Arbor Day Foundation Accelerates AFF's Afforestation Efforts in Georgia

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 12, 2023) - Today the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization that works to deliver meaningful conservation impact through the empowerment of family forest owners, announced the receipt of $465,000 in philanthropic funds from the Arbor Day Foundation to further the organization’s Georgia-based afforestation pilot, Field to Forest.

Field to Forest, a pilot initiative under AFF’s Family Forest Carbon Program, is designed to assist landowners in transitioning marginally productive or difficult-to-manage cropland and pastureland to managed pine forest. The pilot leverages funding through the voluntary carbon market to provide family landowners with the financial and technical assistance they need to sustainably manage their land for future generations.

“Family-owned lands are essential in unlocking nature’s climate mitigating potential,” said Rita Hite, president and CEO of AFF. “Without family forests, we cannot effectively fight against climate change. Field to Forest provides the financial and technical support small landowners need to establish sustainable and productive forest stands. The Arbor Day Foundation’s contribution helps put the power of carbon markets into the hands of rural America – to leave the planet better than we found it.”

With the contribution, AFF will purchase, prep and plant loblolly pine seedlings on 3,000 acres of degraded agricultural land in Georgia. Planting will begin in January of 2024.

“Forests are some of the world’s most vital natural resources and help shape a region’s climate, community and biodiversity,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The ‘Field to Forest’ initiative is an incredible example of the positive change trees can introduce in both the environment and in people’s livelihoods. We’re proud to help the American Forest Foundation bring this vision to life and support the growth of such a critical ecosystem.”

Georgia landowners with 40 acres of privately owned “open land,” including pasture or cropland, are eligible to enroll in this pilot. To learn more about the Field to Forest pilot, please contact [email protected].

About The American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation is a national conservation organization that works with a broad coalition of partners to empower family forest owners to make a meaningful conservation impact around carbon sequestration, wildfire reduction, wildlife habitat, clean water, sustainable wood supplies and support for rural communities. To learn more about the Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.familyforestcarbon.org.

About The Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.?

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