Forests are a critical part of New York State's past, present and future. Currently, 62 percent of New York State is forested. The bulk of that forest land is owned by private landowners - about 700,000 in all.

Besides being a source of abundant, high quality timber and home to diverse plant and wildlife populations, New York's forests buffer the headwaters of three major rivers in the East - the Susquehanna, Hudson and Delaware - and are the source of an unfiltered public water supply that feeds 10 million consumers in the New York City area. Within the Adirondack and Catskill State Parks, New York manages the largest public tracts of "Forever Wild" wilderness land in the U.S. Those and other forest lands across the state provide unmatched recreational opportunities to millions of people each year.

Wood from the forests of New York have helped build the nation and, in fact, is exported all over the world. New York ranks only second to Pennsylvania in hardwood lumber production and is growing three times more trees than are being harvested.

Forests in the Empire State have served as an outdoor classroom to thousands of forestry students over the last century. In fact, three of North America's oldest and most reputable forestry schools still thrive in New York: Cornell University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (including the Ranger School), and Paul Smith's College.

The New York Society of American Foresters (NYSAF) was chartered in 1918, just 18 years after the founding of the forestry profession and our parent organization, the Society of American Foresters.

(Past NYSAF Chairs 1918 - Present)

The NYSAF is divided into five chapters: Western NY, Central NY, Iroquois, Adirondack, and Hudson Valley.

Over 450 professionals are members of NYSAF. Professional members come from varied disciplines and all business sectors, including academia, industry, public agencies, NGOs, and private consulting firms. And, at any given time, nearly one-quarter of NYSAF's membership is comprised of students.

With the many demands placed on New York's forests by residents and visitors alike, it is NYSAF's goal to ensure that future generations will benefit from the forests as much or more than the current generation.

Core Values and Mission of the Society of American Foresters