to obtain a greater voice for small individual owners in 
local and national matters affecting their interests. This 
organization has also been an important force in the conser- 
vation of southern forests. Its first actions were directed at 
securing better markets and prices for timber for its mem- 
bers and at supporting private forest conservation efforts. 
The Forest Farmers Association has been a particularly ef- 
fective force in support of (1) greatly expanded research pro- 
grams of the Forest Service and universities, (2) forestry 
education and extension, and (3) strengthened action pro- 
grams for fire control, reforestation, and technical assis- 
tance to iandowners. 
The Forest Farmers Association also cosponsored (with the 
Southern Pine Association, Southern Hardwood Lumber 
Manufacturers Association, and American Plywood 
Association) the southern forest resource analysis project in 
1966 that resulted in a report on *‘The South’s Third 
Forest’’ (Southern Forest Resource Analysis Committee 
1969). This comprehensive study included both an impor- 
tant evaluation of progress and guidelines for future action 
to further advance the productivity of southern forests. In 
1969, a Southern Forest Resource Council was created to 
work for implementation of recommendations in this report. 
A system of tree farms also got its start in the South in 
1942, when the American Forest Products Industries As- 
sociation (now the American Forest Institute) assumed re- 
sponsibility for this voluntary industry program aimed at 
encouraging timber production by providing educational in- 
formation and recognition of good management of private 
timberlands. As of 1984, there were nearly 30,000 tree 
farms in the 12 Southern States. 
Over the years, a number of State groups starting in the 
early 1900's have also been organized to advance particu- 
lar interests. Today the State forestry associations are playing 
an important role in promoting forest protection and man- 
agement. The Furniture, Plywood, and Veneer Council (now 
the Hardwood Research Council) was established in 1953 
to promote research and education on the management and 
utilization of hardwood species. In addition to the South- 
ern Pine Association and Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers 
Association mentioned earlier, a Southeastern Pine Manu- 
facturers Institute (later merged with the Southeastern Lum- 
ber Manufacturers Association) was formed in 1954 to give 
small lumbermen a greater voice in local and national for- 
estry affairs. 
74 
A system of ‘‘Tree Farms,’’ a voluntary 
forest industry program aimed at encourag- 
ing timber production by providing 
educational information and recognition of 
good management of private timberlands, 
was started in the South in 1942. As of 
1984, there were nearly 30,000 Tree Farms 
in the 12 Southern States. 
