Most family forest owners want to be responsible stewards of their land; however, they face two major obstacles—financial funding and technical know-how. Thanks to an innovative program from the American Forest Foundation, both of these barriers can be tackled, resulting in steady additional income and the access to expert foresters to help them responsibly manage their land.
The Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) is a unique partnership between the nonprofit AFF and landowners that helps combat climate change, improve wildlife habitat and timber value, increase carbon stored on the land, and provide revenue to the landowner—all at no cost to them.
“Some landowners need financial assistance to mitigate invasive species, rent equipment to clear trails and roadways, or pay their property taxes,” says Harry Brookstein, spokesperson for the FFCP. Participants in the program receive an annual payment from FFCP, which sells carbon credits to businesses like REI and Netflix after a thorough vetting process. These companies are typically already actively involved in reducing their carbon emissions and looking for ways to become fully carbon neutral.
As a nonprofit, the American Forest Foundation is committed to the overall mission of meaningful conservation impact and does not have to answer to shareholders whose values and goals may differ from AFF. Plus, participants in the program are not affected by fluctuations in the carbon market as their payment amount is stable, so there is no market risk, and they can utilize the revenue however they want—to make land improvements, pay bills, or finance a child’s college education or wedding.
“The other big issue we try to solve is the technical know-how. A lot of the landowners that we work with know that there are best practices for managing forests but don’t know where to get started. We will match them with a staff forester or someone from our network of consulting foresters who will give them guidance and write a forest management plan specific to their property.”
A forest management plan usually incudes an inventory, identification of key habitats, a clear description of objectives and strategy for achieving them, and a near-term action plan. The forester can also provide advice on broader environmental goals, like improving wildlife habitat.
Brookstein notes that many family forest owners they work with inherited land or they bought a big parcel of land as a place for solitude or a vacation area. “Many have little or no experience maintaining woodlands, so they really value the expertise we provide.”
Landowners in the program can also gain advice and insight by joining the “The Family Forest” virtual community, where they can share their thoughts, experiences, and questions with fellow enrolled landowners.
Best of all, landowners can continue utilizing their land how they see fit—whether it’s for hunting, recreation, or for commercial purposes. “In Vermont, for instance, we have many landowners who tap sugar maple trees. We also have enrolled landowners with ski and hiking trails, and those activities are encouraged to continue,” says Brookstein. “In most cases, the primary restriction is on timber harvesting. However, we are one of the few carbon programs that allows limited harvesting.”
Landowners in the program also benefit by an improvement in their property’s use and value.
“They can improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity on their property. For hunters, better forest management can lead to a bigger variety and abundance of game species. Some people are animal lovers or birdwatchers, and we can provide guidance on managing their land to attract certain bird species, like removing invasive plants to help native flora and fauna thrive. Our first enrollee in Pennsylvania inherited her land from her father and wanted to see beavers return to the property. We worked with her to improve the habitat, and while there are many factors at play, after nearly 60 years, beavers have returned to her land.”
Implementing the forest management plan may also lead to an increase in land value. “By managing your forest to improve its overall health, water and soil quality, wildlife habitat, and reduce runoff and erosion, you can also increase the value of both the land and its timber. These improvements could mean additional financial benefits if you choose to sell the property or harvest timber after completing the 20-year contract.”
Brookstein says while many landowners value the annual payments they receive, they place even a greater value on the expertise and assistance they get from working with the AFF.
“We often hear landowners say how surprised they are by how many people are available to them who truly care about the process and want to see their land improve and thrive. We regularly hear feedback about how our foresters are universally loved.”
Landowners interested in the Family Forest Carbon Program can easily check their eligibility and schedule a call with a representative.