Statement from AFF President and CEO Tom Martin Regarding the U.S. Forest Service Release of the Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes report

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 16, 2018) – The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a leading conservation organization that helps America’s family forest owners care for their land, today applauded the U.S. Forest Service announcement of their Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes report, which focuses on recommendations for cross-boundary partnerships and outcome-based investment strategies to more effectively comanage wildfire risks and mobilize work on the ground.

“More than 21 million families and individuals own and care for the largest portion of U.S. forests, a total of 270 million acres of private land. The only way that we can make large-scale impact to reduce wildfire risk is to implement strategies that work across landscape types for all types of forests, public and private. We stand committed to work with the Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said Tom Martin, President and CEO of AFF.

“There is an urgent need for more efforts to work collectively across public and private land to get ahead of the issue. Today, the U.S. Forest Service has offered a results-driven path forward that will allow us to make significant gains on reducing the impact of wildfire on communities and forests. We fully support these recommendations and look forward to being a part of the solution. “

The Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes report builds on expanded authorities and funding allotted to the U.S. Forest Service from the 2018 Omnibus bill. The recommendations support appropriate active forest management tactics including mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, and managed wildfires, while tailoring these tools to local conditions through shared decision making. 

Contact: Elizabeth Greener, egreener@forestfoundation.org, 202-253-1096

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.