Stewardship Report
ABOUT THIS REPORT
F&W Forestry is pleased to share ou inaugural Stewardship Report Whi e marks our first forma publication, ou legacy as trusted stewards of forest a spans back to our founding in 1962 F&W, we take pride n our commitme responsible forest management, guid our enduring mission “To help clients max m ze the value and enjoyment o land and forest resources according their ind vidual objectives needs, an desires – whether economic, aesthet environmental, or recreational.”
Our Stewardship Report is a un que opportunity for F&W to demonstrate companys environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact It showcas sign ficant positive influence on our c society, and the environment, reinfor our commitment to responsible fore management
F&W does not own any forestland bu manages over two million acres on b of our clients A l our serv ces are do furtherance of our clients goa s and ob ect ves Therefore we have organ this report to clearly specify our com impact and then share what we have achieved for and with our clients. In work, we aim to provide tangible ben for our clients wh le striving to positiv impact our commun ties and the environment
This report deta ls our activ ties and impacts in 2023, and data s reporte December 31 2023
Message From Our President
Welcome to the inaugural edition of F&W Forestry's Stewardship Report. This report will document our continuous efforts to conduct our work in an environmentally sustainable, socially engaged manner governed by sound and ethical business practices. We operate our business with a steadfast commitment to our long-standing Core Values.
Our Core Values also align with the principles of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and sound governance practices - principles that are now commonly called ESG. Long before ESG became the common term, F&W practiced, worked by, and lived by our Core Values. These principles have been fundamental to our business since it was founded by Eley Frazer and Frank Wetherbee, the original F&W, in 1962.
At the heart of our operations lies our primary Core Value: Client-Centric. We define this by saying, “Our client’s interest comes first.” This value guides how we conduct our work. Our work is always targeted to help our clients meet their objectives.
As a forestry services company, we work in partnership with our clients. These collaborations form the cornerstone of our company. We combine our client's goals with our expertise, resulting in effective forest management that achieves landowners' objectives.
Internally, we cultivate a business culture that empowers our staff to pursue their professional aspirations. We encourage our team to contribute to their communities and the broader forestry and professional landscapes, and we strive to conduct all our work fairly and ethically.
Yet, we recognize that there is always room for improvement. We learn how and where to improve, adjust, and refine our systems accordingly through self-assessments, third-party evaluations, and certifications.
I hope you will enjoy what you learn about F&W and our Core Values from this report.
Sincerely,
Marshall Thomas
Marshall Thomas
Our client’s interest comes first. We provide consistent and desired results that our clients can rely on and our coworkers can count on. We will do what we say we are going to do. We strive to be honest and to treat all whom we deal with fairly.
We provide consistent and desired results that our clients can rely on and our coworkers can count on.
We apply science, technology, and imagination to create new market value. Innovation occurs at all positions and jobs in the company.
We strive to protect and be responsible for all that is entrusted to our care. Our people are our most important asset; safety is a corporate and personal responsibility.
To help clients maximize the value and enjoyment of their land and forest resources according to their individual objectives, needs, and desires –whether economic, aesthetic, environmental, or recreational.
To become the preferred partner to a diverse client base by creating, delivering, and communicating our value.
In 1962, F&W was founded by Eley Frazer and Frank Wetherbee in Albany, Georgia. What started as a local consulting forestry firm serving private landowners in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama has expanded into a leading international forest resource consulting and management firm.
Today, our team of over 240 dedicated professionals operates across the United States, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. We also maintain a presence in France and Europe through our involvement with Forestry France and Forestry Europe.
We manage over 2,600,000 acres of forestland worldwide for our clients. Our experienced team partners work with our diverse clients to develop and implement comprehensive solutions to meet their goals. Our services include timber management, property administration, field support, forest inventory, technological solutions, spatial data management and mapping, forestland accounting, forest certifications, technical and analytical services, and real estate.
Our ESG Principles
Through our company traditions, business culture, and professional commitments, F&W brings environmental protections, positive social engagement, and responsible corporate governance to all that we do.
