"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.