American Forest Foundation

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Working to deliver meaningful conservation impact through the empowerment of family forest owners.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a national conservation organization that focuses on private and family-owned U.S. forests, empowering their owners to cultivate the conservation impact of their forests and ensure valuable benefits such as clean water, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and sustainable wood supplies are valued and supported. AFF works across a broad coalition of conservation partners, corporations, community-based organizations and policymakers to empower family forest landowners and make sure everybody understands and benefits from the essential conservation impact of these forests.

10/09/2026

Congratulations to The Kesterson Family, our 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Western Region!

After six generations, their property spans about 1,500 acres of timberland. The family is committed to protecting local water sources, improving infrastructure, planting seedlings, sustainably harvesting, supporting wildlife, and aiding research.

The Kesterson Family Tree Farm remains a working example of how a family can adapt without losing sight of its roots.

Learn more about their story: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/meet-the-2026-western-outstanding-tree-farmers-of-the-year-the-kesterson-family/

10/07/2026

Congratulations to The Robbins Family, our 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Southern Region!

The Robbins Family Tree Farm represents more than five decades of caring for a piece of land and finding ways to make it better. Today, the family manages roughly 900 acres of contiguous property, with several generations involved in its future. Throughout the years, they have continued to make significant efforts to diversify their forest, improve wildlife habitat, and educate the community.

What began as a few acres has now become a working family forest where the next generation can continue learning, experimenting, and deciding what comes next.

Learn more about their story: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/meet-the-2026-outstanding-regional-tree-farmers-of-the-southern-region-the-robbins-family/

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Gerry & Karen Hawkes, our 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Northeast Region!

From the beginning, Gerry's philosophy has been consistent: grow a healthy, vigorous forest by removing the poorest trees and giving the best trees room to thrive. The forest is now estimated to hold 10 to 15 times the economic value it held when Gerry purchased it in 1969.

Today, the Hawkes' woods remain a family endeavor. Their granddaughter, now 12, has already declared that she wants to inherit the property and become a forester.

Learn more about their story: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/meet-the-2026-northeast-regional-tree-farmers-of-the-year-gerry-and-karen-hawkes/

10/02/2026

Congratulations to Jerry and Portia Brown, our 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the North Central Region!

The Browns have been caring for their property for 7 decades, focusing on forest quality and sustainable timber management. Over the years, they have worked to improve their species composition, planting a 1,200-tree hardwood plantation and a white oak seed orchard. Their exceptional forest management even helped stop a 2017 forest fire!

Thank you to the Browns for their commitment to keep learning, keep managing, and keep helping other landowners do the same.

Learn more about their story: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/meet-the-2026-north-central-regional-tree-farmers-of-the-year-jerry-and-portia-brown/

09/30/2026

Meet the 2026 Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year!

Each year, the American Tree Farm System recognizes landowners who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to forest stewardship and conservation.

Congratulations to this year’s regional honorees:

🌳 North Central: Jerry & Portia Brown

🌲 Northeast: Gerry & Karen Hawkes

🌿 West: The Kesterson Family

🌱 South: The Robbins Family

From forests cared for across generations to properties dedicated to conservation, education and community, these Tree Farmers show the lasting impact of thoughtful forest stewardship.

Join us in celebrating their incredible work! 👏

Learn more about their stories here: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/aff-announces-2026-regional-outstanding-tree-farmers-of-the-year/

09/14/2026

New research shows that family forests provide millions in benefits to businesses and communities.

AFF and The Sorenson Impact Institute have released a new report “Beyond Carbon: The Family Forest Carbon Program” showing how forests managed through FFCP are delivering significant water quality, human health, economic, and biodiversity benefits for communities, businesses, and the environment.

Some of these findings include:

💧 91% of FFCP properties are considered highly important to surface drinking water.

🏥 FFCP forests can provide more than $6 millions in annual healthcare savings through improved air quality.

💰 FFCP generates an estimated $2.3 million in annual regional economic output.

🦋 With 38% of America’s biodiversity depending on forests, protecting family forests helps strengthen habitat connectivity and support vulnerable species.

