Western Forestry & Conservation Association

Name

Western Forestry & Conservation Association

Legal name

Western Forestry & Conservation Association

Website

https://westernforestry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Forestry Education

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Professional forestry education
• Forestry continuing education
• Conference management services
• Forest stewardship training
• Natural resource workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference and Workshop Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from registration fees for forestry conferences, workshops, and training courses. Fees range from $45-$695 depending on event type, duration, and attendee category (regular, student).
2. Event Sponsorships and Exhibitor Fees: Sponsorships and exhibitor booth fees at major conferences including platinum ($2000), gold ($1000), and silver ($500) sponsorship tiers.
3. Conference Services for Partner Organizations: Administrative and event management services including registration, payment processing, lodging coordination, location scouting, and graphic design for partner forestry organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WFCA organizes professional forestry education conferences, workshops, and field courses for natural resource professionals across Western North America, awarding continuing education credits (SAF CFE, pesticide recertification). It also provides full-service conference and event management services to partner forestry organizations, including registration setup, payment processing, lodging coordination, location scouting, and graphic design. The organization serves as administrative umbrella for 15+ affiliated forestry cooperatives and professional groups.

Product overview

Western Forestry & Conservation Association is a professional forestry education organization offering a platform of conference and event management services along with specialized training programs for natural resource professionals. The core offering includes full-service conference management (registration, venue coordination, payment processing, graphic design, lodging coordination) combined with a portfolio of forestry-specific workshops and annual conferences covering workforce development, forest communications, legal issues, forest soils, log scaling, vegetation management, mensuration, reforestation, and forest economics. The organization serves as an umbrella for multiple forestry professional groups and coordinates educational events across Western North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conference & Event Management Services Full-service conference and event management services for forestry professional organizations, including registration setup, onsite registration, online registration, payment processing, lodging discounts, location scouting, and graphic design. Targets forestry organizations and cooperatives that need administrative support to host their annual conferences and workshops.
• Forest Sector Workforce Development Workshop Series Monthly workshop series for forest sector professionals bringing together education, private industry, government, non-profits, and tribes to address workforce challenges in the forestry sector. Targets natural resource professionals, HR managers, and industry employers seeking workforce development pathways.
• Forest Communications Training One-day training program helping forestry professionals develop communication skills for engaging the public, influencing policy, sharing research, and leveraging social media. Awards 4.5 SAF Cat 1 CFE credits. Sponsored by Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
• Access, Easements, Rights-of-Way, and Timber Trespass Training Legal training workshop covering permits, easements, rights-of-way negotiation, timber trespass issues, and permitting for dwellings in the forest. Led by Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt timber law firm, registration at $225. Targets forestland owners, managers, and legal professionals.
• 2026 Northwest Forest Soils Training Annual training event by the Northwest Forest Soils Council focused on forest soils management and research updates for forestry professionals. Registration $45 for in-person and virtual attendance. Targets forest soils professionals and researchers.
• Scaling for Non-Scalers Training Training course providing non-scaling professionals with working knowledge of log scaling processes, log rules, sorts, grades, and accountability in the forest products industry. Targets operations, procurement, and forest products professionals who interact with log scaling processes.
• 2026 PNW Forest Vegetation Management Conference Annual conference providing silviculture foresters, technicians, and applicators opportunities to connect, learn best management practices, and earn pesticide recertification credits (ISDA, WSDA, ODA) and SAF CFE credits. Early registration $360, regular $420.
• 2026 Northeastern & Southern Mensurationists Joint Annual Meeting Joint annual meeting of the Northeastern and Southern Mensurationists groups of the Forest Mensurationists umbrella. Early bird $555 until 9/15, regular $655 starting 9/16, student $400. Targets forest mensurationists, growth modelers, and remote sensing professionals.
• Mapping the Course Conference Annual conference with early bird $275, regular $375. Includes welcome happy hour, meals, and conference social. Co-hosted with Oregon Forest Resources Institute Workforce Summit and The Beck Group Business of Forest Products workshop.
• IUFRO International Conference International conference of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations held July 7-10, 2026 in Independence, OR. Early regular $575, early student $300 (ends April 30). Regular $695, student $400. Targets international forestry researchers and academics.
• Women in Forest Management Conference Annual conference for women in forest management with early registration $200, regular $250, student $150. February 22-23, 2027 in Moscow, Idaho. Targets women forestry professionals and students entering the field.
• Western Mensurationists Annual Meeting Annual meeting of the Western Mensurationists group held June 21-23, 2026 in Victoria, BC, Canada. Early bird $435, regular $550, student $200. Targets forest mensurationists and inventory professionals in Western North America.
• Western Forest Economists Meeting Annual meeting of the Western Forest Economists group held May 15-16, 2025 in Seattle, WA. Regular $300, late $350, student $110/late $150. Targets forest economists, researchers, and policy professionals.
• Variable Probability Sampling Course OSU spring break course held March 24-28, 2025 in Corvallis, OR. Registration $825 includes lunches. Targets forest inventory and statistical sampling professionals.
• Western Region COFE Seminar Annual seminar hosted by WFCA for the Council on Forest Engineering (COFE) Western Region, scheduled for January 7, 2027 in Lebanon, OR with virtual attendance option. Targets forest engineers, operations professionals, and timber harvesting specialists.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Washington State SFI Implementation Committee (WASIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWASIC promotes and fosters understanding of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and sustainable forestry practices on all forestlands in Washington state.