EENVIRONMENTAL
F&W strives to be a responsible steward of all entrusted to our care. Our forestry operations undergo regular inspections to ensure client objectives are met. We implement resource protections such as Best Management Practices (BMPs) and forestry regulations. We follow appropriate processes and operating procedures, all supported by extens ve internal and external audits. We manage client forests for all major forest certification schemes, including the American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
S6 Countries 28 Offices
Albany, GA
F&W Forestry Services, Inc.
1310 West Oakridge Drive
Albany, GA 31707
F&W seeks to play a posit ve role in our relationships with our staff, clients, communities, and industry Our commitment goes beyond the forests we manage; it encompasses the communities we serve. We actively engage with local stakeholders, support economic development, and promote forestry education We seek out and encourage opportunities for cooperation, education, and collaboration.
SOCIAL
Environmental Stewardship
Our dedicated team responsibly manages all forestland on which we operate. We execute forest operations to protect sensitive sites, species, and natural communities while considering our business's environmental impacts.
Environmentally viable timberland is economically viable timberland. From our leadership team to regional managers to field foresters, F&W seeks to play a positive role in the landscapes where we work. Responsible forest management protects and enhances essential natural resources, such as clean water and air, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and sensitive natural communities and species.
We provide forest management, consultations, as well as technical solutions that reflect sensible protection for the environment while furthering our client's objectives. Forests managed by F&W provide clean air and clean and plentiful water, together with wildlife habitat, and help address climate concerns through the long-term storage of carbon in trees, soil, and forest products.
Sustainable Forest Management
F&W manages over 2,645,000 acres for private landowners, investment organizations, public ownerships, and non-governmental organizations across its broad operating footprint.
Acres Under 2,645,000 Management
Certification
F&W manages client forests for all major forest certification programs worldwide, including the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI).
Protecting Soil & Water
F&W understands the critical role forests play in supplying clean water and facilitating productive soils and that forest management as well as water and soil protection are compatible systems.
F&W intends all operations to meet or exceed state Best Management Practices and other applicable forestry or water quality regulations. These standards are monitored through regular operational inspections and audits. Where inspections and audits identify issues, our operational team addresses those issues promptly.
Carbon Storage & Sequestration
Forests and forest management are inherently climate positive. Trees sequester carbon, and forests store carbon for the long term. Wood products, especially long-lived wood products like lumber, timber, and engineered structural products, extend carbon storage through the product's useful life.
The application of scientific silviculture to the practice and business of growing trees aligns well with climate objectives: efficient forest management can increase the rate of carbon sequestration; BMPs protect stored carbon in forest water and soils, and the production of highvalue, durable wood products perpetuate carbon storage.
Social Stewardship
F&W seeks to play a positive role in our relationships with our staff, clients, communities, and industry. We are proud of the contributions that F&W and the forests we manage make to the communities where we live and work, the forest-based economy, and society in general through employment and economic opportunities, collaborations, training, education, and public recreational opportunities.
Our Team
At F&W, our employees are the foundation of our success. Our team comprises talented foresters, accountants, analysts, and real estate professionals who share a passion for forestry. We are committed to providing exceptional service to our clients and communities while maintaining local expertise at each of our offices worldwide.
We believe there is a strong connection between corporate performance and how well our team members embrace our Core Values. We carefully select, train, evaluate, and hold our employees accountable for embodying these values. We celebrate diversity and know that our differences, whether in background or experience strengthen us. We aim to create an environment where all employees can grow and thrive as individuals.
Being a part of F&W means embodying our Professionalism Core Value, which states, “Do what you say you are going to do.” This Core Value is a standard we all uphold, reflecting our unwavering commitment to excellence and reliability in everything we do. It’s a promise to ourselves, our clients, and our communities.
Diversity & Inclusivity
F&W supports diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices, employee training and education, and community outreach initiatives. We aim to create a positive workplace where all employees are respected and have equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion.
Health & Safety
Our team is the most critical asset at F&W. The health and safety of our employees are fundamental to every decision and action we take. F&W is devoted to providing a secure work environment for all team members and contractors while striving to effectively manage risks through meticulous planning, clear communication, and appropriate delivery processes.