Read the full announcement: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/new-report-family-forests-provide-millions-in-benefits-to-businesses-and-communities/

Access the report: https://www.forestfoundation.org/what-we-do-moving-beyond-carbon/

08/27/2026

❔ Did you know? AFF has planted over 1 million trees with our Fields & Forests program!

🌳 Fields & Forests works with landowners in the Southeast to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields, providing guaranteed annual income and professional forestry support. F&F pays for all pine seedlings, land preparation, and planting.

🪻 Portia Fulford shared her experience with the program, and how she hopes her trees will give the land rest, restore soil health, and invite beneficial plant and wildlife species back to the property.

🔗 Learn more about F&F and Portia’s story: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/a-one-millionth-tree-for-a-one-in-a-million-landowner/

08/14/2026

🌳When Susan Benedict first joined the Family Forest Carbon Program 6 years ago, she was looking for support to manage her family’s 2,000 acres of forestland in Pennsylvania.

💸Through FFCP, Susan received the financial and technical resources she needed to improve her forest’s health and plan for its future.

💚Susan was so positively impacted by the program that she chose to become a long-term donor to the American Forest Foundation.

Learn more about what inspired her continued belief in FFCP: https://www.forestfoundation.org/why-we-do-it/family-forest-blog/looking-back-at-bear-town/

Make a donation to support family forests: https://www.forestfoundation.org/how-we-do-it/giving/

08/10/2026

We're excited to see AFF featured on PBS News Hour, where Stephanie Sy met with CEO Rita Hite and FFCP landowners Michelle and Wayne Strader to discuss the Family Forest Carbon Program.

Watch this segment to learn more about:
🌳 Why family forests matter in the fight against climate change.
☁️ How the Family Forest Carbon Program helps small landowners access carbon markets.
🧑‍🌾 A landowner's experience participating in the program.
🧪 The importance of high-integrity carbon markets and science-based carbon accounting.

Thank you to PBS NewsHour for highlighting the important role family forest owners play in delivering climate and conservation benefits.

Watch the full segment: https://www.pbs.org/video/carbon-program-pays-landowners-to-keep-forests-standing-1779489913/

08/06/2026

We are heartbroken at the loss of former AFF Board member, Rev. Salem G. Saloom, MD. Salem leaves an incredible legacy of leadership, stewardship, service and support for AFF. He first volunteered as a Grasstops Leader for our policy advocacy work two decades ago and then served the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) locally and nationally, making countless friends throughout the network and helping to select the regional and national Tree Farmer of the Year. He went on to serve several terms on our Board and was a founding member and champion of AFF’s planned giving program, the Seedling Society.

Salem, recently ordained as a minister after serving an esteemed career as a doctor, and his wife Dianne, own and care for an incredible Tree Farm in Alabama. He will be remembered for his faith, his love of longleaf pine and turkey hunting by fellow conservationists. As a Board member, Salem was a strong advocate for our work to grow AFF's impact through programs like the Family Forest Carbon Program. We are including information about Salem's services in the comments. We would invite you to join us in watching the livestream of his service on Friday, August 7th at 2pm.

You may also send memories and photos to be included in a future celebration at the family farm on November 1 to Tree Farm Network Manager Parks Brigman at [email protected].

Service Livestream:
https://youtube.com/live/H9GKAsVHbNU?feature=share

Service Bulletin:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nq0EwZ86sjgxE6F_nypZfQyGhgjz64yi/view?usp=sharing

Salem's Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/mobile-al/salem-saloom-12986891?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share_obit&utm_content=obituary&fbclid=IwdGRleATgi7hwZG9mBWZkaWQWUL48gTHoe5uMZhNE7Izg4PB9RLTc5WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4kLqzFh19XK4NM3Y_i3F4cbI0FMApXYe-2cFrFDylFC-33rxNBLfcrUSRPHQ_aem_8rgbAaw431GpzMIKOHQybw

Address

1 Thomas Circle NW, Suite 400
Washington D.C., DC
20005

Website

http://forestfoundation.org/

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