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| President's Message “Live in D.C. long enough and you’ll learn that most public debate takes the form of “either-or” arguments. You know what I mean: “either we do things this way, or … [here you can fill in your own catastrophe].” Recently, around town, I’ve heard actual people make the following statements: • “Either we reform the endangered species act or we’re dooming tens of thousands of species to extinction.” • “Either we teach more science in elementary school, or kids will grow up to be knee-jerk opponents of economic progress.” • “Either we adopt wind power, a renewable source of energy, or our kids will grow up fighting wars in the Middle East to protect our access to oil.” • “Either we severely limit use of wind power, or we’ll kill so many bats our ecology will be disrupted.” There’s no doubt these folks sincerely believed what they were saying. But framing an argument this way makes it almost impossible to come up with good decisions – for the simple reason that no issue is ever as simple as you want it to be. That’s why AFF casts its net widely before we come to conclusions about any public issue. Our Project Learning Tree team consults regularly with other leaders in the environmental education field – from universities, other non-profits, and teachers on the front lines. AFF staffers are deeply involved in national organizations: North American Association for Environmental Education, National Science Teachers Association, National Alliance of Black School Educators, and many others. Based on what we learn, AFF’s Project LearningTree Operating Committee adopts policies that reflect their best, informed judgment of how state and Federal policies can advance PLT’s mission of preparing young people to make sound environmental choices. Likewise, on forestry-related issues, we work through the American Tree Farm System National Operating Committee, and its National Public Affairs Committee. Our first step, though, is to consult with a variety of other interest groups. AFF, for example, helps lead the National Council on Private Forests – a D.C. based group made up of the Society of American Foresters, the National Association of State Foresters, National Association of Conservation Districts, and Forest Landowners. We’re also helping to organize a broad-based national coalition of environmental and conservation groups that share our concerns about the future of family forest lands. Consultation takes time. We don’t always hear what we wanted, or what we expected – so we learn as we listen, whether it’s to teachers in classrooms or family forest owners in the field. Overall, it’s a complicated, sometimes messy process. Often, we defy the conventional wisdom and adopt positions that can’t easily be boiled down to a one-sentence sound-bite. But, by the time we’re done, we’re satisfied that we’ve come to a decision that will help address real issues that matter to the people and communities we serve — 500,000 educators and 51,000 Tree Farmers. And, by reaching out right from the beginning, we’ve assembled an army of allies who can help us make it happen.
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| ATFS Notes ATFS Group Certification Program Welcomes Stora Enso North America. In December 2004, Stora Enso North America (SENA) group organization successfully underwent an independent third party audit >> more |
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| F2W2 Update F2W2 Received Grant from Home Depot Foundation. The $35,000 grant is Home Depot's second grant to AFF’s habitat conservation program, Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife. The grant will support conservation initiatives in Georgia. |
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| PLT Cornerstone GreenWorks! Awarded 37 Community Grants. GreenWorks!, PLT’s environmental education service-learning program, awarded 37 community grants for 2005. >> more |
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| For more information on AFF and its programs, visit the following websites: www.forestfoundation.org www.forestedflyways.org www.plt.org www.treefarmsystem.org |
| AFF's "At A Glance" e-Newsletter >> printer-friendly version |
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ATFS Notes
ATFS Group Certification Program Welcomes Stora Enso North America.
In December 2004, Stora Enso North America (SENA) group organization successfully underwent an independent third party audit by BVQI to become ATFS Group Certified. At the time of the audit, SENA’s group organization included 10 group members and 1,847 acres in Wisconsin. SENA anticipates steady and significant future growth in their group organization.
F2W2 Update
F2W2 Received Grant from the Home Depot Foundation.
The $35,000 grant is Home Depot's second grant to AFF’s habitat conservation program, Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife. The grant will support conservation initiatives in Georgia.
PLT Cornerstone
GreenWorks! Awarded 37 Community Grants.
GreenWorks!, PLT’s environmental education service-learning program, awarded 37 community grants for 2005. For the past 12 years, this grant award program has enabled communities across the country to address and impact environmental issues facing their community.
GreenWorks! projects partner PLT educators, students, and communities with responsible environmental action to make a lasting impact. Both service learning and community service projects provide opportunities for students to recognize and address important environmental community issues. Such opportunities help students expand their academic and personal growth while developing an understanding of civic responsibility. The projects help make a difference in how students think, in changing their sense of responsibility toward their communities, and in strengthening their understanding of their relationship with the environment.
Read the PLT Cornerstone (Winter 2005)
At A Glance is a monthly e-newsletter of the American Forest Foundation. At A Glance highlights the activities, events, and projects of the Foundations programs, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife (F2W2)), and Project Learning Tree (PLT).
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The American Forest Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education and informed decision-making about our communities and our world. Our vision is to be recognized for our commitment to sustainable forestry, quality environmental education, and wildlife habitat and watershed protection. |
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The American Tree Farm System sustaining forests, watersheds, and healthy habitats through the power of private stewardship. |
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Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife links family forest landowners with conservation partners from private, state, and federal wildlife agencies to improve and restore wildlife habitat. |
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PLT uses the forest as a window on the world to increase students understanding of our complex environment and to help students learn the skills they need to make sound choices about the environment. |
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