American Forests today urged Congressional negotiators to clarify language and funding in the economic recovery bill now under consideration to ensure that funds for federal land management agencies be clearly directed to “green” activities that create quality jobs and revitalize local economies through the restoration and maintenance of healthy rural and urban forest ecosystems.

“A solid funding package for these restoration activities is well within reach,” said Deborah Gangloff, executive director of American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation organization and the leading advocate for establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. “There is a huge backlog of urgently needed restoration work in forest communities across the country. Urban shade-tree planting for energy conservation also fits the definition of ‘shovel-ready’ projects that warrant immediate support.”

For the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, American Forests recommends:

• $400 million for hazardous fuels reduction, city forest enhancements, and wood-to-energy grants related to State and Private Forestry.


• $300 million for hazardous fuels reduction, forest restoration, and stewardship activities on the National Forests.  


• $650 million for improving forest roads and trails and for watershed enhancement through the Forest Service’s Capital Improvement and Maintenance programs.


• $325 million for hazardous fuels reduction, forest restoration, and stewardship activities on federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

In addition, American Forests recommends support for two programs in the Department of Energy and Department of Labor that can provide critical support for urban and rural communities to develop green energy projects and train green workers.

• $3.5 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to assist states, local governments and Indian tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use. Such strategies should include shade-tree planting for energy conservation and the use of woody biomass for community-scale energy projects (e.g., Fuels for Schools).


• $500 million designated for projects that prepare workers for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries specified in the Green Jobs Act of 2007.  Such training should include projects that focus on workforce skills and job opportunities related to restoring and maintaining healthy forests and natural systems.  

American Forests urges conferees to provide clear legislative or report language to ensure that the agencies address these priorities. American Forests also supports a flexible funding approach that allows the federal agencies to allocate funds to programs in a manner consistent with their current authorities, organizational capacity, priorities as identified through collaborative processes, and appropriate levels of environmental review.

At the height of the depression and the early days of President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration, no organization did more to urge establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps than American Forests. The CCC went on to employ 3 million men in conservation and restoration work from 1933 to 1942. American Forests believes that today’s economic and environmental challenges call for a new era of restoration that focuses not just on jobs that improve the environment, but jobs that improve the capacity of ecosystems to provide ecological services and products.