Family Forest Blog
April 12, 2023
Family Forest Carbon Program Announces Expansion into Midwest United States
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced the Family Forest Carbon Program, a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has expanded enrollment to landowners in select counties in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
April 7, 2023
The Sticky Wicket that is Additionality
Carbon is everywhere in your forest—in the trees, in their leaves, in the soil, in the dead woody debris that litters the forest floor, and even in the wood products that are created when your trees are harvested. When landowners hear that there are programs that will pay them for their carbon, some think about that carbon—the carbon that is out there in their woods right now, today. But that’s not exactly what carbon programs are after. Carbon programs are after additional carbon—the carbon that would not have been there without the program’s help.
March 30, 2023
We Must Activate All Climate Solutions Now
Last week, the world passed a new jarring threshold. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced on March 20 that the world is on track to miss our goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next 10 years.
March 30, 2023
AFF Applauds Core Carbon Principles that Raise the Standard for the Entire Carbon Market
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM) released its Core Carbon Principles and Program-level Assessment Framework, setting ambitious standards for the entire voluntary carbon market to ensure quality, integrity, and genuine climate impact. “There is no viable path to avoid global climate catastrophe without leveraging natural climate solutions – and the best way to do that right now is through the voluntary carbon market."
March 29, 2023
Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right For You? Part 5: You Care What Happens to Your Land When You're Gone
What happens to my contract if I sell the property? What if the property passes on to my heirs in the event of my death? These are very valid questions. Data on land tenure indicates that most properties that enroll in The Family Forest Carbon Program will be owned by someone else by the end of the 20-year enrollment period, so we have intentionally designed the program to benefit the current owner, as well as the next. In this post we look at how the program can support future owners of your land.
March 29, 2023
Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right For You? Part 4: You Want to Make Sure You're Getting a Good Deal
First, we want to acknowledge that financial considerations are probably not the number one motivating factor for you when you think about your goals for your forest. However, they are also not unimportant. If you’re like most landowners, you want to know that whatever you implement is going to be financially possible for you and your family, and you want to know that you’re not making an outright poor financial decision.
March 28, 2023
Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right For You? Part 2: You Need Forestry Guidance or Financial Assistance
One of the most common things we hear from landowners is that they want to do right by their land, and just need a bit of guidance to ensure they are making the right choices. In this post we look at the ways the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) provides you with technical assistance and management flexibility to reach your unique goals for your land.
March 28, 2023
Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right For You? Part 3: You’re Concerned About Greenwashing and Corporate Polluting
Simply put, "greenwashing" is the act of marketing something as being more environmentally friendly than it is. Even if the term itself is new to you, the idea has likely already crossed your mind while considering this or other carbon programs. In this post we look at what we are doing to mitigate greenwashing, and how we ensure we're producing credits that meet the highest standards of integrity.
March 28, 2023
Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right For You? Part 1: An Introduction to the Program
As you work with the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) you will learn that we are different from other carbon programs and opportunities for landowners. We are proud of what makes us unique and want to provide you with this information to help you make the right decision for you and your property. In this post we look at the key benefits of enrolling in FFCP and how we are different from other carbon programs.
March 21, 2023
AFF CEO: IPCC Report Showcases Need to Activate All Climate Solutions Now
“The IPCC’s report makes it alarmingly clear that we must activate all tools, including natural climate solutions, to fight climate change. In order to limit the risks within 1.5-degrees of global warming, governments, companies, and organizations must include forest-based solutions and leverage carbon markets that invest in the health and productivity of America’s forests."
March 10, 2023
VIDEO: Our Carbon Accounting Methodology Explained
Learn more about the Family Forest Carbon Program's carbon accounting methodology that improves accuracy and transparency — and ensures our program is having a real impact.
March 10, 2023
EVENT: Investing in America’s Forests Through the Voluntary Carbon Market
Please join us on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 for Investing in America's Forests: Expanding Rural Access to the Voluntary Carbon Market, a virtual panel discussion that will explore pathways to increase investment in rural American communities through the voluntary carbon market.
February 22, 2023
Senior Forestry Manager Hypes Family Forest Carbon Program in Minnesota
Senior Forestry Manager Chrissy Shaw recently shared her thoughts with the Minnesota Women's Woodland Network on the many benefits of participating in the Family Forest Carbon Program.
February 21, 2023
Unlocking Private Financing for Small Landowners in Maryland
Senior Policy Manager James McKitrick recently spoke with experts at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center about AFF's innovative use of a State Revolving Fund loan guarantee to finance climate action.
February 9, 2023
The Carbon Markets Are Calling For Higher Quality Carbon Credits: America’s Family Forests Are Answering
President and CEO Rita Hite writes about the American Forest Foundation's new strategic direction and goal of working with family forest owners from all walks of life to capture and store one billion tonnes of carbon by 2050.