A few years ago, American Forests started working on a program that we believed would benefit wildfire-threatened forests and their communities across the country. Along with a number of partners, we fought to make sure this program got the support and funding it deserved. Just a few years into it, we’re already seeing encouraging results, [...]
Today, I am excited to share the results of a year-long initiative with you. Last fall, American Forests began a project in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program to conduct research on and spread awareness of the amazing benefits of urban forests. Urban forests are ecosystems composed of trees and [...]
Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that Wyoming’s population of gray wolves had recovered enough to be removed from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Effective Sept. 30, the wolves will be managed under Wyoming’s state management plans. For a species that was extinct in the region from the 1930s [...]
This June, more land burned from wildfires than in any other June in the last decade — more than 1.3 million acres. At the same time, there were actually fewer fires than usual. This pattern of fewer fires resulting in greater levels of destruction is getting more common each year. Across the U.S., we are [...]
First, let me welcome all of Loose Leaf’s new readers. We have been blown away with the response we have been getting lately. More importantly, we are delighted with how many people are liking, commenting and sharing our content. Our work to protect and restore forests depends on you. We need you to help get [...]
Happy Earth Month! The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970 and was conceived as a national day of education and awareness at a time when our waterways, air and wilderness were being despoiled at an alarming rate. As people began to realize the topic was too big to be addressed within 24 [...]
It is barely March, and throughout Washington, trees are budding. If you are not from here you may not realize it, but our nation’s capital is a city filled with trees of tremendous variety, and spring here bursts forth in a riot of colors and sweet smells (and major tree pollen!). City trees, of course, [...]
Happy New Year! In the spirit of the season, I thought I would share some resolutions that you (and we) might make to help care for the environment by protecting and restoring forest ecosystems (including the one in your neighborhood). Here are four to get you started: Plant some trees. Whether you plant a tree [...]
During the holidays, trees in every community do double duty as harbingers of the season. In the town where I live, many street trees are ablaze with lights, transforming the shopping district into a cheerful and magical destination. Here in Washington, our headquarters is only a few blocks from the National Christmas Tree, which President [...]
Given that this is my first blog post for Loose Leaf, let me introduce myself. My name is Scott Steen, and I am the CEO at American Forests, a job I have had for about 11 months now. Prior to joining American Forests, I spent most of my career as a nonprofit executive, mostly serving [...]
