In 1741 Jonathan Cowls began acquiring and sustainably managing farmland and timberland that today consists of over 100 parcels in 30 towns in Hamden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester Counties. Cowls’ foresters carefully prepare long-term management plans for each parcel and sustainably harvest multiple forest products, including veneer logs, sawlogs, pulpwood, and cordwood for regional markets.

A founding member of the American Tree Farm System, Cowls is committed to the strict standards of the nations’ oldest sustainable forestry certification program.  Under this program, wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection are important factors in managing the forest for wood production.

Today, Cowls is the largest private landowner in the Commonwealth, managing later generations of the same forests that Jonathan Cowls harvested over 280 years ago. That fact, along with numerous awards, is a testament to our enduring dedication to sustainable management.