July 17, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sara Kangas
202-519-2255
Forest-Climate Working Group Welcomes New Executive Director Bill Whitacre
WASHINGTON – Today, the Forest-Climate Working Group (FCWG) welcomed Bill Whitacre as the first executive director of the pathfinding coalition.
The FCWG was founded in 2007 as a first-of-its-kind collaboration across the whole U.S. forest sector to enhance the role of domestic forests and forest products in slowing climate change and protecting communities from climate impacts.
Whitacre previously served as deputy chief of staff to Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, senior policy advisor for the Western Governors’ Association, and assistant station foreman for the USDA Forest Service, along with time on the ground as a wildland firefighter with the National Park Service.
“Bill’s blend of experience throughout his career means he’s seen forest-climate solutions from multiple vantage points, positioning him as an ideal leader for our storied coalition,” said Rita Hite, FCWG co-founder and former co-chair.
“Bill is an exemplar of strong commitment, readiness and energy to lead the FCWG into a future of sustained success, building from the coalition’s leadership in securing billions of dollars for forest-climate solutions during the last Congress,” said Jad Daley, FCWG co-founder and former co-chair.
“I look forward to broadening the impact of the coalition and helping advance and promote U.S. forests and forest products as a lever for climate solutions across the nation,” Whitacre said.
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The Forest-Climate Working Group (FCWG) is a broad and diverse coalition of forest stakeholder organizations. FCWG members represent forest landowners, forest products, conservation, wildlife, academic, government, carbon finance and other forest sector organizations. The FCWG formed in late 2007 to develop consensus recommendations and information for federal and state policies that involve forests and climate change. The FCWG has been working together since that time to deepen our understanding of forest-climate science and issues, and to provide input on climate policy. Read more at ForestClimateWorkingGroup.org.