester please contact the Forest Section Administrator gracey@uky.edu or 859-257-0174.  Landowners interested in certification can inform their forester want to get their lands certified and encourage them to contact the Center to become a Cooperating Forester.