American Forest Foundation

Today, small family forest owners are left out of current carbon markets that would make it possible for them to bring in income to support good forest management, sequestering more carbon from our forests. The Family Forest Carbon Program is a new approach to a forest carbon project designed specifically for owners of small forest parcels.

Protecting clean water is an urgent and pressing issue in the West, especially given the growing population and agriculture need in the region. Healthy forests are key to this supply, acting as a natural water filter and storage system, keeping water clean, regulating stream flow and reducing flooding. But insect epidemics, frequent droughts and over grown forests are causing catastrophic wildfires to strain these forested watersheds and the water supply that comes from them.

But contrary to popular thinking, this is not just a public lands issue. More than one-third of the forests in critical drinking water watersheds that are at a high risk to wildfire, are privately owned.

AFF is working to help private landowners in these critical watersheds to restore forest health, through conservation projects with partners.

The South’s forests rank at the top in biodiversity and number of wildlife species in the world. But today, many of these species are under pressure due to years of conversion of forests to non-forest uses, to fragmented waterways, natural fire suppression and an influx of invasive species. In fact, there are more than 500 at-risk wildlife species in this region. Since families and individuals own most of the forest habitat on which those species depend for food and shelter, their efforts to protect and enhance that habitat are key to improving at-risk wildlife’s chances of survival. AFF is working closely with family landowners in the Southeast to measurably and verifiably improve habitat for at-risk and listed species unique to the region.

The White Oak Initiative, led by AFF and including partners within many governmental agencies and partners across many sectors most notably the wine and spirts sector, works to ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak and the economic, social and conservation benefits derived from white oak dominated forests. White oak is critical to many wildlife species, and to industries making forest products such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, barrels for wine and spirits, as well as for recreational activities like hunting, generating billions of dollars to local economies throughout the white oak region. White oak is widespread, with a range of approximately 104 million forestland acres. It is a cornerstone species from southwest Maine to northern Florida, from Wisconsin to Alabama, covering most of the Eastern United States. Saplings and small trees are more reliable sprouters than large-diameter trees.