Family Forest Blog
April 22, 2023
AFF Celebrates Earth Day Through #TreeFeatures (Part 2)
As part of our #TreeFeature Campaign, AFF is showcasing the MVPs of the forest – trees that fight climate change by capturing and storing carbon and protecting the health of flora and fauna alike in their ecosystems.
April 21, 2023
AFF Celebrates Earth Day Through #TreeFeatures (Part 1)
Over the next few days we’ll take you out to the forest with our #TreeFeature series. We're showcasing 5 unique trees across AFF's social media and highlighting their importance in their native ecosystems! We've chosen Black Cherry, Quaking Aspen, White Oak, Red Elm, and Sugar Maple as our 2023 Earth Day Hall-of-Famers.
August 4, 2022
5 Benefits of Working with a Forestry Professional through the Family Forest Carbon Program
Learn about the many benefits of working with a forester in the Family Forest Carbon Program from one of AFF's summer interns.
June 1, 2022
Take a Walk with Us in The Family Forest
We’ve created a digital community for America’s family forest owners to connect with fellow landowners from all walks of life to learn more about ways they can improve the health and resiliency of their forests.
July 6, 2021
In It for the Long Haul
The White Oak Initiative is working to create a 50-year strategy to conserve American white oak trees—which support everything from wildlife to key industries like furniture and wine and spirits.
August 19, 2019
New Tool Helps Alabama Landowners Do More on Their Land
Brinley and Martha Hocutt of Alabama can trace the ownership of the land back to the Civil War. They wanted to make sure that they were doing everything possible to ensure the health of their woodlands. With the help of AFF's Landscape Management Plan tool, they have become members of the Tree Farm program and are doing more to reach their management goals.
June 3, 2019
A Forester's Perspective on the Landscape Management Plan
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) introduced a new approach to forest management plans, the landscape management plan to streamline the onboarding and American Tree Farm System certification process for both foresters and landowners. Hear directly from Florida Forest Service forester Greg Marshall on this new tool and how it's helping foresters spend more time with landowners.
April 10, 2019
Tyler’s Tips for Tortoises
Gopher Tortoises are ecosystem engineers across the Southeastern United States. So much so that April 10th is dedicated to celebrating their importance! Tyler Sibley from the Alabama Forestry Association put together ten tips to make Gopher Tortoises feel at home in your forest.
March 4, 2019
Giving Landowners the Right Resources and Tools to Manage their Forests
Landowners want to do right by their land, but often run into barriers. In the Southern Wildlife at Risk: Family Forest Owners Offer a Solution report - being unsure of what to do, finding the right professionals and programs to assist them, and cost can often stop family forest owners from taking action to improve their property.
December 20, 2018
Innovations to Engage More Landowners and Drive Certification Growth
AFF is focused on removing barriers—such as cost, awareness, landowner outreach challenges, forester capacity limitations, among others - that currently prevent more family forest owners from participating in active stewardship.
September 20, 2018
Bringing new technologies to landowners, AFF acquires start-up company and web-based solution
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), in 2015 set a new vision to significantly increase the number of family forest owners caring for their land and making a positive impact on clean water, wildlife habitat, and sustainable wood supplies. In order to reach its goals, AFF has been implementing a variety of new strategies and tactics – partnerships, and modern-day outreach methods – to help connect with more landowners and help them overcome the initial barriers to forest stewardship. Taking this work to the next level, AFF has recently focused on technology, adding a new web-based tool, WoodsCamp, to help streamline the process of matching landowners with conservation programs and opportunities.
September 20, 2018
New Landscape Management Plan Increasing Tree Farm Enrollment
The Landscape Management Plan (LMP) is being piloted and tested in two key landscapes – across 22 counties in Northern Alabama and 16 counties of the panhandle of Florida. In each landscape, a LMP was created in partnership with state forestry agencies, and partners like conservation groups and universities. In these small, but distinct landscapes, the LMP has exploded enrollment to ATFS and helped to overcome key challenges for foresters assisting landowners.
July 19, 2018
Notes From the Field: Positive Responses, Early Results Show Promise for Landscape Management Plan
Last year, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) along with Enviva, the Nature Conservancy, the Florida Forest Service, The University of Florida Extension and the Florida Tree Farm Committee, all organizations that have a stake in the forests of the region, launched a partnership to help landowners in the panhandle of Florida improve wildlife habitat and certify their forests are sustainably managed.
February 14, 2018
Bringing Our Impact Into Focus: A Recap of the 2018 NLC
Each year, the American Tree Farm System hosts more than 250 individuals from the Tree Farm network including inspectors, Tree Farmers, state committee leaders and policy supporters to its three-day National Leadership Conference. This year, the event’s focus was on strategies and opportunities to grow, strengthen and increase the impact of the program.
February 3, 2017
Report: Protecting Northeastern Wildlife Habitat
Learn more about the role family-owned forests can play in protecting and improving key wildlife habitat in the Northeastern U.S.