WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 23, 2021) – The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization, that works to deliver meaningful conservation impact through the empowerment of family forest owners, today responds to the appointment of Tom Vilsack to Secretary of Agriculture under the Biden Administration.

American Forest Foundation (AFF) President and CEO, Tom Martin said:

“In conjunction with the 21 million family forest owners across the U.S., the American Forest Foundation applauds the appointment of Secretary Vilsack to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in tackling our most pressing environmental and economic challenges, including climate change.

In addition to the wildlife habitat, clean water and wood supply our U.S forests support, forests and forest products also offset roughly 15% of America’s emissions annually by sequestering and storing carbon. More importantly, our forests have the potential to more than double this carbon sink with the right investments.

The largest portion of America’s forests fall in the hands of families and individuals, making them a crucial demographic that must be engaged if we want our forests to truly make a dent in our climate crisis.

AFF looks forward to working with Secretary Vilsack to determine the best solutions that can empower landowners to act for our climate. While more funding can help landowners, USDA doesn’t have to pay for it all. Rather, the Department can help tap into voluntary, incentive-based options that leverage private investment such as carbon markets. Already successful options such as the Family Forest Carbon Program are igniting this kind of action, and creating verifiable carbon reductions and creating new income streams for rural Americans. AFF looks forward to working with Secretary Vilsack on this and other solutions over the next four years.”

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

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works exclusively to empower family forest owners to make a meaningful conservation impact around wildlife habitat, clean water, carbon sequestration and storage, and sustainable wood supplies. We work across a broad coalition of partners, corporations, and policymakers to empower family forest landowners to act and ensure everybody understands, supports and values the work of these landowners.  AFF's signature program, the American Tree Farm System® is the country's largest sustainable woodland program with a network of more than 70,000 family forest owners managing nearly 19 million acres of forestland. Learn more: www.forestfoundation.org