Family Forest Blog
March 30, 2021
Meet the Hartman Sisters of Pennsylvania
For the Hartman sisters, Chestnut Farm is a family heirloom. Like a handmade rocking chair, or well-used quilt, it has a feeling of home and memories.
March 25, 2021
Growing Forest Conservation, Together: The 2019 National Leadership Conference
Each year, AFF welcomes more than 250 Tree Farmers, inspectors, state committee leaders, policy supporters and partners to the three-day 2019 National Leadership Conference (NLC). With topics ranging from the ATFS database to learning how to engage a more diverse audience to an emerging leaders workshop focused on the next generation of sustainable forestry, the conference provided plenty of opportunities for participants to learn more about the Tree Farm system and its community.
March 12, 2021
American Forest Foundation Statement on California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 33
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national organization that delivers meaningful conservation impacts by empowering family forest owners to take action on their land, applauds California State Assemblymember Laura Friedman for her introduction of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 33 (ACR 33).
March 9, 2021
American Tree Farm System Announces 2021 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to recognize Mike Kay, of Frederick, Maryland as the 2021 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Kay was selected from among more than 2,500 inspectors nationwide for his exceptional on-the-ground work with family forest owners and commitment to the American Tree Farm System.
March 9, 2021
Mississippi Forester Awarded for Leadership and Contributions to Forestry Community
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to award Garron Hicks of Tupelo, Mississippi with its 2021 National Leadership Award. The award recognizes the efforts of extraordinary volunteers for their efforts to catalyze on-the-ground conservation impact, provide educational opportunities to landowners, and support work towards his or her state committee’s forest goals.
February 25, 2021
How Companies Can Help Scale Carbon Markets for Small Forest Owners
Earlier this month, the Task Force for Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets released its final report outlining various steps that project developers, carbon standards, investors, companies and governments can take to help scale the voluntary carbon market. We've provided a summary of the findings and recommendations on how companies can utilize these recommendations, including – among other things – working with and through the Family Forest Carbon Program to achieve their climate goals.
February 23, 2021
American Forest Foundation Applauds the Appointment of Tom Vilsack to Secretary of Agriculture
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization, that works to deliver meaningful conservation impact through the empowerment of family forest owners, today responds to the appointment of Tom Vilsack to Secretary of Agriculture under the Biden Administration.
January 27, 2021
American Forest Foundation Applauds Administration on Prioritizing Forests for Climate
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization that works to deliver meaningful conservation impact through the empowerment of family forest owners, responds to President Biden’s Executive Order on Climate.
December 16, 2020
AFF's 2020 Policy Accomplishments
Though the COVID-19 pandemic, catastrophic wildfires and damaging hurricanes, have put a strain on family landowners and rural communities, state and federal lawmakers have amplified the importance of our nation’s forests in fighting these natural disasters and recovering from pandemic induced economic damage. This work could not have been done without your outreach and advocacy. Your work has helped ensure our family forests will stay healthy and sustainable.
December 15, 2020
Overcoming the Capacity Challenge in the Western U.S.
To meet the need for more professional foresters to assist landowners in western states, AFF has partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to build forester capacity across priority landscapes, with several successes and lessons in the program’s first year.
December 14, 2020
Planting Seeds for the Future of Family Forestry
Pride of ownership. That’s the driving force for Lois Kaufman and Dave McNamara as they steward their 53-acre property in Oak Run, California, about 30 miles northeast of Redding. They’ve both enjoyed long careers as foresters and mentored countless Tree Farmers.
November 30, 2020
How the 2020 Election will affect Climate Policy and America’s Family-Owned Forests
The 2020 Presidential election was one of the most unique in our history for a number of reasons. Now that the election is over, it is time to start considering the implications of a Biden Presidency on key issues, and for the American Forest Foundation, one of the most important issues to consider is climate change.
October 27, 2020
Mary LaHood and Bob Burns, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Meet Mary LaHood and Bob Burns, finalists for the 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year from South Dakota.
October 21, 2020
Climate Change, Wildfires and Sustainable Forest Management
The Western United States is experiencing one of the worst wildfire years on record. In California alone, more than 4 million acres have burned. As global emissions continue to rise and the risks associated with climate change continue to intensify, the answer to reducing forest fires and the other negative environmental impacts from climate change could in fact lie within the forests themselves.
October 7, 2020
Bruce Townsend and Heidi Bundy, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Bruce Townsend and his daughter Heidi Bundy own and operate Tomapo Farm in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on land that has been in their family for 250 years. Each generation has found ways to improve the property and enhance its productivity, while also supporting wildlife and enhancing recreation opportunities for their community.