Tallahassee, FL – October 8, 2009 – Lynetta Usher Griner, Officer of the Usher Land and Timber Company in Chiefland is this year’s recipient of Audubon’s Sustainable Forestry Award. Each year Florida Audubon Society recognizes one deserving sustainable forestry operation for its contributions to wildlife conservation. The award was presented at the Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting in St. Augustine, on September 10.

John Hankinson, chairman of the board of Florida Audubon Society presented the award. He recognized Lynetta for her public service as a former member of the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District, working with Friends of Fanning Springs (a citizen-support organization), and serving as a member of
the Florida Forever Advisory Council, which evaluated Florida Forever projects. In December 2008, she came full circle, accepting an appointment by the Division of Forestry to the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) that oversees Florida Forever acquisitions and public land management today.

Lynetta left a private law practice in the late 1980’s to work for her family timber business. Currently she is the vice-president of Florida Forestry Association and will serve as president in a few years.

“From one generation to another, family businesses like Usher Land & Timber continue to keep forestlands a growing part of Florida’s unique landscape and a vital part of Florida’s natural environment," says Jeff Doran, Executive Vice President, Florida Forestry Association. "Through Lynetta’s dedication to land-management and
conservation issues we can all enjoy Florida’s great outdoors," Doran concludes.

For more information contact Florida Forestry Association at info@forestfla.org or visit www.floridaforest.org