• Woodland Fish & Wildlife GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces guides for private woodland owners on managing fish and wildlife. Has nearly 30 publications covering forest pollinators, migratory songbirds, wildfires, small mammals, and wetlands.
• Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Forest Service program and leading source of information for nurseries and land managers for tree and native plant growth and planting. Umbrella for nursery and container growers' groups and publications including Tree Planters' Notes.
• Inland Empire Tree Improvement Co-op (IETIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollection of 19 groups across Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Assembly of federal and state agencies, Native American tribes, forestry industry, and universities producing genetically improved conifer seeds.
• Forest MensurationistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella group for Growth Model User's Group, Operational Lidar & Inventory, Southern Mensurationists, Western Mensurationists, and Northeastern Mensurationists. Provides quantitative information about forest composition, structure, and goods.
• Western Forest EconomistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit group providing opportunities for forest economists to discuss current research, issues, and trends. Hosts annual meetings on topics including wildfire, forest carbon, bioenergy, public lands, and climate change.
• Council on Forest Engineering (COFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional organization fostering development of forest engineering in industry, government, and education. WFCA hosts the Western Region COFE Seminar. COFE disseminates technical information about forest engineering.
• Operational Lidar & Inventory (OLI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubgroup of Forest Mensurationists focused on operational and near-operational usage of remote sensing technologies for forest inventory and mapping applications.
• Growth Model User's Group (GMUG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubgroup of Forest Mensurationists bringing together regional users to discuss building, improving, and applying growth models including new models, data processing tools, inventory modeling, and multistage modeling.
• Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine Conservation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organized in 1994 to conserve genetic resources of Willamette Valley race of ponderosa pine. Works with OSU Extension Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, and private groups.
• Northwest Forest Soils Council (NWFSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of WFCA established in 1949 to tackle management concerns with forest soils. Facilitates exchange of forest soils information among professionals in the Northwest.
• Northwest Tree Improvement Co-op (NWTIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree improvement cooperative working with WFCA on genetic improvement of conifer species.
• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsor of Forest Communications Training. Co-hosts OFRI Workforce Summit with Mapping the Course conference. Works to advance sustainable forestry through education.
• The Beck GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-locates Business of Forest Products workshop with Mapping the Course conference, providing training on forest products manufacturing and wood-based raw materials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Society of American Foresters (SAF): National membership organization for forestry professionals providing continuing education (CFE credits, which WFCA actually awards), professional development, and industry publications. SAF is the largest direct peer, serving a similar customer base across the U.S. with overlapping educational mission and category.
• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI): State-level nonprofit that advances sustainable forestry through education and public outreach. OFRI is a co-host and primary sponsor of WFCA's Mapping the Course conference and Forest Communications Training, operating in the same Western U.S. forestry education niche with closely overlapping customers.
• World Forestry Center: Portland-based nonprofit that shares WFCA's headquarters building at 4033 SW Canyon Road and shares the mission of forest education and stewardship. Both organizations promote forestry awareness through educational programming in the Pacific Northwest.
• Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA): Washington state industry association representing timberland owners, with WFCA directors holding leadership roles in both organizations (Treasurer and Consultant roles). WFPA focuses on policy advocacy while WFCA focuses on education, but they share the same stakeholder ecosystem.
• Forest Products Society: International nonprofit organization for forest products professionals, providing educational conferences, networking, and technical publications. It overlaps with WFCA's Beck Group-co-located Business of Forest Products workshop, serving similar manufacturing and forestry professionals.
• Council on Forest Engineering (COFE): International professional organization for forest engineering that hosts the Western Region COFE Seminar through WFCA. Direct peer sharing the same professional community and event management infrastructure with mutual hosting relationships.
• National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA): National nonprofit advocating for private woodland owners and providing educational resources. It overlaps with WFCA's Woodland Fish & Wildlife Group partnership and serves a similar non-industrial forestry stakeholder community across the U.S.

Regional players

• Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF): Canada's national forestry professional association, providing continuing education, certifications, and conferences. Comparable to WFCA in mission but focused on Canadian forestry rather than Western U.S., though WFCA does host events in British Columbia.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of State Foresters (NASF): National organization representing state forestry agencies, providing policy advocacy and interagency coordination. A broader incumbent than WFCA but operating in the same forestry ecosystem with overlapping board and member relationships.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): North American sustainability certification and standards body. WFCA's Washington State SFI Implementation Committee (WASIC) is a core partner, making SFI a comparable organization with overlapping educational and certification programs in forest stewardship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-forestry-&-conservation-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/western_forestry_conservation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Western Forestry & Conservation Association