Funding Priorities
Foundation urges Congress to fund USDA research, extension, and invasives species control to help family forest owners with climate change issues.
The Foundation weighed in with the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, requesting $120 million for key USDA programs that will assist family forest owners in dealing with climate change. USDA, through the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service funds important research and landowner outreach and education activities that will aide family forest owners in addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate. Additionally, through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA is on the front lines in efforts to control invasive species that ravage family forests. READ MORE
Foundation, Conservation Partners, call for USDA Forest Service Funding in 2010 to Respond to Climate Change
AFF along with industry, conservation, wildlife, and other forest conservation partners, called on Congress, in a statement to the House Appropriations Committee, to sufficiently fund key USDA Forest Service programs that will help the nation respond to climate change. The recommendations focus on funding existing programs and authorities that can take on new roles to help the nation’s forests respond to changing climates by keeping forests intact, managing forests to increase climate change mitigation capacity, and improving their ability to adapt.
Foundation Supports Legislation to Fix Wildfire Funding Problems
The Foundation along with over 65 organizations, supports the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act (FLAME Act) (HR 1404/S 561), legislation that would create a new emergency wildfire funding account. The US Forest Service and the Department of the Interior are often forced to "borrow" funds from non-fire activities such as programs that help family forest owners manage their land, to cover wildfire suppression expenses when money runs out. This practice is extremely detrimental to the Agencies, their partners, and people they Agencies are supposed to serve.
Click here for the Coalition letter.
Foundation Applauds Final Stimulus Package and its Support for Family Forests
Congress has passed its $790 billion economic stimulus package and showed strong support for family forests. The package includes $250 million for US Forest Service, State and Private Forestry programs. This funding is to be spent on hazardous fuels, forest health, ecosystem improvement, and biomass utilization projects that are "shovel ready" and create jobs.
The package also includes incentives for renewable energy production from forests.
The American Forest Foundation applauded Congress' action in support of family forest owners and the communities that rely on these forests for economic security and environmental benefits
Wildfire Budget Crisis Letter
Foundation Opposes Funding Cuts to Farm Bill Conservation ProgramsBACK TO POLICY ISSUES 
