Columbiana County Family Named Outstanding Tree Farmers
LISBON, Ohio -- The Coldwell family of southern Columbiana County has won the 2014 Ohio Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year award from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Coldwells have managed their woodlands since the mid-1980s.
“Healthy and productive forests are essential to Ohio’s economic and environmental well-being because, in addition to wood and timber production, they help to protect air, water and soil and they provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and aesthetics,” said Robert Boyles, state forester and chief of the department division of forestry.
Forestry practices that improve the health and productivity of the woodlands include control of grapevines and invasive species, thinning to release crop trees, selective tree harvesting and tree planting in open fields. With the addition of their own band sawmill, the Coldwells not only can produce regular lumber but also sell their character wood as a specialty market, making use of low-grade or cull trees that normally would go to waste. The Coldwells actively manage and encourage a diverse wildlife population, ODNR says.
The farm is certified by the American Tree Farm System as meeting its standards for woodland stewardship. This designation shows that significant effort has been made to provide a renewable resource in a sustainable manner while maintaining a healthy forest that protects water, wildlife and recreational values.
A public field day is planned for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Coldwell Family Tree Farm to highlight their conservation practices with demonstrations, and forestry and wildlife experts will attend.
The Ohio Tree Farm Program was organized in 1946 to bring foresters and landowners together to apply the ATFS standards of sustainable forest management. The system encompasses 1,700 woodland owners across Ohio who are committed to caring for their land under a comprehensive plan developed by a professional forester.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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