Membership

New members are always welcome! 
The Society of American Foresters is an organization of professionals and students in the fields of natural resource management, environmental studies, urban forestry, forest engineering, natural resource recreation, wildlife and fisheries management, and wood science. We average over 800 members that work and reside throughout the New England states, New York, and the Eastern Canadian Provinces, and average 14,000 members nationwide. For more information:

• Contact our Membership Chair, Susan Francher
• Visit the National Society of American Foresters
• View membership options and join at national SAF Membership

Membership Benefits
SAF maintains the only national certification for foresters, the Certified Forester^R.  We produce several relevant publications that span forest science, policy, and technical manuals.  Our national conference, New England annual meeting, and numerous local workshops provide continuing education credits acceptable to licensing boards throughout New England.

Publication Options
All NESAF members receive the following publications online:

• New England News Quarterly
• The Journal of Forestry
• The Forestry Source
• Forest Science
• The E-Forester

Organization Structure
NESAF is part of a national organization and has several sub-units that allow us to better serve members. For those that live in New England, membership in SAF automatically makes you a member of New England Society (NESAF). Professionals from other regions often elect to be members of NESAF. Our units include:

• The National Society of American Foresters
  • The New England Society of American Foresters
    • The Maine Division
    • The Granite State Division (NH)
    • The Green Mountain Division (VT)
    • The Yankee Division (CT, MA, and RI)
      • The Connecticut Chapter
      • The Massachusetts Chapter
      • The Rhode Island Chapter

Membership Trends
As of May 2025, national membership was at 8,745, and New England membership was at 684. Members and units may request more specific trend and demographic breakdowns by contacting the Membership Chair.

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders – Leadership Academy
In 2009, NESAF established a regional Leadership Academy, held in conjunction with our annual conference. We encourage members who have interest in volunteering with our organization and developing leadership skills to apply to their careers to contact us.

Student Membership
Hundreds of students throughout New England study in the fields of natural resources at universities throughout New England each year. Students enjoy reduced membership rates and those who maintain their membership after graduation pay up to 30% less than other graduates with a reduction that remains in place for an additional 5 years.  The following universities have SAF student chapters:

• University of Maine
• University of Massachusetts
• University of New Hampshire
• University of Vermont
• Yale University