WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO…-REBECCA MONTGOMERY, R.F.

ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR FORESTERS (ABORF)

What is ABoRF?

• Licensing board for foresters• Began in 1969, with RF #1– Exists to protect private forest

landowners by ensuring that foresters are educated, qualified, and experienced and maintain their continuing education

• License foresters, investigate and make findings on complaints

• WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!!

Registered Foresters, defined

• Registered foresters have met certain qualifications and received a license to practice forestry and call themselves foresters in Arkansas– They can consult, investigate, evaluate,

plan or supervise forestry activities in Arkansas

• Exemptions: Practicing forestry on your own land

How to Identify a RF….

• Common forester abbreviations– R.F., or RF or R.F. ####=Registered

Forester– CF=Certified Forester via Society of

American Foresters– ACF=Association of Consulting Foresters– SAF=Society of American Foresters– Forester– Timber Buyer, Timber Manager, Timber

Consultant, etc

Types of RFs

• RFs can work in a variety of places, most commonly– Industry (ex. Deltic)– Consulting, private or company– Government (ex. AFC, AGFC)

• Advises and watches out for their employer’s forestry goals and interests

• Enhances efficiency and productivity of your timber investment, just as a financial consultant would your money

Activities a RF can help you with

• Timber estimation, Boundary lines• Fire protection• Management plans• Mapping• Pest and disease identification and control• Regeneration/ Timber Stand Improvement• Timber Marketing and Sales• Representing YOUR interests!

Who Benefits from Licensing?

• Landowners, Society, and Foresters!!• Landowners:– Professional foresters can create improvements

in the outcome of management practices such as reforestation, harvest quality, post-harvest stand structure and economic value

– In one study landowners who used professional foresters received as much as 87 percent more for their timber than those not assisted.

• Society benefits from a well managed forest• Foresters get title protection

How Do You Know?

• Call our office at 501.296.1998• Look it up online at

www.arkansas.gov/abof

How to Find a RF

• Need a consulting forester?– Ask a friend or neighbor for

recommendation– AFC’s website, AFA’s website, ABORF

website

• Questions to ask– Experience and Education– RF Number!!!– Employer, Services and Cost– DO YOU GET ALONG WITH HIM/HER?

Other States Requiring Licensing

• AR is one of several states which requires licensing–We are a member of ASBoRF which

includes MS, AL, GA, NC, and SC– Note that some surrounding states do

not require licensing

What does it take to be a R.F.?

• Law has changed over the years• Currently, all successful applicants

must have:– At least a 2 year forestry degree with 6

years experience– Provide five reference forms – Pass a written R.F. Exam

• To maintain annual license, continuing education

• Reciprocal licenses with ASBoRF states

Board Members

• Appointed by governor, but nominated by the field– Arkansas Forestry Association, J. Wainscott– School of Forest Resources, M. Pelkki– Association of Consulting Foresters, JD Neely– Society of American Foresters, C. Guffey– Arkansas Forestry Commission, M. Phillips

• Governor selects and appoints the consumer representative, D. Daniels

• 5 year terms

Complaints

• Board receives complaints, investigates them, and makes findings when appropriate

• Complaint forms available from office or online at www.arkansas.gov/abof

• Must be notarized• Be familiar with the Board’s

jurisdiction

Jurisdiction of the Board

• 1) no person shall use in connection with that person’s name or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description that the person is a forester unless they are registered

Eric Hempstead, ForesterDelta Land and TimberPO Box 122Stuttgart, AR 78551

Jurisdiction of the Board

• 2) individuals who practice or offer to practice forestry without a valid license– Forestry: practice of managing,

harvesting, and using the natural resources which occur on forestlands

– Practice: services for hire like consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, or supervision of forestry activity on private or public lands

Jurisdiction of the Board

Jurisdiction of the Board

• 3) Board may revoke the license of any forester who has been convicted of a felony, or found guilty by the Board of fraud, deceit, gross negligence, misrepresentation, willful violation of contract, misconduct, or gross incompetence

Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters

• We are here for YOU!• Please give us a call!• Use our website to locate currently

licensed foresters at www.arkansas.gov/abof