Advocating for Family Forest Owners in 2023
West Virginian landowner, John Cobb, speaks with Baxter Carr in the Office of Sen. Shelly Capito (R-WV) to advocate for family forest owners in the Farm Bill. ©Stephen Taglieri
Last month, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) hosted its first in-person legislative fly-in since 2019. For the fly-in, 17 landowners from 10 states traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional lawmakers and advocate for their communities and family forest landowners nationwide. AFF’s legislative fly-ins allow family forest landowners the chance to tell their stories and underscore the critical role they play in our nation. It also gives them the chance to advocate for policies that would better support improved forest management opportunities for all 21 million landowners across the United States. Whether these family forest landowners were seasoned advocates or newcomers to Capitol Hill, their visits with elected officials created the opportunity to talk about issues in their region and build relationships with their legislators.
Supporting Forest-Friendly Legislature
As representatives for AFF, and for their local communities across many states and regions, family forest landowners met their Congressional lawmakers with exciting ideas. Through their unique stories, they discussed the importance of forestry support and family forests in the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is a package of legislation passed roughly every five years to govern agriculture and food-production policy. Some of the Farm Bill programs which landowners advocated for include the Rural Forest Markets Act (RFMA), the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) program, Rural Communities Partnership Program (RCPP), the Heirs Property Relending Program, and resources to make forest management more accessible.
In partnership with AFF, landowners emphasized the importance of unlocking public-private capital for family forest landowners. Al Robertson, a Vermont landowner who attended our D.C. fly-In, told staffers for Senator Bernie Sanders that “the secret to carbon is forest management.” With increased financial backing through opportunities such as loan guarantees, AFF would be able to provide tools to assist family forest landowners and keep healthy, native trees on woodland properties. Investment in carbon markets, and other natural climate solutions, can generate revenue for family forest landowners as they increase the health of their woodlands.
Tim and Chris Johnson sit at a table with AFF Staff discussing policy to help family-forest landowners in the Office of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). While meeting with Liam Fagan and Katie Skinner, these Vermont landowners were able to discuss the Farm Bill, the RFMA, and invasive species research. ©Stephen Taglieri
By creating new opportunities for landowners nationwide, we also increase access to programs that will support family forests. Higher levels of funding and access can bring high-quality forest management services and educational resources to communities and family forest landowners. One barrier many family forest landowners face is learning what programs and opportunities are available to them and their land.
In a meeting at the Office of Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13), Ag Committee Minority Staff, Karen Lee of University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff discusses her experience resolving heirs' property issues. Rita Hite, President and CEO of AFF, listens to the conversation and points out the importance of increases access to resources for landowners. ©Stephen Taglieri
In a meeting with Representative David Scott’s office, landowner Chris Carr explained that it took him three years to fill out all the required paperwork and finish the work required to access his land. By leaving one box unchecked on a form, he was delayed six extra months in accessing his land. “The only reason I was able to figure this out was because someone walked me through it,” he told Congressional staffers. As a co-founder of Black Land Ownership, Chris is committed to creating more access for African American landowners across the nation. With AFF’s recommendations for Forests in the Farm Bill, we can increase access to resources for all family forest landowners and support healthy forest ecosystems for climate action.
Landowners Across the Nation
By speaking with their lawmakers, family forest landowners explained how supporting improved forest management can both save the planet and save money. Chris and Tim Johnson, family forest landowners and maple-sugar farmers from Vermont, explained that the money they received from enrolling in the Family Forest Carbon Program helped them make infrastructure improvements to their land, which safeguarded it from the recent disastrous flooding in Vermont.
In meetings with North Carolina lawmakers, Mike Hansen discussed how the RFMA would help support Ozark Akerz, his regenerative farming practice. With heat resistant cattle, Hansen has allowed livestock to graze and manage his forested lands. As invasive species and poison ivy populations decreased due to grazing pressures, Hansen was able to plant a medicinal forest with local plants such as mulberries and black walnut.
North Carolina landowner Mike Hansen meets with Cassi Phillips at the Office of Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC). Hansen shares his unique experience with regenerative farming on his land and the benefits of Farm Bill policy for family forest landowners. ©Stephen Taglieri
While meeting with Pennsylvania lawmakers, Kevin Janus explained that “forests are the filter for the watersheds that feed cities.” Everyone should be invested in active forest management, as healthy forests can benefit families no matter where they call home. But he addressed that it’s very difficult and very expensive to find a forester without programs such as the Family Forest Carbon Program. Supporting programs that activate natural climate solutions can help landowners access more ways to maintain and protect their property’s ecosystem.
We would like to thank the family forest landowners who steward their lands and nurture the forests that help mitigate climate change and increase climate resilience. We support advocacy and legislation that supports family forests across the nation. If you’re interested in learning more about AFF’s advocacy goals, contact us at info@forestfoundation.org.
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