2019 was a strong year for forest policy. Together with your help, we have secured policy wins that make it possible for improved active forest management for over 21 million family forest owners across the nation. 

Thank you for all your advocacy during the year. This work could not have been done without all your emails, letters, office visits, and field tours. Your work has helped ensure our family forests will stay healthy and sustainable.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished thanks to you: 

AFF’s Bi-Annual Fly-In 

This past spring, 60 landowners from 20 states traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for forestry issues on behalf of family forest owners around the nation. Before meeting face-to-face with their representatives, attendees received in-depth briefing from AFF staff on federal policy issues that impact family-owned forests and were taught strategies for being an effective advocate. 

Hill Days allow family forest owners to tell their stories and underscore their important role in providing for all Americans. Whether attendees are seasoned advocates or newcomers to Capitol Hill, visits with their members helps to keep these representatives updated on issues that are important to their constituents and allows for advocates to build strong relationships with legislators.

This year was particularly special as it was the first time that members of the Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention program had agendas that focused solely on the issue of heir’s property and the importance of engaging African-American landowners in forestry advocacy. These landowners were able to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, the Chief of the NRCS and the Chief of the Forest Service. Read more highlights from AFF’s 2019 Fly-In.

The Passing of the Disaster Aid Bill 

This year marked the first time that guaranteed funding would be available to help landowners get paid for the loss of timber value due to natural disasters. This was a huge accomplishment as it provided landowners in Florida, Georgia and Alabama access to the financial support they need to restore the health of their woodlands which were destroyed by Hurricane Michael and Florence. 

During AFF’s 2019 Fly-In, the Disaster Aid Bill was a focal point of many meetings between landowners and their representatives. Family forest owners from the devastated areas, such as the Browne family, came to Washington, DC to make sure that their story was shared and that the voices of other affected landowners were heard. Without their help and their advocacy efforts, this major accomplishment would not have been possible. 

Butte County, CA is another area that will benefit from this legislative success.  Communities and forestland were devastated after the 2018 Camp Fire and this funding will go a long way in helping people help restore the forests in the area. 

This work would not have been possible without the help of the USDA and the state foresters who helped to ensure that the necessary funding was directed to supporting America’s family-owned forests. 

Implementing the Farm Bill  

With the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018, the implementation process for conservation programs such as EQIP, RCPP, and CSP began this year. Although the implementation process won’t finish until early 2020, this year AFF was determined to make sure that family forest owners will benefit from these NRCS programs by attending stakeholder meetings, advocacy work, and submitting comments throughout the entire process. 

Appropriations  

With the help of your advocacy work, funding for Landscape Scale Restoration was increased from $14 million to $20 million and $5 million was put towards the Community Wood Energy Program. These funds will help to create even more opportunities for family forest owners to get the assistance and resources they need to continue keeping their forests healthy for future generations. 

Beginning to advocate at a state level in CA 

In California, the legislature is moving quickly on matters of wildfire prevention and resiliency. Because of the urgent need, AFF’s policy team is now advocating for family forest owners at a state level in California, in order to ensure that landowners like you are being represented and getting the attention they deserve in this space. 

Forest Recovery Act introduced in the Senate

The Forest Recovery Act would make available financial support for landowners to be reimbursed for loss of timber value in all areas regardless if the event had been declared a federal disaster. Not only would this help family forest owners to work towards restoring their forests but it would also help to protect the many benefits that are provided by these woodlands. 

Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia has been championing this bill within the House of Representatives. However, until this year, this bill had not been able to secure a Senate Champion. Because of the dedicated work of AFF’s advocacy leaders, Senator Hyde Smith of Mississippi introduced this bill into the Senate, stating that, “Not allowing these timber interests, many of whom are family-owned small business operations, to recover their losses doesn’t help anyone—not them, the local economy, or the environment,”.

Thank you again for all your efforts in 2019. With your advocacy support, we are looking forward to another exciting year! If you’re interested in learning more about AFF’s advocacy goals or would like to become an active Advocacy Leader, contact us at info@forestfoundation.org.