As part of this commitment, all forestry staff receive Personal Protective Equipment, first aid kits, and emergency communication technology. We are dedicated to complying with applicable safety and health laws. We have implemented initiatives such as regular meetings, training programs, and innovative technology, demonstrating our commitment to health and safety. Our team receives several in-person safety sessions, including CPR, First Aid, chainsaw safety, hazard tree identification, to encourage a proactive approach to safety and well-being.
Our Internal Information and Technology Center developed a cutting-edge health and safety app to enhance real-time reporting in the field. This app captures leading and lagging data such as near misses, incidents, accidents, and site safety monitoring information, helping us create a safer workplace. This innovative technology ensures real-time reporting and demonstrates our commitment to staying abreast of safety management.
Additionally, we engage third-party auditors to conduct random audits of safety practices at various offices, enhancing compliance with safety standards and protocols while identifying areas for improvement. Together, these initiatives contribute to a comprehensive safety program that supports our commitment to the well-being of our staff and the effective management of our operations.
Community
We are engaged with the communities in which we operate. These communities are home to our staff, and F&W seeks to be a positive force in them. We encourage our staff to participate and volunteer for local organizations that have a positive impact, and we facilitate that participation through monetary donations and staff volunteering time.
Forest Industry Engagement
We are dedicated to supporting the forestry industry through internships, volunteering, memberships, and sponsorship. We promote education initiatives focusing on forestry education, which benefits our local communities and generates interest in forestry careers.
Responsible Governance
As a privately held company, F&W upholds ethical business practices and governance standards that reflect our Core Values. We prioritize long-term sustainability, ensuring our operations benefit our team, clients, communities, and the environment. Our company is governed by our Board of Directors composed equally of management and investors and an advisory board composed of representative managers across our geographic footprint. Our President and Executive Team are charged with carrying out our Core Values and Strategic Principles in our daily operations.
Quality
Quality forestry operations involve robust systems, diligent implementation, review and assessment, and refinement over time. We have extensive systems in place to take advantage of
F&W connects with the timberland community through affiliation with the industry’s most respected professional, trade, and landowner associations and academic research cooperatives. This participation assists our staff in remaining current on issues facing our clients. With these connections, we participate in developing best practices, knowledge leadership, and actions that enhance the science and business of forestry.
F&W is committed to promoting a culture of quality throughout our operations. We support an our forest certification programs undergo rigorous audits each year to verify conformance with
Operational Management Systems
Our forest management team coordinates across regional offices and uses standard procedures, internal and external audits, and certification standards to strengthen our operations and foster consistency.
F&W develops and distributes standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all operations. SOPs are distributed as operations manuals, Process Maps, forms, and checklists through a suite of proprietary apps. These include operations inspections, final (BMP) inspections, property monitoring, high conservation value monitoring, and reforestation.
Operational Inspections Standard Operating Procedures
F&W provides detailed standards for all operational inspections through our proprietary app suite. The primary goals of this program are to provide an efficient system of inspection, feedback, communication, and follow-up to facilitate operational control and environmental safeguards. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are inspected throughout, and conformance with BMPs is verified in a final BMP inspection at the end of the operation.
F&W management features an internal auditing system for inventory quality and operational control. Inventory quality is incentivized through a quarterly program of payments to cruisers based on quality and production. Our Quality Control program consists of a Quality Control Manager, two full-time forest operations auditors, and two part-time forest operations auditors. Audit programs are designed to align with Standard Operating Procedures, and results are evaluated to provide feedback to managers showing strengths and opportunities for improvement. They are also consolidated for senior managers for company-wide views.
F&W hires independent third-party auditors to objectively assess operations, especially those focused on operational control and security. Each year, an auditor visits operations in several of our operational centers. In 2023, external auditors visited operations in 8 states. In the UK, 13 days of audits were conducted.
F&W is a technology and innovation leader in the forest community. Over 20 years ago, F&W developed one of the first timberland accounting systems, Forestland Information System (FIS), which is now used to manage over 1,000,000 acres of
client forests.
