FOREST, WOODLANDS & TREES
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Tree Farms
The term “tree farming” was first used in the 1940s to introduce the public to sustainable forestry terminology. Farming implies continual stewardship and production of goods year after year. By linking the term “farming” with trees, foresters could communicate the concept of sustainable production of forest products over time. Tree Farming implies commitment to the land and was the philosophical opposite of the “cut-out and get-out” philosophy of the early 20th century.
Tree Farms are more than pine plantations or Christmas tree farms. Tree Farms are varied in nature and contain many different habitats and stages of forest regeneration, from seedlings to mature timber. Biodiversity is a critical component of a certified Tree Farm. Tree Farmers must maintain natural forest buffers and other aspects of conservation techniques.
