Increase Sustainable Wood Supplies
Family-owned forests play a major role in our nation’s wood supply.
Family-owned forests provide 50% of the wood that flows into the U.S. supply chain.
The majority of forests in the United States are family-owned, so it’s no surprise that family-owned forests are critical to our nation’s wood supply.
What it means to be sustainable
Sustainably produced wood comes from forests that are managed for a full range of benefits and functions—where forest owners work to protect clean water and wildlife habitat, replant after harvesting, and promote diversity while combating invasive species. These actions ensure that forests stay as forests and continue to produce benefits well into the future.
For more information on sustainability and third-party certification, check out the American Forest Foundation’s American Tree Farm System,® our longstanding network of 69,000 family forest owners sustainably managing 18 million acres of forestland in the United States.
The American Forest Foundation is working across the country to engage landowners in sustainable forest management practices.
As one example, we’ve partnered with a diverse group of universities, government agencies, conservation organizations and industries to support the White Oak Initiative whose mission is ensuring the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests.
Learn more about partnering with us to support family forest owners in sustainable forest management practices and ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s wood supplies.
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America’s White Oak: Resilience in the Face of Change
According to White Oak Initiative Director Melissa Moeller, we can reverse the decline of America's white oak forests if we invest in them today—essentially, if we invest in a more resilient landscape.
August 5, 2020
AFF Launches Pilots in GA, SC and FL to Grow ATFS Certification Three-Fold
For family landowners, being certified in ATFS validates good forest stewardship and provides access to free or reduced professional resources to help them care for their land. For some, however, the certification process can be long and slow. In fact, across the U.S., fewer than 10% of family lands in the U.S. are certified. Starting this year, AFF is launching pilot programs in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, which will aim to increase the growth rate of certified acres by three times its current pace annually.
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AFF Helps Family Forest Owners Make Significant Contribution to Longleaf Restoration
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a long-time participant in the ALRI coalition, is proud to have supported one of the most significant non-profit contributions to these results – 23,000 acres – to longleaf restoration. Through its work, AFF is facilitating more family forest owners be a part of the solution and make important contributions to biodiversity and wildlife needs.