WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2023) – The American Forest Foundation’s American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) has announced the posthumous recognition of Jennifer Lambert Johnson of Little Rock, Arkansas as the 2023 National Leadership Award recipient. This award recognizes the efforts of extraordinary volunteers for their efforts to catalyze on-the-ground conservation impact, provide educational opportunities to landowners, and support work towards their state program’s goals. 

Jennifer passed away on December 4th, 2022, after a 4-year battle with cancer. She was the director of business for the Arkansas Forestry Association (AFA) and coordinator of the Arkansas Tree Farm program for over 10 years. AFA shares that, “throughout her battle, she was such an inspiration to others. She kept a smile on her face, never complained and continued to work for the members of the association and Tree Farm program.” You can read more about Jennifer’s life in her obituary.  

ATFS is an internationally-known recognition and certification program that empowers family and private forest owners to keep their forests healthy and sustainable through guidance, tools and a wide community of fellow landowners. It is administered at the national level by AFF and organized into 42 state-level affiliates led by volunteers and partners. Currently there are more than 69,000 family forest owners in the program, managing more than 18 million acres. 

Jennifer’s husband, Chris Johnson accepted Jennifer’s award on her behalf by ATFS Director, Angela Wells, on January 31 at the 2023 National Leadership Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

For more information about the American Tree Farm System, contact Angela Wells at awells@forestfoundation.org 

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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. We work across a broad coalition of conservation partners, corporations, and policymakers to empower family forest landowners and make sure everybody understands, supports and values the work of these landowners.  

Learn more: forestfoundation.org.  

About the American Tree Farm System 

The American Tree Farm System®  is a network of over 70,000 landowners sustainably managing more than 18.9 million acres of forestland. ATFS is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland program in the United States, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. The American Tree Farm System® is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a national forest conservation organization that works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship for healthier forests.