New program activates America's family forestland owners in addressing climate change

WASHINGTON,, D.C. (November 8, 2019) – The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today that Vulcan Materials Company (VMC), the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, 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.  

The FFCP incentivizes individual and family forest owners to adopt forest management practices that improve forest health, increase carbon sequestration, incorporating family forest owners in the global effort to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Families own 290 million acres of America’s forests, more than state or federal governments and the forest industry, and many face cost as a barrier in managing their forestland. These forests represent a land mass the size of California and Texas combined.

VMC’s funding support of the FFCP will expedite family forest owner outreach and enable family forest owners to take action on their land in California and Pennsylvania, the 2 states where the program will be pilot tested. The Family Forest Carbon Program represents a new approach to climate change mitigation that taps into the carbon storage potential of family-owned forestland while creating a new market and source of income for the families that dedicate time and effort to their forest management. 

“Vulcan Materials Company understood the support we needed to engage landowners and implement FFCP at the ground level, and they have shown leadership in providing resources essential to the execution of this program,” said Nathan Truitt, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at AFF.  “VMC’s investment has been instrumental in setting the groundwork for this program and we could not do this work without their support. We encourage other businesses to follow their lead by investing in new approaches that tap the carbon potential of family-owned forests.”

Beyond creating a carbon market for family landowners and improving family forest management, the FFCP also improves overall forest health, fire resilience and water quality.  This is particularly true in California, where the FFCP will assist landowners in reforesting after catastrophic fire.  Family-owned forests in California make up 51 percent of the land at highest risk of catastrophic fire in the state. 

“Vulcan Materials Company has a long history of environmental stewardship and we are inspired by this innovative approach that improves forest management and brings family forest owners into carbon markets,” said David Donaldson, Corporate Vice President and Senior Advisor to the Chairman & CEO at VMC. “We are proud to support the Family Forest Carbon Program as it will protect and restore land upon which countless people, ecosystems and wildlife depend.”

Recent research, published by The Nature Conservancy and 21 other institutions in Science Advances, demonstrates that nature-based solutions, like the FFCP, can help absorb one-fifth of the carbon pollution produced in the United States.  This is equivalent to the emissions from every U.S. passenger vehicle.  Carbon pollution reductions are needed globally by 2030 to keep global temperature increases under 2 degrees Celsius—30 percent more than previously estimated. VCM’s support of the FFCP is key to bringing one such Natural Climate Solution online.  

Contact: Elizabeth Greener, Director of Communications; egreener@forestfoundation.org; (202) 253-1096.

About the American Forest Foundation 

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a non-profit conservation organization that protects and measurably increases clean water, wildlife habitat, and sustainable wood supplies that come from family-owned forests. AFF works with landowners, partners, leading businesses, and policymakers to address key issues such as conserving biodiversity, reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire, and addressing the threat of climate change.  To learn more about the American Forest Foundation and the Family Forest Carbon Program, go to www.forestfoundation.org/carbon.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Vulcan Materials Company 

Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates – primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel – and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete.  For additional information about Vulcan, go to www.vulcanmaterials.com.