Statement from AFF President and CEO Tom Martin

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 6, 2019)  The following statement can be attributed to Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, in response to the recent report from CAL FIRE to the Newsom administration, the Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report, which outlines the current progress and challenges in reducing wildfire risk and restoring lands affected by recent catastrophic wildfires in California:

"Addressing big forest challenges — wildfire, drought, insects, as well as the rising costs of forest management — requires a shared stewardship approach that includes all types of forests to improve overall forest health. We commend the Newsom administration for their commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and homes by making our forests more resilient. This early sign of leadership from the Governor and Chief Porter is very encouraging."

"Family forest owners are a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to solving big issues like wildfire, which threaten communities and critical watersheds. In the Sierra Nevadas, approximately 22 million Californians rely on watersheds protected by family forests for drinking water, including the populations of major cities such as San Francisco and Sacramento. The American Forest Foundation is proud to stand with partners such as CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and others to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. We’re working together to deploy innovative approaches and market-based solutions that empower family forest owners to implement important forest practices that will reduce the risk of future catastrophic fires and protect critical water supplies." 

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. A commitment to the next generation unites our nationwide network of forest owners working to keep our forests healthy and producing the clean water, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood supplies that all Americans count on from forests.