Family Forest Blog
April 30, 2026
From Fund to Trust: the Evolution of AFF’s Approach to Managing Non-Permanence Risk
This issue of managing non-permanence risk affects buyers, standards, project developers, and all other market participants, making it a significant impediment to scaling both nature- and tech-based solutions and thus slowing climate progress. We recently launched a study to test the feasibility of our Permanence Trust concept. But our work to address concerns of durability and permanence long predates the Trust.
April 17, 2026
Statement: AFF Statement on House Voting to Increase Support for Forest Landowners Impacted by Natural Disasters
AFF applauds House passage of the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act after unanimous passage of the companion bill in the Senate. The bill now heads to the President for signature, an example of bipartisan Congressional support for American families and forests.
March 5, 2026
Statement: AFF Statement on the House Agriculture Committee’s Vote to Advance a Bipartisan Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is critical to the health and wellbeing of America’s forests and family forest owners. One in four rural Americans own private forests and look to federal programs and policies that support natural resources, wildlife habitat, and water quality. We appreciate the Committee’s commitment to family forest owners in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act.
February 2, 2026
AFF Statement on GHG Protocol Land Sector & Removals Standard
The exclusion of forests from the LSR Standard increases the risk of sidelining one of the most mature and impactful pathways for near-term mitigation.
October 23, 2025
Forestry Organizations Urge Trump Administration to Support Private Landowners in Trade Practices
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), Forest Landowners Association (FLA), and National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) sent a joint letter today to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent urging the Trump administration to include private forest landowners, family forestry businesses, and timber product manufacturers in efforts to address unfair trade practices.
October 21, 2025
Statement: Critical Wildfire Legislation Moves to Senate Floor
“AFF applauds the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for advancing the Fix our Forests Act.
October 8, 2025
Statement: AFF Applauds Confirmation of USDA Officials
AFF congratulates Under Secretaries Boren, Fordyce, and Hoskins on their confirmation to leadership roles at USDA. These agencies provide critical support to private landowners through technical assistance, financial assistance, grants, and other programming to keep their working forests healthy and productive.
July 3, 2025
AFF CEO Statement on Passage of Reconciliation Bill
Federal support of family forest producers, through tax provisions and conservation programs, provides some of the tools they need to strengthen local economies while improving the health and productivity of our nation’s woodlands.
May 15, 2025
Statement: Committees Take First Step in Supporting Forest Landowners in Reconciliation
Today, the US House Agriculture Committee and Ways and Means Committees took the first steps in supporting the more than 21 million American family forest owners by protecting and growing voluntary conservation programs and maintaining important tax provisions.
March 27, 2025
Statement: Disaster Reforestation Act Will Help Family Forest Owners Recover
Currently, family forest owners cannot recoup the value of their timber lost in natural disasters, making it that much harder for these owners to reinvest in the recovery of their forest. The Disaster Reforestation Act aims to fix this by amending the tax code to allow forest owners to deduct the market value of their timber destroyed by natural disasters.
February 27, 2025
Statement: AFF Applauds Appointment of Tom Schultz as Chief of United States Forest Service
AFF congratulates Tom Schultz on his appointment as the 21st Chief of the United States Forest Service. Tom brings a wealth of public and private land management experience to this role. We look forward to working with Tom to unlock markets and champion economic opportunities for rural families and communities while conserving our working lands.
February 13, 2025
Statement: AFF Applauds Confirmation of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture
Scaling market-based solutions that invest in forest health and productivity can help these rural communities thrive and tackle the growing threats these lands and communities are facing. We’re excited to work with Secretary Rollins to advance both traditional and emerging markets that improve the health and productivity of our nation’s woodlands.
January 22, 2025
Statement: AFF Applauds Introduction of Disaster Reforestation Act
The Disaster Reforestation Act would provide family forest owners with an important financial tool they need to recover from a natural disaster: the ability to deduct their losses.
October 29, 2024
Branching Across the Aisle: How Building a Voluntary Carbon Market Benefits Rural Communities & The Planet
With the presidential election right around the corner, our television screens and social media feeds are filled with divisive messages and rhetoric. However, in a time where finding common ground seems nearly impossible, there is at least one thing that Americans on both sides of the aisle support: our forests.
August 14, 2024
Statement: USDA’s Advisory Council to Support Market Transparency and Credibility
"USDA’s creation of this council is a major step in creating the enabling conditions needed to build and scale a market that works for people and the planet."