Family Forest Blog
March 20, 2020
American Tree Farm System Honors Bob Obedzinski as 2020 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to recognize Bob Obedzinski of Washington as the 2020 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Obedzinski 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 20, 2020
Wyoming Couple Awarded for Leadership and Contributions to Forestry Community
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) are pleased to recognize Ed and Barb Mignery with the 2020 National Leadership Award. The award recognizes the efforts of extraordinary volunteers for their leadership in motivating other volunteers, educating landowners and accomplishing his or her state committee’s forest conservation goals.
March 19, 2020
Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation Enlists AFF to Help Reach Its Sustainability Goals
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) recently announced that it has received $1.5 million in funding over three years from the Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation (DBC) for its sustainability assurance work. DBC is a non-profit entity that was established to promote certification and provide support to small forest owners in North America, where the majority of the country’s wood biomass supply is sourced.
March 16, 2020
A Message from Tom Martin, AFF President & CEO, Regarding COVID-19
Given the rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the American Forest Foundation and the American Tree Farm System would like to inform you of the steps we are taking to minimize risk to our staff, partners and network members and how these steps may affect our operations in the coming weeks. We are also taking steps to help our network stay engaged during this difficult period by making available tools for virtual work.
March 4, 2020
AFF Awarded Multi-Year Support from Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced it has received $1.5 million in funding from the Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation (DBC) to create with a comprehensive sustainability assurance program to help DBC expand certification among small forest owners in North America.
February 24, 2020
AFF Welcomes International Paper as a Family Forest Carbon Program Partner
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today that International Paper, one of the world's leading producers of fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper, has joined AFF and its partner, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in supporting the newly-created Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) to enhance carbon sequestration on family-owned forestland across the U.S.
February 13, 2020
American Forest Foundation Statement on the Introduction of the Trillion Trees Act
The American Forest Foundation, on behalf of our nation’s family forest owners, appreciates Representative Westerman’s leadership on the Trillion Trees Act, legislation designed to help the U.S. contribute to the global Trillion Trees Initiative.
February 3, 2020
American Forest Foundation Welcomes Domtar as a Family Forest Carbon Program Partner
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today that the Domtar Corporation has joined AFF and its partner, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in supporting the newly-created Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) to enhance carbon sequestration in family owned forest land across the U.S.
January 27, 2020
AFF Senior Fellow Appointed to CARB
This week, the California Air and Resources Board (CARB) announced David Ford, AFF Senior Fellow and family forest expert will serve on the newly established CARB Compliance Offset Task Force, a group created to provide guidance on the state’s offset protocols and projects.
January 22, 2020
President & CEO of Conservation Think Tank to Serve as New American Forest Foundation Board Chair
Today, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced Kathryn Fernholz, President & CEO of Dovetail Partners, Inc., will serve as the Chair of the AFF Board of Trustees in 2020 and 2021. Fernholz is the first woman to serve in the Chair position on AFF’s Board.
January 8, 2020
Statement from AFF President & CEO Tom Martin Regarding Rural Prosperity Report
Today, American Forest Foundation (AFF) President and CEO Tom Martin released the following statement in regards to the release of the Rural Prosperity report at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville.
January 2, 2020
American Tree Farm System Launches 60-day Public Comment Period on Standards of Sustainability
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), today launched 60-day public comment period on AFF’s current Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (Standards) and announces the 13 members of a new Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP).
December 5, 2019
Family in Washington State Awarded National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
Today, the American Tree Farm System awarded the New family of Bellingham, Washington the National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year honor from among more than 70,000 certified Tree Farmers nationwide, thanks to their efforts to restore a portion of a critical watershed to help a threatened species in their state.
December 3, 2019
Advocating for Forest Policy in 2019
2019 was a strong year for forest policy. With your help, we are making it possible for increased active forest management for over 21 million family forest owners across the nation.
December 3, 2019
Outstanding Efforts to Restore Critical Habitat
The New family, David and Dar New, and their daughter’s family, Jennifer and Jeff Parker and their sons, are owners of the Nourse Family Tree Farm in Bellingham, Washington. The 165-acre property has been in Dar’s family for three generations.