We have developed and deployed our own operations data and reporting platform, utilizing cell phone apps. All foresters use these apps for pre-work planning, field inspections, reporting, and as references to key information. Reports are synced with central databases, and they drive analysis to provide feedback and refine and improve our systems.
GIS Information Managem
Forest management operations are recorded using a GIS management system. This system allows for multiple layers of detailed spatial information to be maintained. We use it to create a record of management history, communicate planned activities, and record current conditions and status.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (U
F&W has 18 commercially licensed UAV pilots operating across our footprint. The UAVs are used for a variety of projects, including gathering information on forest health, environmental conditions, and harvesting.
Ethics
F&W believes that business should be conducted fairly, professionally, and honestly. We are aware of potential conflicts of interest and perceived conflicts of interest in our work, and we raise awareness of these issues among our staff through annual ethics training at our company meeting and bribery and anti-corruption training for all staff through an online platform.
Employees demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices by participating in professional credentialing and licensing organizations. Our affiliations with these bodies validate our adherence to industry regulations and best practices and reinforce our dedication to transparency and accountability.
Through our membership in the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), the Society of American Foresters (SAF), the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), we adhere to their respective Codes of Ethics. These memberships enable us to uphold high professionalism and ethical conduct standards across our operations.
At F&W, we strongly emphasize continuing education, which helps us maintain excellence and innovation in our field. We meet the continuing education requirements set by the credentialing and licensing executive committees, further validating our commitment to professional development.
This dual commitment to ethics and education empowers us to create, deliver, and communicate our value to our clients and stakeholders while upholding our core values.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a key aspect of F&W's commitment to responsible and ethical business practices. We understand the importance of efforts to protect our data, systems, and stakeholders from cyber threats and risks. That is why we implement a variety of measures to improve the security and resilience of our IT infrastructure, such as:
Providing regular training and awareness programs for our employees on cybersecurity best practices and policies.
Conducting periodic testing and audits of our systems and networks to identify and address any vulnerabilities or gaps.
Implementing proper backup strategies and recovery plans to minimize the impact of any potential cyber incidents or disruptions.
Adopting cloud-based solutions for disaster recovery and business continuity, with the goal of assuring that our operations can resume quickly and smoothly during emergencies. Updating and upgrading our systems and software regularly to keep pace with changes in technologies and standards.
By taking these steps, we aim to enhance our cybersecurity posture and performance and to demonstrate our accountability and transparency to our customers, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Our founder, Eley Frazer, believed that the client’s interest always comes first, and this remains our first and most important Core Value. Our duty is to know, understand, and reflect the interests of our clients. Some of our clients have clearly stated objectives, and some do not. For those who do not, part of our work is helping them develop and articulate their objectives. In both cases, we reflect our client's objectives in our services. Our forest management also reflects laws, regulations, Best Management Practices, professional codes of ethics, certification principles, and our commitment as foresters and professionals to protect forest resources.
Forest
Operations
Forestry involves the controlled and directed influence on the forest to achieve specific objectives. The goals of forest management have traditionally included the efficient growth of timber, the promotion of healthy and high-quality trees, the harvest of forest products, and the successful regeneration of the next generation. These goals still drive the management of many of our clients' forestlands, but now, other goals drive forest management, too. For many of our clients, non-timber objectives are equally as important as the objective of commercial production. Many of our clients now ask us to reflect on the objectives of wildlife management, carbon sequestration, recreation and aesthetics, development of old forest characteristics, and protection of important features and resources in our management.
All forest management involves the controlled manipulation of natural systems. The keyword here is 'controlled’, and at F&W, we have established layered systems intended to result in operations that are well-controlled, efficient, and effective. This approach facilitates the achievement of objectives and safeguards significant resources, providing our clients with a high level of operational control.
Forest Certification
Forest Certification Programs are systems through which a third party verifies the sustainability claim of a forester, manager, or landowner. These programs are objective standards by which management systems are assessed, judged, and quantified. We provide our clients with the option to participate in certification programs. We manage group certificates in each of the dominant programs in our areas of operation: Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and American Tree Farm System (ATFS) certification. Our clients have responded enthusiastically, and we currently manage over 1.4 million acres in one or multiple certification systems.
