“We are very pleased to welcome Jason Woodfin to our staff” said VAFW president Jerry Gray of Clintwood, Va. “Though we have worked with many good foresters in both Virginia and surrounding states over the years we have not been able to actually place a forester on staff until now.”

Jason Woodfin

Jason Woodfin will be directing VAFW’s Private Forest Program and promoting sustainable forest management practices on private lands in Virginia.

According to Woodfin, “While I have enjoyed working as a consulting forester, my position with Virginia Forest Watch will give me a greater outlet to promote healthy forestland use and management, which I believe is essential to enhance and protect the productive forestlands still present in Virginia.”

“Jason competed with several other good candidates for the position, but his experience as a consulting forester made him the best choice for VAFW. We are fortunate to have a dedicated sustainable forestry professional in our efforts to improve management practices in Virginia,” added Gray.

Woodfin went on to say, “The future of forestry in Virginia depends on individuals who want to see an end to commercial logging on public lands and sound forest management and accountability on private lands.”

Jason graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management. Since that time he has worked in forest management for various companies including the Westvaco Corporation, American Forest Management, F&W Forestry Services and most recently for his own company Woodfin Forestry.

Jason, who began work on February 1, is a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Virginia Forestry Association and is a Certified Tree Farm Inspector. He has done volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity for many years. He and his wife Meredith, two children, Molly (3) and Evan (3 months) and their dog Paisley live in Charlottesville, Virginia.