PROFILE

Forest Owner Services in Rockford, Alabama, is a two-person forestry consultancy founded by Sara Baldwin and her husband, Doug McConnell. They both earned degrees in forestry in the 1980s and began by managing family land, earning a TREASURE Forest designation in 1987. They work primarily with family landowners with anywhere from 40 to 400 acres.

In addition to forest management and real estate services, they often help families plan for the next generation, including plans to keep the land intact. Baldwin said for many of their clients, the primary objective is maintaining a piece of private land for recreation and enjoyment. Their specialty is helping families achieve multiple objectives for their land. Managing timber alongside recreation is not only feasible, she said, but can enhance many recreational activities.

For example, a thinning or clear-cut on forty acres can provide a diversity of views for horseback riding. “It’s also far and away the best way to manage for deer,” she said, because they get a variety of browse conditions as stands of different ages grow. “Management is about deciding what you’re going to prioritize, and what you’re going to schedule when.” Some activities, like ATV trail riding, can create additional management issues like stream siltation over time. Forest Owner Services asks the right questions to help landowners continue enjoying their land through the years. 

Seeking clients in these counties:
Chilton
Clay
Coosa
Talladega
Tallapoosa

Link# 17909
Acct# 0188