Press Releases
2010 July 19, 2010Representatives 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, 2010Shutting 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, 2010American 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, 2010American 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, 2010Project 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.
