FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 15, 2007	Contact:Brigitte Johnson, APR 202.463.5163 bjohnson@forestfoundation.org

Washington, D.C. – The American Tree Farm System^Ò (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, has named Nancy Livingston of Adams County, Wisconsin as the 2007  North Central Regional Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.  Livingston received the award during the National Tree Farmer Convention held in Madison, Wis. This annual ATFS award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on privately owned forestland.

For nearly 30 years Nancy Livingston  has transformed the former sandy pine barren area near Hancock, WI into a premiere example of forest management and conservation. Originally founded by Nancy’s parents, Spencer and Laura Munson in 1954, The Full Cycle Tree Farm consists of 280 acres of productive forest and outdoor educational classrooms.  Named to honor the generational tradition of the property as well as the cycle of growth from seedling to marketable timber, the Full Cycle Tree Farm was placed under a written forest management plan 53 years ago and became a certified Tree Farm in 1979. Certified Tree Farmers own at least 10 acres of forestland and actively follow a forest management plan developed in partnership with an ATFS volunteer forester.  The plan addresses forest sustainability, wildlife habitat, recreation, and water and soil conservation.

Nancy Livingston’s commitment to forest management and conservation education includes the reforestation and marketing of oak and jack pines. Her property is also considered a wildlife habitat for deer, turkeys, river otter, muskrat, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. The estasblishment of a short grass prairie has allowed Livingston to add to the diversity of the habitat in the area. Planting lupine plants has created a safe haven for a small, rare form of wildlife, the Karner Blue Butterfly. The lupine plants are the only food source for the endagered Karner Blue Butterfly caterpillar.

Working with the U.S Fish and  Wildlife Service, Livingston’s property includes areas maintained as open edges for Butterfly habitat. The Full Cycle Tree Farm stream bank restoration project, in cooperation with the local Land and Conservation District (LCD) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was completed in 1998. Using grant funds and LCD techinal support, more than 300 feet of stream bank has been stabilized for class trout. The tremendous success of the project was proven in 2002 when the rip rap and stream beds withstood erosion from torrential rains.

The Livingston outdoor education and conservation program includes a number of walking trails throughout the Full Cycle Tree Farm. Designed to teach landowners about sustainable forest management and the value of timber, some of the trails and campsites surrounding the Big Roche-A-Cri creek are golf cart accessible. In the spring of 1999, Livingston and a local educator invited 90 fourth grade students from Adams-Friendship elementary school for a tour and outdoor classroom. This annual event

includes a presentation by the local DNR forester, demonstration of a portable sawmill and a hay rack ride. At the conclusion of the daylong event, each student plants a tree labled with thier name. Livingston has also partnered with the Wisconsin outdoor K-12 education program to teach students about fire safety and prevention, forestry and tree planting.

Livingston’s successful Tree Farm enterprise has not escaped setbacks and challenges. Her efforts were severely tested by the devasting Cottonwood Fire in May 2005. The fire consumed all but 100 acres of the Full Cycle Tree Farm including trees Livingston planted as a child in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Following the inital shock, Livingston confronted this challenge with immediate action coupled with her indomitable “can-do” attitude. She worked tirelessly to update the farm management plan to include an extensive salvage harvest, elimination of most of the future pine thinnings and exhaustive re-planting. Her re-planting efforts began in earnest in April 2006 with the outpouring of assistance from volunteers including the Girl Scouts, the University of Wisconsin Madison Women’s Basketball team, 4-H groups and the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA). In a few more years, with more planting and natural regeneration, the Full Cycle Tree Farm will be completely reforested.

An active member of numerous conservation and community organizations, Livingston serves on the National Tree Farm 2007 Convention Committee; the Society of American Foresters Task Force; the Executive Board of the WWOA Central Sands Chapter and the Castrosphic Loss Working Group, Wisconsin Division of Forestry to represent the interests of private forest landowners.  Nominated for the Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award by Teri Wilson and Nancy Stensberg, Nancy Livingston is admired for her dedication and passion to sustainable forestry, land management, eduation and conservation.           

 “We are committed to the recognition of family forest owners each year. The prestigious ATFS award honors the hard work and dedication of these true champions of sustainable forestry whose tireless efforts provide tangible and significant support to help ATFS accomplish its mission of getting more good forestry on more acres,” said Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President-Forestry of the American Forest Foundation. “Tree Farmers like Nancy Livingston set an example for all forestland owners and most of all,  create an environment in their community of flourishing and sustainable forests.”

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^Ò (ATFS) is a national program that promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners.  Founded in 1941, ATFS has 27 million acres of privately owned forestland and 87,000 family forest owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, 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.