Celebrating 125 Years of Forestry and Natural Resources: NWTF Conservation Leaders Present at SAF Convention

“Having the convention in New England this year was especially meaningful,” said Kaylee Szymanski, NWTF district biologist for New England. “This region is where the roots of American forestry were first established, and it continues to be a leader in balancing working forests, wildlife habitat and recreation. It was the perfect setting to celebrate 125 years of forest management.”

The Society of American Foresters is a national professional organization focused on advancing 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. The convention featured field trips to different Connecticut forest management areas, as well as presentations from universities and conservation organizations.

“The Society of American Foresters Convention is a great opportunity to network with fellow forestry professionals,” said Stacy Justice, NWTF National Forestry Initiative manager. “Attending provided an avenue to explore the forestry industry’s latest technology advances as well as current research projects. Our presentation focused on the importance of our Four Shared Values in scaled conservation.”

During the NWTF presentation, Justice spoke about the importance of healthy forests, and Szymanski talked about how wildlife management goes hand-in-hand with forest management. Szymanski also noted that proper forest management creates sustainable recreational opportunities.

Molly Pitts, NWTF forest management manager, discussed the importance of forestry for clean water and how sustainable forest management can support resilient communities. The team also spoke about the NWTF’s Wild Turkey Research Program, NWTF’s partnerships, NWTF initiatives, NWTF endowed professorships and NWTF collegiate chapters.

“The SAF Convention is a reminder of how interconnected our work is,” Szymanski said. "It takes collaboration between professionals across forestry, wildlife and water resources to truly make a lasting conservation impact.”

The NWTF staff members also met with college students during the SAF career fair. There were many forestry and natural resource management students that attended the event this year, which provided staff with the opportunity to further discuss the opportunities with the NWTF and the work that the organization accomplishes. More than a quarter of this year’s attendees were students.

“We had a busy booth throughout the entire convention and a successful career fair,” Justice said. “It is always an honor to spread the word about all the great work the NWTF is doing.”

Pitts also presented independently, focusing on the relationship between forest management and healthy watersheds.

“The NWTF is heavily involved with active forest management with over 30 foresters on staff,” Pitts said. “The SAF conference is a great opportunity to learn about new science and network with other professional foresters. The NWTF was proud to not only be a sponsor of the SAF Convention but also participate in several presentations.”

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests for future generations.