Pledge by Society of American Foresters
Educate and Empower Forestry and Natural Resources Professionals
Supporting actions: Sustainable Forestry, Science and Technical Assistance, Workforce Development, Environmental Education,
Forestry and related natural resources professionals are key allies in the global goal of conserving, restoring, and growing one trillion trees by 2030. Through science-based, professional management, we can collectively keep more forests as forests, grow more trees, and ensure the health and sustainability of forested landscapes in perpetuity.
The Society of American Foresters (SAF) pledges to educate and empower forestry and natural resources professionals by providing the science, resources, and connections necessary to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing our public and private forests.
SAF also pledges to serve as a resource to our partner organizations and all supporters of 1t.org who want to advance sustainable forest management to ensure thriving forests and strong communities.
SAF is a 121-year-old professional association representing over 9,000 forestry and related natural resources professionals across the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, SAF promotes science-based, sustainable management and stewardship of the nation’s forested landscapes.
Science and education are at the heart of everything we do—from shaping the future of forestry and natural resources education through accreditation to advancing the science and practice of forestry through peer-reviewed journals, advanced certifications, continuing education, grants, and the SAF Code of Ethics.
Working with and through private landowners, federal and state agencies, tribes, nonprofits, and local communities, SAF members provide a direct connection to science-based solutions to complex challenges across all forest ownerships.
Ultimately, SAF strives to ensure that forested landscapes are managed to the highest standard by professionals who are also held to the highest standard and encouraged to learn and grow throughout their careers.
SAF’s main partners in this pledge are SAF leaders across our local, state, and regional units. At each level, SAF units collaborate with partner organizations to transfer knowledge and engage communities. At a national level, SAF coordinates efforts and leverages resources from partners that include but are not limited to:
USDA Forest Service
National Association of State Foresters
American Forests
American Forest Foundation
Association of Consulting Foresters
National Alliance of Forest Owners
Project Learning Tree
International Society of Arboriculture
The Nature Conservancy
Sustainable Forestry and Science: SAF’s foundational commitment to forest research and its dissemination underlies all that we do. For 70+ years, our peer-reviewed journals—Journal of Forestry and Forest Science—have created the space for forest research to be highlighted and shared around the world.
In 2019, we launched ForestEd, a virtual learning platform, to enable our members and interested stakeholders to easily access diverse continuing education opportunities including in-depth courses, working group webinars and discussions, and recorded technical presentations. Programming throughout the year on ForestEd and at our annual national convention brings together researchers, practitioners, students, and industry leaders to discuss contemporary challenges and solutions to today’s most pressing forestry issues.
Through these publications and activities, we facilitate the sharing of the latest scientific information, new tools, and emerging technologies to support sustainable forest management and help practitioners continuously improve their understanding and management of forested landscapes.
Workforce Development: Current and future generations of forest management professionals will need to have a broad understanding of technical and social skills. SAF accredits forestry, urban forestry, natural resources and ecosystem management, and forest technology programs throughout the US and Canada—helping to usher in new generations of forest management professionals grounded in technical skills, land ethic, and professional ethics. Our Certified Forester® and Candidate Certified Forester® credentials are an added layer of commitment to continuing education and professional recognition. In addition, SAF annually reviews programming for over 1,000 workshops and meetings to issue continuing education credits supporting professionals through their lifelong learning journey.
Environmental Education: SAF is not only committed to the professional development of forestry and related natural resources professionals but also to sharing important information on the benefits of forests and forests management with public stakeholders. Annually, SAF awards between $40,000 to $80,000 dollars in grant funds through the Foresters’ Fund to support local unit efforts to promote forestry education and enhance public understanding of forest management. In addition, ForestEd’s growing library of online resources covering a broad range of forestry topics are available to members and nonmembers alike.
SAF’s mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology, promoting professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.