Forest Management
Nearly Three Centuries of Sustainable Forestry

A founding member of the American Tree Farm System, Cowls adheres to the strict standards of the nations’ oldest sustainable forestry certification program. Under this program, wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed proection are important factors in managing the forest for wood production. Several Cowls parcels are also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Today, Cowls is the largest private landowner in the state, managing later generations of the same forests that Jonathan Cowls harvested over 270 years ago. That fact, along with numerous awards, is proof of our sustainable management.
Forestry-Based Opportunities
Natural Resources
In addition to sustainably harvested wood, Cowls land contains significant natural resources including Title 5 certified sand and gravel; landscape stone; goshen stone; amethysts; etc.
Renewable Energy
We are extremely interested in the long-term potential for renewable energy production on Cowls land. We join the Commonwealth in its commitment to renewable energy sources and welcome the opportunities investigating wind and solar energy production projects.
Telecommunications
W.D. Cowls, Inc. is committed to helping rural communities in Western Massachusetts get connected through enhanced telecommunications systems. We are currently working with multiple broadband and wireless service providers and welcome additional partnerships.