Publications

"A healthy and prosperous America relies on the health of our natural resources, and particularly our forests." Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

Today, our forests are under siege form a variety of threats. How America protects and manages what forestland remains has never been more important for the country's economic and social well-being.

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, highlights this progress.

The 2008 Farm Bill added new opportunities to increase conservation and improve management of private forests. Congress affirmed forests’ importance to America’s economic vitality and quality of life and put forest conservation on par with agriculture land conservation. These investments in private forests for the public good were a strong beginning.

This AFF publication developed for landowners to inform them about various Farm Bill programs that can provide them with technical or financial assistance.

This report is the product of a qualitative research study that AFF conducted in 2009 with family woodland owners in the South to identify best methods for communicating with landowners about working forest conservation easements. Information was gathered through workshops, focus groups and a land trust summit. The publication offers guidance on effective outreach to landowners about working forest conservation easements.

United States forests must play a central role in our national climate strategy. America's forests and forest products annually sequester and store 10 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions - an essential contribution toward mitigating climate change.