CONTACT: Kris Voorhees, kvoorhees@forestfoundation.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rita Hite, president & CEO of the American Forest Foundation, issued this statement following the USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins' appointment of Tom Schultz as the Chief of the 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. We thank Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, for his decades of service and commitment to prioritizing the health and productivity of our nation's public and private lands. The Forest Service is an invaluable partner to the millions of rural family landowners, their communities, and the more than $300 billion industry our forests support.

As we look to the future of the Forest Service and USDA, AFF is encouraged by the opportunity to revitalize the agency’s engagement in support of the more than 21 million private landowners and American forest product sector. We look forward to continued collaboration with the dedicated public servants at the agency and incoming Chief Schultz.”

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About The American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a national conservation organization that empowers family forest owners to make meaningful conservation impact. The organization’s flagship program, the Family Forest Carbon Program, helps landowners implement forest management practices to protect the health of their woodlands and help the planet. To learn more about the American Forest Foundation and the Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.forestfoundation.org/carbon.