On October 30, 1997, 220,000 acres of forestland, managed by the Aitkin County Land Department (ACLD) became one of the first county managed forest lands in the United States to become "green certified" by SmartWood, a non-profit forest certification organization which is located in Vermont.

    Since then, Aitkin County has had several yearly audits and two reassessments by SmartWood. The finds of the assessments, yearly audits, and reassessment are complied in a peer reviewed report that is submitted by the auditors to SmartWood and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for their approval. The Forest Stewardship Council is the international monitoring organization for forest certification.

    The SmartWood/FSC certification is a reflection of ACLD's environmentally, economically, and socially responsible forest management practices and will enable us to use the FSC seal of approval when the marketing of the forest products takes place.  "The assessment process gives us new ideas and direction for improvements in the future, " states Mark Jacobs, Land Commissioner, " and it provides us an opportunity to enhance the local economy, through the marketing of certified wood products, from our County forest lands."

    The ACLD forest land certification are each for a five year period of time and there are requirements during that period. Each requirement is aimed at facilitating continued improvements in the forest management practices, both in the woods and in the office bookkeeping. Continuing improvement is required in order to maintain the certification.

    In 2007, Aitkin County hit its 10 year renewal. At that time our 2nd 5 year assessment of the Land Department management practices were again reviewed. Once again Aitkin County was found to be acceptable for certification.

    Each year, certain steps are required for Aitkin County to reach and each year Aitkin County's Land Department has excelled at reaching those requirements. The public can be assured that through this process, Aitkin County Land Department's standards for monitoring and managing their lands are of the highest caliber.