AFF Congratulates GCSA Advisory Council Appointees
A view of a forest canopy from below
AFF’s EVP of Climate Funding Nathan Truitt to Represent NGO Sector on Council
CONTACT: Kristen Voorhees, Communications Senior Director, media@forestfoundation.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 7, 2025) – Rita Hite, president & CEO of the American Forest Foundation, issued this statement following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s appointments to the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, in accordance with the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA):
“Forests are increasingly facing a variety of threats, from a changing climate to conversion pressures to shifting markets. The voluntary carbon market is a critical tool for financing much needed forest management improvements, forest conservation and climate mitigation – but these efforts will only be successful if they are high-integrity and include rural family forest owners in the equation. USDA’s establishment of this advisory council is an integral step toward creating the enabling conditions needed to build and scale a market that works for people and the planet. With today’s appointments of experts across the agricultural and forestry industries, the Department can effectively unlock market access for American landowners who are far too often left on the sidelines of our country’s conservation efforts.
“We congratulate AFF’s Nathan Truitt, Executive Vice President of Climate Funding, who will serve on the council as a representative of the nongovernmental industry. We also congratulate Dr. Edie Sonne Hall, Claire Getty, and Bryan Van Stippen – all of whom will greatly contribute to the practical expertise of the council.”
##
About The American Forest Foundation
The American Forest Foundation is a national conservation organization that empowers family forest owners to make meaningful conservation impact. The organization’s flagship program, the Family Forest Carbon Program, helps landowners implement forest management practices to protect the health of their woodlands and help the planet. To learn more about the American Forest Foundation and the Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.forestfoundation.org/carbon.
Related Articles
May 6, 2026
Family Forest Carbon Program Enrolls 200,000 Acres
Today, the American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) reached 200,000 total acres enrolled, a major milestone in its efforts to support family landowners, bolster rural economies, and deliver meaningful conservation impact.
April 20, 2026
New Tool Visualizes the Conservation Benefits of American Family Forests
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) launched a new data visualization map that highlights the many conservation benefits of America’s family-owned forests.
April 17, 2026
Statement: AFF Statement on House Voting to Increase Support for Forest Landowners Impacted by Natural Disasters
AFF applauds House passage of the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act after unanimous passage of the companion bill in the Senate. The bill now heads to the President for signature, an example of bipartisan Congressional support for American families and forests.