Overview

The Virginia SHARP (Sustainable Harvesting And Resource Professional) Logger program offers training to loggers, foresters, and others throughout the state.  Training courses focus on the principles of sustainable forestry, environmental protection, and workplace safety. The Virginia SHARP Logger program began in 1996 as part of the nationwide Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®). More information on SFI® can be found at sfiprogram.org or virginiasfi.org. Originally coordinated through the Virginia Forestry Association vaforestry.org , in 2002 the SHARP Logger program became a Virginia Tech Forestry Extension program with a full time SHARP Logger Program coordinator as an Extension Associate in the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. The program continues to receive support from Virginia’s forest industry through the Virginia SFI® Implementation Committee.

After completing the core program, to maintain current SHARP Logger status, SHARP Loggers must earn 8 hours worth of Continuing Education (CE) credit every two years. CE classes are offered on a wide variety of topics and are scheduled throughout the year across the state. At least two of these CE credits must come from the required SHARP Logger Update Class. Classes often include speakers from forest industry, insurance companies, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Tech, and other agencies and organizations. SHARP Logger classes are offered at no charge to participants. Many SHARP Logger programs are coordinated by the District Forestry and Natural Resources Extension agents across the state. Since the program began, over 4,000 individuals have completed the core program to become SHARP Loggers. These logging businesses represent the vast majority of logging production capacity in the state.