AFF joins the 1T.org U.S. chapter launch, pledging to support the conservation and growth of trees with family forest owners to help address climate change

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 27, 2020) – Today, the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization that focuses on empowering family and private forest owners to protect and improve their forests, joined 26 other conservation leaders in committing to the 1t.org U.S. chapter as part of the global trillion trees effort. Through its collaboration and support of family forest owners, AFF has pledged to conserve, improve and grow 84,000,000 trees, which will sequester an estimated 25,878,086 MT CO2e.

“America’s family forest owners, who own the largest chunk of America’s forests, are an important piece of achieving the Trillion Trees goal. Family forest owners can contribute by planting news trees, and are also essential in maintaining our existing trees on the landscape. That’s why we at the American Forest Foundation are pleased to support U.S. Chapter of 1T.org, with a pledge to continue to expand our work with family landowners, partners, and funders,” said Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. 

Families and individuals own 36 percent, or 290 million acres, of forests across the U.S. and represent 1 in 4 rural Americans.

In a white paper “Family-owned Forests: Unlocking the Carbon Potential in America’s Backyard” released just last week, AFF provided analysis and insight on the case for working with family forests to sequester and store more carbon.  

AFF white paper reveals family forest owners’ values align with the needs of our environment and climate. They care about seeing their land remain as a forest into the future, and about improving the health of their forest. Yet, few are currently implementing practices that would increase the health and carbon sequestration ability of their trees. This inaction is caused by difficulty finding information and trusted resources, and most notably, the high cost of forest management and conservation.

In response, AFF’s white paper outlines how private side investment and carbon markets can open up revenue streams to family landowners, helping overcome cost barriers and incentivizing voluntary behavior around carbon sequestration.

AFF’s tree pledge to the 1T.org U.S. chapter will focus mainly on empowering family forest owners to maintain and improve their existing forest stands, as management of forests is a critical component of a comprehensive climate strategy. AFF will do this through its efforts from now through 2030 to work with conservation partners and corporations through its existing programs, such as the Family Forest Carbon Program, and other innovative solutions.

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

About the American Forest Foundation The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a national non-profit conservation organization that protects and measurably increases the clean water, wildlife habitat, and sustainable wood supplies that come from family-owned forests. AFF works with partners, leading businesses, policymakers, and landowners directly, 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, visit www.forestfoundation.org.