Family Forest Blog
May 17, 2023
Farm Bill Must Include Solutions for Family Forest Owners
Forests in the Farm Bill (FIFB), a coalition of more than 70 forestry and conservation organizations, released today a set of recommendations focused on improving the forest-related sections of the upcoming Farm Bill.
May 16, 2023
Vermont Organic Maple Sugar Business Thrives in the Family Forest Carbon Program
Chris Johnson and his family steward around 450 acres of forestland in Lincoln, Vermont. They eat from the property’s apple trees in the fall, harvest timber for the winter and collect sap for the family’s organic maple syrup operation in the spring.
May 12, 2023
3 Extra Perks of Enrolling in the Family Forest Carbon Program
When considering a forest carbon program, it is natural (and wise!) for landowners to weigh the costs and benefits of their options, and what sets one program apart from another. In this post you'll learn about three ways we strive to build a relationship that connects you with resources and opportunities that align with your goals, and with other landowners who share similar experiences.
May 9, 2023
American Forest Foundation Adds New Voices and Perspectives to Board of Trustees
The American Forest Foundation announces the appointment of three new members to its board of trustees who will offer the vital insight, lived experiences and cultural perspectives necessary for AFF to transform carbon markets to be accessible for every family forest owner.
May 5, 2023
What Landowners in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Can Expect from the Family Forest Carbon Program
There’s a buzz in the air and it’s not the mosquitoes — yet! The Family Forest Carbon Program recently expanded to include select counties in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and foresters and family forest owners alike are excited.
April 28, 2023
Carbon Markets 101
When we say we are selling “carbon," we’re not speaking literally. We don’t come to your property and extract a tonne of carbon, the element, put it in a box and ship it to a corporation. What we’re really selling is a claim — specifically, the claim that a tonne of carbon dioxide has been kept out of the atmosphere as a result of a specific action — in this case, a carbon program.
April 22, 2023
AFF Celebrates Earth Day Through #TreeFeatures (Part 2)
As part of our #TreeFeature Campaign, AFF is showcasing the MVPs of the forest – trees that fight climate change by capturing and storing carbon and protecting the health of flora and fauna alike in their ecosystems.
April 21, 2023
AFF Celebrates Earth Day Through #TreeFeatures (Part 1)
Over the next few days we’ll take you out to the forest with our #TreeFeature series. We're showcasing 5 unique trees across AFF's social media and highlighting their importance in their native ecosystems! We've chosen Black Cherry, Quaking Aspen, White Oak, Red Elm, and Sugar Maple as our 2023 Earth Day Hall-of-Famers.
April 18, 2023
Defining High Integrity
“What is a high-quality carbon credit? What makes a carbon credit ‘real’ as opposed to ‘hot air?’” And, perhaps most importantly, “Why does this issue of high-quality matter to me?” So let’s dive into this topic and try to clarify what quality is and why it’s important.
April 14, 2023
What We Pay and Why It's Not For Carbon
The Family Forest Carbon Program is about more than monetary payments. The benefits include a better forest to enjoy for you and future generations. But how is the value of your payments determined, how are they funded and what are those payments for? Let's explore this unique program's financial benefits.
April 13, 2023
Talking about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice in the Family Forest Carbon Program
In March, the American Forest Foundation held its first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Summit in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Tatiana Height shares some insights.
April 12, 2023
Family Forest Carbon Program Announces Expansion into Midwest United States
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced the Family Forest Carbon Program, a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has expanded enrollment to landowners in select counties in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
April 7, 2023
The Sticky Wicket that is Additionality
Carbon is everywhere in your forest—in the trees, in their leaves, in the soil, in the dead woody debris that litters the forest floor, and even in the wood products that are created when your trees are harvested. When landowners hear that there are programs that will pay them for their carbon, some think about that carbon—the carbon that is out there in their woods right now, today. But that’s not exactly what carbon programs are after. Carbon programs are after additional carbon—the carbon that would not have been there without the program’s help.
March 30, 2023
AFF Applauds Core Carbon Principles that Raise the Standard for the Entire Carbon Market
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM) released its Core Carbon Principles and Program-level Assessment Framework, setting ambitious standards for the entire voluntary carbon market to ensure quality, integrity, and genuine climate impact. “There is no viable path to avoid global climate catastrophe without leveraging natural climate solutions – and the best way to do that right now is through the voluntary carbon market."
March 30, 2023
We Must Activate All Climate Solutions Now
Last week, the world passed a new jarring threshold. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced on March 20 that the world is on track to miss our goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next 10 years.