In September, I had the opportunity to give testimony before the Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Technology, regarding the Endangered Species Improvements Act of 2005.

I spoke on behalf of the American Tree Farm System's 80,000 members on the critical challenge facing our nation: supporting family forest owners in their efforts to be good stewards of the land. Family owned forests are critical to our environment, our economy, and our communities.

Sometimes it is forgotten that families are the “majority” owners of our nation's forests. Some 10 million individuals and families own half of the forests in the lower 48 states – most in small plots of less than 100 acres. Two-thirds of the fiber grown for wood and paper products is harvested by these families, supporting over a million jobs, most in rural communities. Some 70 percent of our Eastern watersheds flow through these family owned forests, and 90 percent of endangered species find some or all of their habitat on their forests.

Most family owners rank wildlife, recreation, and aesthetics as the primary reason for owning land; most will take steps to leave their land better than they found it. Many would welcome the chance to manage for endangered species. What's lacking, too often, is the knowledge, technical skills and especially, the resources to implement practices.

Where knowledge and assistance are provided, and clear pathways for protection marked, owners will respond. Voluntary efforts for the red-cockaded woodpecker have protected 509 groups of 347,000 acres – some 40 percent of the known groups on private lands.

Family forest owners are volunteers. They choose to own forestland; they choose to be good stewards. Our first – and biggest – challenge is keeping them on their land.

The key fact to remember is that it's their choice. Not ours. The goal of endangered species policy, therefore, should be to make it easier – not harder – for families to stay on the land, and to exercise their innate impulse for conservation.

Laurence Wiseman, President

American Forest Foundation
1111 Nineteenth Street, NW
Suite 780
Washington, D.C. ▪ 20036
Phone 202.463.2462
Fax 202.463.2461

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ATFS Notes
2005 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year

ATFS named Tom and Sherry Fox of Lewis County, Washington, as the 2005 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Fox's received their award during the National Tree Farmer Convention held in Springfield, Mass. The Fox's were recognized for their outstanding sustainable forest management on their forestland.

Tom and Sherry, also owners of a forestry consulting firm, were selected from a long list of certified Tree Farmers across the country. Having been actively involved in promoting tree farming and the benefits of sustainable forestry in their community for years, the Fox's tree farming history is saturated with activities, organizations, and projects dedicated to advancing the good name of tree farming.

The Fox's started small in their forest management endeavors. A job relocation gave them the courage and the opportunity to move to five acres in Lewis County, Washington. By the mid-90s they had acquired additional parcels; their Tagshinny Tree Farm is now 144 acres of managed land. The Fox's have planted 55,000 genetically improved seedlings, thinned trees, and conducted regeneration harvests.

Tom and Sherry have spent the last two decades engaged in issues affecting family forestland owners in Washington State. The Fox's have served on local and state chapters of their forestry association and were the first family to get approval for a federal Habitat Conservation Plan. They were also intricately involved in the creation of a Small Forest Landowner Office in the Washington Department of Natural Resources. A Forest Riparian Easement Program that pays small landowners impacted by stream buffers also was enacted thanks to the Fox's work. In fact, advocating on behalf of land owners in Washington has been an integral part of their Tree Farming philosophy.

The Fox's have made responsible forestry the cornerstone of operating their tree farm and have become the “go to” voice on Washington 's forestland for state agencies. It is for these reasons and so many more, that the Foxes received this award.

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F²W² Update
Educational Trail Brings It All Together

On September 17, 2005 all three of AFF's programs were working together in one place: Colorado. Family forest owners with the Colorado Tree Farm program and Project Learning Tree educators attended an educational trail opening event at Carpenter Mountain near Pinecliffe, Colorado organized by AFF's Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife program.

The trail highlights practices landowners can take to help prevent catastrophic wildfire on their forestlands. The opening drew over 50 participants who collectively manage more than 2,000 acres of Colorado forestland. In addition to viewing the newly-installed interpretive signs on fire ecology, water quality, and forest health, participants were able to see firsthand the aesthetics of management practices such as thinning and prescribed burning. Also on hand for the day were four resource professionals who spoke on topics ranging from the history of Colorado's forests to identifying and preventing mountain pine and Ips beetle infestations. PLT educators toured the site to develop ideas for teaching activities that will be added to the opposite side of the existing sign holders and available for local schools to utilize for environmental education outings.

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AFF News
AFF's Communications Materials Receive Recognition

Tree Farmer Magazine won a silver award from the League of American Communications Professional's 2005 Spotlight Award for print, video and web communications, and a MarCom Creative Gold Award in the magazine/non-profit category. Forests for Watersheds & Wildlife was awarded a MarCom Creative Platinum Award in the brochure/handbook category for Forest Ecosystem Conservation Handbook for Birds in Georgia, A Guide for Family Forest Owners.

AFF's 2004 annual report was also rewarded with a MarCom Creative Platinum Award for creativity/design/annual report, and a 2005 Silver Spotlight Award for print, video and web communications.

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PLT Cornerstone
PLT Welcomes Vijay Swami, a Fulbright Fellow from India

Vijay Swami, a social worker and educator from India, is working with the national PLT staff during his two month Fulbright Fellowship. Swami was awarded the fellowship by the United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI), under the Indo American Environmental Leadership Program category. 

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Back Issues:
An archive of back issues is available at our News Center

At A Glance is a monthly e-newsletter of the American Forest Foundation. At A Glance highlights the activities, events, and projects of the Foundation's programs, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Forests for Watersheds and Wildlife (F2W2), and Project Learning Tree (PLT).

		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.
		The American Tree Farm System sustaining forests, watersheds, and healthy habitats through the power of private stewardship.
		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.
		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.

We hope that the AFF At A Glance e-newsletter provides our readers with current news on our program activities, events, and initiatives. However, if you wish to be removed from this email list please hit reply and put "Remove" in the subject heading. We’ll be happy to accommodate your request.

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