American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
27,380 Acres Planted
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
In 2002, we established one of the first FSC Group certificates in the United States. Our Certifying Body awarded that group a 20year accommodation for our long-term commitment to the program. This group currently has 95,090 acres in nine states.
We established a second FSC group certificate in California to align the FSC Pacific Coast Regional Standard and the California Forest Practices Rules. This group encompasses 246,293 acres, with 2,216 areas designated High Conservation Value. Management in these areas is solely focused on protecting, enhancing, or restoring their significant values.
In 2003, F&W established one of the first Independently Managed Group (IMG) certificates in the American Tree Farm System. Our group has grown to 414,000 acres, covering 17 states from Maine to Texas.
We were awarded the 2022 FSC US Leadership Award for offering FSC to clients for over 20 years while meeting the diverse objectives of our group members across more than 500,000 acres of certified forest.
Within Fountains Forestry UK, we directly manage 34,425 acres to the FSC and PEFC standards under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI)
Our SFI® group certificate has seen tremendous growth and interest from investment and institutional clients. Our group now contains 528,583 acres. We manage 1,119,334 acres under an F&W-developed certified management system. Additionally, we manage 280,666 acres under certificates held by our clients and dependent on management systems developed by our clients. Additionally, we operate and maintain certified environmental management systems in the UK, adhering to BS EN ISO 14001:2015 standards. These systems are subject to annual audits to encourage compliance and continual improvement.
Conservation
American Tree Farm
Forest Stewardship Council
Forest Stewardship Council - UK
Sustainable Forestry Initiative®
Client Held Dual Certification
Acres
Acres
In our productive and efficient plantations, we reforested a total of 27,380 acres. Reforestation by planting is common practice in the Southeastern United States, California, the United Kingdom, and South America. In some other regions, management is planned to allow for natural regeneration. We manage land in the Northeastern and Appalachian regions of the US,
Clients can extend their conservation ethic into the future by granting a conservation easement to a qualified easement holder. Also, some clients have committed to a land ethic by acquiring lands with a pre-existing conservation easement. F&W provides consultation and strategic guidance for our clients considering a conservation transaction, appropriate management for clients with an easement in place, and required practices to comply with those easements. In total, F&W manages 333,385 acres under the terms of conservation easements and partners with and works with easement holders to meet the objectives of those easements.
Biodiversity in Forest Management
Biodiversity is a crucial aspect of healthy forest ecosystems and is central to F&W's work. Our forest management protects significant ecosystems and the environmental services provided by forests, and special projects conducted for our clients focus on values such as ecosystem restoration, protection of old forests, and significant natural communities.
F&W’s commitment to biodiversity is strong. We enhance and protect significant natural communities and habitats, identify and map sensitive sites and significant biodiversity features, and base our management decisions on protecting, enhancing, and/or restoring the area. This includes avoiding disturbance, buffering, and specific conservation efforts aimed at enhancing biodiversity.
Recreational Opportunities
F&W encourages our clients to engage with local communities and provide recreational opportunities to the public or organizations where appropriate to the management objectives. Often, this approach results in partnerships with local organizations, which are mutually beneficial to our clients and the local community.
Protections for Special Sites
Within UK forestry, we are seeing a growth in bike parks and mountain bike trails as the activity becomes more popular and, with advances in mountain bike development (such as e-bikes), this trend is expected to increase. While this presents fresh challenges for forest management, the rewards are very positive, with health and well-being, rural economy and community benefits.
In North Wales the Mynogau Forest, one of our managed woodlands, is the host to the Red Bull Hardline, which is considered the world’s toughest and most progressive downhill mountain bike race.
Some forests are so significant that they warrant special designation, conservation, and monitoring to ensure their significance is not put at risk. Examples include old-growth stands, habitats for endangered species, historic archaeological features, and areas considered sacred by certain cultures. Some specific places are so significant—ecologically, historically, or personally— that they need to be recognized and protected as "special sites." Recognizing and protecting these sites is a commitment we take seriously. Our clients entrust us to manage their forests wisely and to protect those resources that are inherently significant and important to them.
