Jake Van Deursen Receives Certified Forester Accreditation
SE Group's Jake Van Deursen, Environmental Analyst & Planner, recently received his Certified Forester accreditation from the Society of American Foresters!
The Society of American Foresters (SAF), Certified Forester (CF) accreditation is known as the gold standard for forest management professionals. Founded by Gifford Pinchot (the first head of the United States Forest Service) in 1900, SAF’s mission is to, “advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology, promoting professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.” Holding a CF demonstrates an on-going commitment to maintaining high professional standards and serving the public with integrity and up-to-date knowledge.
With elements of resource assessment, stakeholder analysis and relations, and management planning, this certification will be helpful for a multitude of SE Group’s projects that focus on pre- and post-fire forest health initiatives and vegetation management efforts at ski areas across the country. The CF will assist Jake in performing inventories, conducting forest resource analyses, and developing management plans, furthermore, providing clients with specific treatment prescriptions to improve forest health and mitigate wildfire hazard. SAF now has over 10,000 members, increasing the organization's potential for knowledge sharing and informing foresters in the latest advances in science and management.
The SAF Certified Forester (CF) accreditation not only represents the pinnacle of professional achievement in forest management but also serves as a vital asset in addressing contemporary challenges faced by the forestry sector. For SE Group, the CF certification provides the team with advanced skills and knowledge necessary to execute effective forest health and management strategies. This enhanced capability will lead to more informed decision-making and more effective mitigation of wildfire risks, ultimately benefiting both the environment and the communities that depend on it.
