Charlie Houder, of the Suwannee River Water Management District (District), recently was selected as a fellow in the Society of American Foresters. Only five percent of the Society’s members are awarded the distinction.
Houder was nominated for the title by his peers for outstanding service to the Society and to the profession of forestry.
“I have spent my entire adult life practicing forestry in the Southeast,” said Houder. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers.”
Houder has provided numerous contributions to the forestry profession over the years. During his time at the District he has helped develop the conservation easement program and assisted the District in becoming the first public agency to be certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
“Charlie Houder is the premier land manager in Florida,” said David Still, District executive director. “He has taken the District's programs to a higher level and set the bar for other public agencies to achieve. I have enjoyed working with and learning from Charlie.”
Houder, a certified forester, is a deputy executive director at the District and the director of the Department of Land Acquisition and Management. The department oversees purchases of land and conservation easements for the purpose of water conservation. With few exceptions, all of the lands acquired are also open for public recreation.
Houder has been a member of the Society for 32 years, during which time he has held numerous offices. He will be honored at the Society’s National Convention in Orlando later this year.
Founded in 1900, the Society of American Foresters is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States and is the largest professional society for foresters in the world.