Press Releases
2010 December 14, 2010
Project Learning Tree® GreenSchools! Program Expands with $25,000 Grant from Staples Foundation for Learning Project Learning Tree® (PLT), the national environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, announced today it has received a $25,000 grant from Staples Foundation for Learning (SFFL), a private foundation created by Staples, Inc. The grant will support
GreenSchools!, a program designed to give students and teachers an opportunity to investigate environmental issues at their school and engage with their community in service-learning projects that create green and healthy environments.
December 10, 2010
The Green Lining in the Tax Cut Deal
Statement by Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation: "The estate tax has become a lightening rod issue for those unhappy with President Obama’s tax deal. But what hasn’t been discussed is the green lining: the impact on conservation and the protection of America’s forest heritage."
December 9, 2010
Statement from Tom Martin, President and CEO, American Forest Foundation in Response to: LEED Vote on Forest Certification Benchmarks and Revisions to the Certified Wood Credit We are deeply disappointed that the LEED certified wood credit will continue to be driven by politics rather than science. If the USGBC wants to encourage sustainable forestry, they should recognize all third-party audited, internationally-endorsed sustainable forestry standards for certified wood credit. Unfortunately, this will not allow sustainably managed, family-owned woodlands to participate fully in creating a greener future.
November 8, 2010
Salem, Dianne, and Patrick Saloom Named 2010 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), named Dr. Salem, Dianne, and Patrick Saloom as the 2010 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year presented by STIHL. This annual award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on family-owned woodlands. The Saloom Properties, LLC, is a family-owned Tree Farm in Brewton, Alabama.
September 30, 2010
Forest stewardship has increased on America’s family forests since the 2008 Farm Bill — when for the first time programs to improve forest conservation were included in the legislation. The new study,
Forest Conservation in 2009: A Farm Bill Progress Report, from the American Forest Foundation was unveiled today at a briefing on Capitol Hill featuring national, state, and local forest leaders.
September 23, 2010
National Environmental Education Act Reauthorization Introduced in Congress to Keep America Competitive and Environmentally Literate The National Environmental Education Act (S. 3833/H.R. 6194), introduced today in both houses of the United States Congress, comes at a time when American students continue to lag behind their counterparts in other countries in critical areas such as science and math. As a nation, we are falling behind in preparing Americans for green jobs in environmental technology, clean energy and other related fields.
September 10, 2010
GreenSchools! Program Launched in 12 Tulsa-area Schools
Twelve Tulsa-area schools selected as national models for Project Learning Tree's® GreenSchools! program launched the program this week with a two-day training workshop for students, teachers and parents.
August 9, 2010
Working Forests Central Focus of Administration Meeting As part of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, established by President Obama in April, administration officials are coming to Concord, NH to hear about the critical role private working forests must play in America’s 21st century conservation agenda.
July 19, 2010 Representatives from 35 states tell the U.S. Green Building Council: Give Credit to the Two Largest Wood Sustainable Certification Programs in the United States
A bipartisan effort lead by Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and 79 representatives from 35 states is calling on the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to change its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system to give credit to all of the major third-party forest certification systems in the U.S.
July 15, 2010
Environmental Education, Outdoor Learning and Forest Conservation Essential to Efforts to Protect America’s Great Outdoors
On Friday, July 16 the Obama Administration will visit Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado as part of the Americas’ Great Outdoors Listening Tour. The administration wants to learn more about conservation, recreation, and reconnecting people to the outdoors. The Grand Junction listening session will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Two Rivers Convention Center. The Denver session will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Denver West Marriott Hotel. A special session to bring young people into the conversation will be held in Denver from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Denver Marriott West.
July 14, 2010
Family-owned Forests Essential to Efforts to Protect America’s Great Outdoors
On Thursday, July 15 the Obama Administration will visit Asheville, North Carolina as part of the Americas’ Great Outdoors Listening Tour. The administration wants to learn more about working land, open space, and landscape conservation. The listening session will be held at Asheville-Buncombe County Technical Institute in Asheville, North Carolina from 1:00p.m.-4:00p.m.
June 25, 2010
Family-owned Forests Essential to Southern Longleaf Pine Restoration and Efforts to Protect America's Great Outdoors
On Monday, June 28 the Obama Administration will visit Charleston, South Carolina as part of the Americas' Great Outdoors Listening Tour. The administration wants to learn more about one of the country's largest forest ecosystem restoration efforts—the restoration of longleaf pine. The listening session will be held at Founders Hall, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site in Charleston, South Carolina from 1:00 pm–5:00 pm.
June 24, 2010 Shutting Out America's Family Forest Owners - Statement from the American Forest Foundation on the 4th version of Forest Certification Benchmarks from the U.S. Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council, (USGBC) one of the largest certifiers of green buildings in the U.S., recently released its 4th version of "forest certification benchmarks" to determine what wood products are eligible for its “certified wood” credit which is the ticket for entry into its certified green buildings.
June 10, 2010 American Forest Foundation CEO Joins USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Harris Sherman at National Summit of Rural America On Thursday, June 3, the President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, Tom Martin, will join officials from the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) at the National Summit of Rural America: A Dialogue for Renewing the Promise in Hillsboro, Missouri.
May 28, 2010 American Forest Foundation Representatives to Participate in Listening Session for America's Great Outdoors Initiative in Montana On Wednesday, June 2, senior Administration officials will be in Montana to conduct the first in a series of listening tours as part of the President’s Great Outdoors Initiative.
April 16, 2010
President Obama delivered remarks at the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors
“We applaud the Obama Administration’s leadership in acknowledging the vital role America’s forests and working landscapes play in the economic and environmental health of communities all across the country. In particular, we commend U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for his continued leadership to knit together farms, forests and ranches with landscape scale conservation efforts,” said Tom Martin, American Forest Foundation President and CEO.
February 24, 2010
2010 National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educators: Environmental Education Benefits Student Learning
Five educators who use environmental education to spur students’ enthusiasm to learn were named the 2010 National Outstanding Educators by Project Learning Tree®, the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation.
February 17, 2010 Project Learning Tree Releases New Curriculum for Early Childhood Educators to Get Young Children Outdoors Just as more attention is being focused on the need to connect students to nature at a younger age, Project Learning Tree® (PLT) releases a new curriculum guide and music CD to engage children ages 3 to 6 in outdoor exploration and play. Eleven field-tested, hands-on activities showcase over 130 "early childhood experiences" which integrate investigations of nature with art, literature, math, music, and movement.
February 4, 2010
Investments in America’s Woodlands and Environmental Education Will Spur Job Creation and Rural Economic Growth
Earlier this week, President Obama released his proposed federal budget, which includes a freeze on domestic spending. While the president’s budget includes many improvements that support both woodland conservation and environmental education, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) believes that further improvements can be made.
February 3, 2010
Project Learning Tree Awards 33 Service-Learning Grants in 23 States Project Learning Tree (PLT), the national environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, announced that it will fund 33 projects that engage students in service-learning projects that improve the environment of their schools and surrounding communities. The projects address community needs, provide opportunities for student leadership, connect to classroom curriculum, and involve the local community.
