Scott Truman, Executive Director of the Utah Rural Development Council (URDC) at Southern Utah University, is the recipient of the 2005 Forest Stewardship Achievement Award, presented by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.

Among Truman’s more recent and notable efforts, is the creation of the Forest Stewardship Center, (see UFN Spring 05). The goals of the Center include promoting healthy forests and a healthy forest industry in southern Utah. Truman was instrumental in obtaining a grant request for a portable sawmill known as a micromill, owned and operated by Skyline Forest Products, which is designed to process small diameter material from thinning projects. Truman is involved in biomass utilization projects, including testing pinyon and juniper trees in the production of ethanol.

Truman was one of the principal forces who attempted to develop a sustained yield unit in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. This would have been a Forest Service-designated unit where preference would be given to local operators and mills within the unit for offerings and manufacturing of forest products from National Forest land. Although unsuccessful, this effort led towards the development of the Stewardship Center.

Truman helped to create a Memorandum of Understanding for Forest Restoration and Community Capacity Building Partnership was created between the State of Utah and the Intermountain and Southwest Regions of the U.S. Forest Service. Truman has also been instrumental in the creation of the Utah Forest Products Association. This award provides recognition to Truman for his leadership in forest stewardship in the State of Utah.