Press Releases | Press Releases 2009 November 10, 2009 ATFS Forest Certification Program Strengthens Its Standards The American Forest Foundation (AFF), the nation’s oldest and largest network of woodland owners, announced today that its Board of Trustees has adopted new, revised standards for the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), its woodland certification program. Bob Simpson, AFF Senior Vice President for Forestry Programs, said “The changes do two important things: they go further in protecting woodlands of high conservation value and they streamline the process for woodland owners participating in USDA conservation incentive programs.” November 9, 2009 Oregonian Elected to Lead American Forest Foundation—Priority Programs will Stem the Loss of America’s Woodlands The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced the election of Clint Bentz, CPA and family forest landowner from Scio, Oregon, as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees; Connie Best, co-founder and Managing Director of Pacific Forest Trust in California, as Vice-Chair; and Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as Treasurer. Bentz succeeds Colin Moseley, Chairman of Green Diamond Resource Company of Seattle, who has served on the AFF board since 2004. November 4, 2009 Forest Groups Applaud Stabenow and Colleagues For Leadership on Forestry Elements of Climate Change Bill Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., along with Senators Max Baucus, D-Monn., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Mark Begich, D-AK, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, today introduced legislation to expand the role of forests in fighting climate change by increasing incentives for domestic carbon sequestration. October 26, 2009 U.S. Forests Can Be a Climate Solution Under Senate Bill Responding to the first major hearings on climate change since Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Boxer (D-CA) introduced their climate legislation, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) today said that the Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S 1733) was a good start, but must be improved to fully capture the carbon sequestration and storage benefits from the over 264 million acres of family-owned woodlands right here in America’s backyard. October 15, 2009 Rolling Stones Keyboardist Chuck Leavell Celebrates Conservation Awards to Sen. Jack Reed and Reps. Sarbanes and Schrader It’s not often that a Member of Congress gets to play music with one of the Rolling Stones. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and a longtime musician in various Congressional ensembles, gets a break from his legislative duties for some musical fun Thursday, October 15th at a special event sponsored by the American Forest Foundation and featuring legendary Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell. October 14, 2009 Alabama and Connecticut Landowners Win National Conservation Award Most woodland owners worry about what will happen to their land when they’re gone. But this year’s winners of the American Forest Foundation’s national Conservation Forestry award, Dr. William Jahoda of Lebanon, Connecticut and Campbell B. Lanier III of Hurtsboro, Alabama have a plan. October 2, 2009 Earl and Wanda Barrs Named 2009 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) has named Earl and Wanda Barrs as its 2009 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Barrs received the award during the 16th Annual National Tree Farmer Convention in Washington, D.C. on September 30. This annual award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on family owned woodlands. The Barrs own Gully Branch Tree Farm in Bleckley County, Georgia. October 2, 2009 Private Woodland Landowners Gather in Washington, D.C. To Voice Support for Proposed Legislation Members of our country’s oldest and largest forest conservation, certification, and advocacy program in the United States, the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) gathered in Washington, D.C. for their 16th Annual Tree Farmer Convention, September 28 – September 30. August 13, 2009 The American Forest Foundation and Standards Council of Canada Reach an Agreement Benefiting Sustainable Forest Management The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) entered into an agreement that officially recognizes the SCC as the Canadian accreditation body to accredit certification bodies that deliver sustainable forest management certification of private woodlot owners to the American Tree Farm System’s technical requirements. August 12, 2009 NRCS State Conservationist Award This award recognizes Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationists and their staffs for outstanding technical and financial assistance to private forestland owners on forest conservation activities. August 4, 2009 Tree Farmer and Rolling Stones Keyboardist Asks Congress to Ensure Family Forest Owners Have Access to Carbon and Renewable Energy Market Opportunities and Incentives Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and a Tree Farmer in Georgia, made a special trip to Washington, D.C. this week to urge Members of Congress to support incentives and new market opportunities for small forest owners in the climate bill. August 3, 2009 Learning and Serving through Environmental Education–Project Learning Tree Awards 34 Service-Learning Grants in 21 States As the Obama Administration urges Americans to become more active volunteers, Project Learning Tree (PLT) announced that it will fund 34 projects that engage students in environmental service-learning projects to improve their schools and surrounding communities. July 22, 2009 AFF and Trust for Public Land Urge Congress to Make Forests Part of Climate Bill The American Forest Foundation and The Trust for Public Land today urged Congress to fully engage U.S. forests as a Senate Committee began considering climate change legislation. June 26, 2009 House-passed Climate Change Bill Includes Carbon Forest Offsets In a landmark step, the U.S, House of Representatives today passed climate change legislation, HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, by a 219-212 vote, creating a cap and trade system and other incentives for carbon emissions reduction. May 19, 2009 ATFS Recognizes Alabama’s Forest Stewardship Plans as Meeting Certification Requirements The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) and the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) announced today that ATFS certification universally recognizes Alabama’s Forest Stewardship Plan as meeting management planning requirements for family forest landowners. May 6, 2009 Family Forest Owners Urge Congress Not to Leave Them Out of Federal Renewable Energy Policies May 5, 2009 National Teacher Day Marked by National Award to Outstanding Environmental Educators April 22, 2009 "No Child Left Inside" Legislation Introduced on Earth Day April 16, 2009 Project Learning Tree and Esurance Announce Recipients of GreenWorks! Environmental Grants March 30, 2009 Tom Martin Named President & CEO of the American Forest Foundation March 30, 2009 Post-Katrina Forest Recovery in Mississippi March 28, 2009 Project Learning Tree’s Environmental Education Newsletter Receives Award from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development March 18, 2009 Five Project Learning Tree National Outstanding Educators Show the Benefits of Environmental Education March 12, 2009 OSU Gift to Address Generational Transfer of Family Forests February 18, 2009 Environmental Education and Community Service Combine to Improve Student Learning - Project Learning Tree Awards 58 Grants for Service-Learning Projects February 18, 2009 Private Forests Could Do More to Offset Carbon Emissions - New Industry-Conservation Coalition Calls on Congress to Act February 17, 2009 AFF Names the 2008 Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Awardees | ||||
