Policy Priorities
The Forest Policy Working Group develops, advances, and supports federal policies that promote the many benefits of sustainably managed forests, from forestry and forest products to the communities that depend on them. Together, we advance forest-based public policy through a consensus-driven process grounded in science, data, and deep, hands-on forest experience.The Forest Policy Working Group believes:
1
Conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing forests maintains ecosystem health, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, human health, cultural resources, recreation, forest products manufacturing, workforce development, and economic prosperity in communities across the country.
2
Forests and trees provide fresh water, habitats for at-risk species, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and livable neighborhoods.
3
Forest markets and products from sustainably managed forests are essential for retaining and expanding healthy, resilient, and productive forests, providing economic benefits, and reducing global reliance on non-renewable resources.
4
Forests are under stress. Wildfire risks, ecological change, climatic shifts, land use conversion, and loss of markets all threaten to reduce forest cover, health, and productivity over the coming decades.
5
Forest management, conservation, and forest product development can play an important role in supporting human resilience to a changing climate.
6
Stakeholders across rural, urban, and Indigenous communities are critical to providing the on-the-ground knowledge, expertise, and workforce capacity required to address the challenges facing our forests.
7
Public policy plays a critical role in strengthening forest resilience, reducing the loss of forest cover and markets, accelerating forest restoration, expanding access to investment and capital, addressing challenges in workforce capacity, and promoting research and innovation.
American Forests convenes the coalition. For more information, contact Danielle Watson at dwatson@americanforests.org.