FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2006	Contact:Brigitte Johnson, APR 202.463.5163 bjohnson@forestfoundation.org

Washington, D.C. – The American Tree Farm System^® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, in partnership with BASF Corp., named Wanda and Earl Barrs of Cochran, Georgia, as the winners of the BASF Forestry Products Outstanding Achievements in Sustainable Forestry Award for 2006.  The Barrs’ received their award during the National Tree Farmer Convention in Mobile, Alabama.

The BASF award recognizes individual achievement in spreading the practice of sustainable forestry in their communities. The Barrs accomplish this through educational activities and sustainable management practices on their 1,200 acre Gully Branch Tree Farm. The forestland supports a 40 acre lake, two small ponds, a duck pond, a Carolina Bay, and many acres of bottomland hardwoods. The land also supports natural loblolly stands and mixed stands of upland and bottomland hardwoods.

For 32 years, the Barrs have merged their intense love of forestry and education to create a wealth of opportunities for forestry education. Wanda is a science educator and facilitator with Project Learning Tree® (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation. She works with forestry professionals and educators to deliver quality environmental education workshops to teachers in Georgia. Wanda was selected as one of the five Outstanding PLT Educators in the country in 1996. She was also named Georgia PLT Educator of the year in 1995 and 1990. The Barrs have opened their woods to more than 5,000 students from local school districts so they too could experience learning outside.

Earl Barr, a leader in the forestry community, is a member of the Georgia Forestry Association’s Board of Directors. He also is a board member of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Currently, he is working with leaders in power production and biomass research to promote a strong partnership for developing alternative uses for the tremendous supply of pulp wood generated in Georgia.

 “Wanda and Earl deserve this recognition,” said Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President, ATFS. “Their passion for sustainable forestry and environmental education is unparalleled. We are so fortunate that they have dedicated so much time and energy to sustainable forestry and to educating others.”

The Barrs’ vision for Gully Branch Tree Farm is to provide a living forest laboratory while promoting and growing a vital sustainable resource for present and future generations.  

For more information please contact Brigitte Johnson, APR, Director of Communications, 202.463.5163, Email bjohnson@forestfoundation.org or visit ATFS at www.treefarmsystem.org

The American Tree Farm System^® (ATFS) is a national program that promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners.  Founded in 1941, the ATFS 29 million acres of privately owned forestland and has 73,000 family forest owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife,e and recreation with assistance from 4,400 volunteer foresters.  ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and informed decision-making about our communities and our world.

The BASF Outstanding Achievements in Sustainable Forestry Award is a cooperative award between the American Tree Farm System? and BASF Corp.  The award honors an individual (or individuals) who has achieved significant results in their community by effectively reaching out to forest landowners and/or the general public to demonstrate the benefits of sustainable forestry.  This year’s winners, Wanda and Earl Barrs., was selected by five independent judges to receive the award and the $5,000 cash award from BASF. The BASF Award was presented to the Barrs at the 2006 National Tree Farmer Convention in Mobile, Ala..