WASHINGTON D.C.
,
March 26, 2024
(press release)
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Autumn sunrise over Newfound Gap overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. Program opens enrollment for 10 million acres of eligible forestland in the region The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today the expansion of the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), into Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The program’s expansion into the three states will expand access to improved forest management practices on 10 million acres of eligible land. Family forest owners steward the largest portion of woodlands in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee – 72%, 72%, and 70% respectively, according to the U.S. Forest Service. This makes equipping these landowners with the right tools to protect the health and wellbeing of their forests a critical conservation priority for the region and the U.S. FFCP’s expansion will provide enrolled landowners with financial and technical support to improve the resilience and financial value of their forests, all while bolstering rural economies. “Landowners want to do what’s right for their land, their family, and their communities,” said Ian Forte, Senior Forestry Manager for the Family Forest Carbon Program at AFF. “FFCP empowers them to make meaningful conservation impact, all while helping them protect their legacy and keep forests as forests for generations to come.” FFCP issues annual payments to help enrolled landowners implement sustainable forest management practices scientifically demonstrated to improve forest health, provide additional financial and ecological benefits for rural communities, and enhance carbon capture and storage. The program also provides access to professional foresters that help landowners write or update a forest management plan tailored to their specific property. “Healthy forests are critical for sustaining our communities, wildlife, and the planet,” said Barry Ulrich, Deputy Director of US and Canada Carbon Markets for The Nature Conservancy. “The Family Forest Carbon Program gives landowners access to individualized forest management plans that are based on sound science and help their forests thrive in the long-term.” The carbon generated by landowners enrolled in the program is measured and verified by a new forest carbon accounting methodology that improves accuracy and transparency for the marketplace. By measuring the difference between similar forests, the methodology pinpoints the program as the variable that created additional carbon benefit on enrolled landowners’ properties. To learn more about the program and landowner eligibility, visit familyforestcarbon.org. ## CONTACT: Kristen Voorhees, Communications Director, media@forestfoundation.org About The American Forest Foundation The American Forest Foundation is a national conservation organization that empowers family forest owners to make meaningful conservation impact. The organization’s flagship program, the Family Forest Carbon Program, helps landowners implement forest management practices to protect the health of their woodlands and help the planet. To learn more about the American Forest Foundation and the Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.forestfoundation.org/carbon. About The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in more than 70 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
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