Midway through the last century, Alvin Toffler wrote a book titled Future Shock.  In it, he proposed that our society was changing so fast that people couldn’t adapt, and would be left behind – in Shock, I suppose – as the world around them moved ahead.

Toffler’s book is long out of print, and his theories discounted if not dismissed entirely.  But echoes of the idea – that people can’t cope with accelerating rates of change – still rumble through our conversation.  In fact, you hear them all the time. 

Consider the Internet.  Not 10 years ago, we were told folks wouldn’t use it, that they wouldn’t do business on-line.  Not five years ago, we were told folks wouldn’t invest in high-speed connections.  Even today, we’re told that traditionalists [like many of our Tree Farmers] shy away from cyberspace. 

Of course, like most predictions, there are grains of truth in all this.  But not many.  Fact is, even AARP members [like me!] do business online and we readily pay for the broadband service that makes it easier.

There’s a lesson in this.  Change is inevitable, not just in technology but in virtually every aspect of our lives.  Most of us embrace it, when we understand the value.  AFF is changing too.  Not abruptly, but steadily as we work to engage our most valued partners – Tree Farmers and educators – more directly in guiding the programs that serve them. 

Most state Tree Farm committees are now led by Tree Farmers themselves.  A Tree Farmer chairs the national operating committee; three sit as Trustees of the Foundation.  PLT-trained educators and state leaders play ever-larger roles in setting direction for our national program.  They too are represented on our Board of Trustees.

This process of putting our “customers” in the driver’s seat is one way – maybe the only way – we can assure our programs move where they need to.  But getting there demands more than a steady hand on the wheel.  We need also to make certain we’ve got enough fuel in the tank.

That’s why we’re slowly implementing another change – asking Tree Farmers and PLT-trained educators to help provide some of the funds we’ll need to keep their programs on top.  For decades, we’ve heard that Tree Farmers and teachers weren’t likely to “pay” for something they’d long gotten for “free.” 

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
Statistical Sampling For Reinspections

Beginning in 2006, ATFS will begin selecting properties for reinspection using stratified random sampling while providing a statistically valid answer in the form of the total percent of ATFS certified acres in conformance with AFF’s Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification.

In 2002, ATFS contracted with Virginia Tech’s College of Forestry to explore the concept of stratified random sampling as a means of reducing the number of annual reinspections performed by volunteer ATFS Inspectors for program policy conformance. Selecting properties to be reinspected through stratified random sampling allows for a significant reduction in total number of inspections. The obvious advantage from sampling is the greatly reduced burden on state programs to perform reinspections.

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F²W² Update
Educational Field Days for Landowners

Dr. George Inge of Mobile County Alabama will host an educational field day on Saturday, May 20, 2006. Hurricane Katrina damaged more than five million acres of forestland with family forest owners suffering the majority of damage. Alabama forestland owners who manage for timber and wildlife, face new challenges and threats that have to be addressed. While not every property suffered direct storm damage, all landowners face a number of post-hurricane threats and challenges. In the wake of the last two hurricane seasons, the well informed landowner will be best equipped to ensure continued economic and ecological forest health.

On May 20th, landowners will tour Dr. Inge’s property and discuss forest management strategies. Guest speakers will also discuss forest recovery and management strategies that conserve wildlife habitat, and the availability of cost share assistance to help recovery efforts from hurricane damage.

In April, more than 65 South Carolina landowners gathered at Cypress Bay Plantation in Hampton County South Carolina for an educational field day. Plantation landowners, Skeet and Gail Burris, have worked hard since 1986 to transform their forestland into a model for multiple use management including timber production, wildlife habitat conservation, watershed protection, and recreation.

In South Carolina, family forest owners hold 74 percent (nine million acres) of the state's forestland. The families that practice sustainable forestry and manage their forests to maintain open understory conditions provide critical wildlife habitat and at the same time ensure economic viability of their land at the same time.

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PLT Cornerstone
20th International PLT Coordinators’ Conference

Project Learning Tree will hold its 20th International Project Learning Tree Coordinators’ Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on May 8-12, 2006.

More than 120 PLT coordinators, local facilitators, and special guests will be welcomed to Virginia Beach by Robert Bloxom, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. And on May 9, Linda Wallinger, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at the Virginia Department of Education, will give the luncheon keynote address, "Policy to Practice: Making Watershed Education Meaningful.”
During the conference, PLT will honor its 2006 five outstanding environmental educators for their commitment to environmental education, exceptional teaching skills, exemplary use of PLT in classroom projects, and sustained use of PLT.  This year’s winners are: Anne Bohnet, Director of the Science and Technology Enrichment Program at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center in Aiken, South Carolina; Heidi Campbell, sixth to ninth grade teacher at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School in Little Rock, Arkansas; Barbara Cook, seventh and eighth grade teacher at Greenfield Middle School in Greenfield, Ohio; Brenda Smith, fourth grade teacher at Oil City Elementary Magnet School in Oil City, Louisiana; and Jane Thornes, fourth grade teacher at Heyburn Elementary School in St. Maries, Idaho.

For 30 years, PLT has been one of the most highly regarded PreK-12 environmental education programs in the U.S. and abroad.  The program’s multi-disciplinary approach uses readily available resources from the natural and built environment to help students gain awareness and knowledge of the work around them.

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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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Photo by Erin Dey 2006