Pledge by National Association of State Foresters
State Forestry Agency Technical, Operational, and Partnership Support
75 Million Acres of State-Owned Forests, Assisting 250,000 Landowners, and Managing Nurseries Producing 120 Million SeedlingsSupporting actions: Sustainable Forestry, Nursery Development, Data and Technological Tools, Science and Technical Assistance, Tree Protection through Management,
America’s State Foresters employ 27,000 individuals, including professional foresters, natural resource managers, and wildland firefighters, to manage and protect hundreds of millions of forested acres across all ownerships. These experts provide technical assistance, resources, and partnerships that serve as the foundation for reforestation, forest management, and wildland fire protection in 50 states, the U.S. island territories, and the District of Columbia. State forestry agencies will be essential contributors and partners in achieving a global goal of restoring and growing one trillion trees by 2030.
Since 1920, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has worked on behalf of State Foresters to help them provide the full range of environmental and economic benefits derived from trees and forests. As trusted public servants, State Foresters understand unique local conditions and oversee the technical and operational infrastructure needed to ensure successful forest management, protection, and reforestation efforts. The local state forestry office is often the first stop for homeowners and landowners seeking forestry and reforestation assistance.
At recent levels of support, state forestry agencies collectively manage 75 million acres of state-owned forests, assist more than 250,000 landowners and 8,000 communities, and manage tree seedling nurseries producing more than 120 million tree seedlings each year.
The National Association of State Foresters pledges to work with all supporters of 1t.org to connect tree planting opportunities with state forestry agency professionals who can help ensure the best site-specific technical, operational, and partner support for success both before and after planting.
With most of America’s forests privately owned, technical assistance and communications that inform and inspire landowners will be an important element of success for 1t.org. The National Association of State Foresters pledges to support State Foresters and partners to promote active and sustainable forest management, tree planting/maintenance, forest markets, urban and community forestry, wildfire mitigation, and trees as nature-based solutions.
The National Association of State Foresters’ primary partners are the State Foresters and their agency professionals who will provide the technical, operational, and local partner support for achieving successful forest management and reforestation actions. On a national level, NASF will be coordinating with partners that include but are not limited to:
USDA Forest Service
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
Arbor Day Foundation
American Forests
American Forest Foundation
National Association of Conservation Districts
Sustainable Forestry: The National Association of State Foresters and State Foresters serve leadership roles to help partners deliver and continuously improve many national sustainable forestry programs. This includes the American Tree Farm Program (American Forest Foundation), SFI Program (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), Tree City USA Program (Arbor Day Foundation), and USDA Forest Service State & Private Forestry programs such as Forest Stewardship and Urban and Community. The National Association of State Foresters is working with these and other national organizations to improve the capacity and delivery of technical assistance programs that serve forest landowners and communities.
Nursery Development: The National Association of State Foresters will help connect people or organizations with tree planting goals to state forestry agency experts and tree seedling nurseries that can help best achieve reforestation objectives. At current levels of support, state tree seedling nurseries produce more than 120 million tree seedlings each year. Additional funding support and seedling orders can help increase this capacity. State nurseries fill a unique niche and customer base, accessible to communities as sources of planting stock for native forests.
Data and Technological Tools: The National Association of State Foresters collects data from state forestry agencies and maintains an interactive map under State Solutions at www.stateforesters.org that links to state-specific information important for reforestation and sustainable forest management. NASF works with the USDA Forest Service and state forestry agencies to effectively deliver and continuously improve the Forest Inventory and Analysis FIA) program. As the nation’s forest census, the FIA program is a critical tool for establishing and enhancing metrics for 1t.org.
Technical Assistance: State forestry agency foresters often make the first professional contact with private landowners and deliver a wide variety of technical assistance and sustainable forestry programs to landowners and communities. The National Association of State Foresters will work with state forestry agencies, the USDA Forest Service, and other partners to enhance delivery of forestry technical assistance to private landowners and communities. In 2018, state forestry agencies assisted 250,000 private landowners and developed 13,000 forest stewardship plans covering more than 10 million acres; family forest owners with management plans are 2.4 times more likely to reforest. NASF is working with the USDA Forest Service to enhance the Forest Stewardship Program, and with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and National Association of Conservation Districts to enhance landowner access to technical and financial assistance programs.
Tree Protection through Management: The National Association of State Foresters helps state forestry agencies manage, protect, and regenerate America’s trees and forests in collaboration with federal and private partners. At recent levels of support, state forestry agencies collectively manage 75 million acres of state-owned forests, assist more than 250,000 landowners and 8,000 communities, and manage tree seedling nurseries producing more than 120 million tree seedlings each year. With 7,850 trained foresters and 12,280 wildland firefighters, State Foresters employ a professional workforce that leverages partnerships to actively manage and America’s urban to rural forests.
The National Association of State Foresters works on behalf of state forestry agencies, and in close collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, to serve the public interest and produce public benefits from America’s trees and forests. Our work is informed by the expertise of trained professional foresters and wildland fire managers using the best available science.