AFF’s Latest Offering: Field to Forest 

Across the United States, there are millions of acres of underused farm and pastureland owned by landowners looking to diversify their income. These lands offer prime growing conditions for a new resource: loblolly pine. This native tree species grows quickly and is incredibly adaptive, making it one of the most efficient trees for capturing and storing carbon.

AFF is expanding our climate impact with a new project, Field to Forest. Field to Forest works with family landowners to plant and grow trees on their open fields, creating a new revenue stream while capturing carbon to mitigate climate change.

Partnering to Protect the Planet

With boots on the ground, fresh air, the sun’s warmth, and the wildlife’s rustling, AFF has many of our most productive meetings beneath the canopy of trees. The Field to Forest Tour in January 2024 was our most recent gathering designed to convene existing and potential funders from the public and private sectors, as well as key implementation partners to work together to scale our collective climate impact. It was also a chance to learn more about Field to Forest, the newest expansion of the Family Forest Carbon Program.

Friend of the Forest: Mitch Cliett

Mitch Cliett grew up hunting with his father on a 134-acre property in Georgia. As he has grown older, he has taken steps to maintain the health of that property while creating outdoor memories with his own children. One way Mitch has taken steps to steward a healthy property is enrolling his fields in AFF’s Field to Forest project.

Field to Forest was a perfect way for the family to convert their trees into edge habitat, the transitional habitat between forests and fields which attracts deer, turkey, and other animals. Mitch was excited to say that the tree planting “will really be an improvement on the land.” Increasing the productivity of the hunting grounds, while increasing the value of the land by generating income, was the selling point for him and his family.

Forester Spotlight: Aimee Tomcho

Aimee Tomcho is passionate about ensuring that private forest owners are supported in the work they do to sustain the world’s forests. Originally starting her career as a wildlife biologist, today, Aimee is the lead forester for the Field for Forest project. In the southern U.S., more than 85% of forestland is privately-owned and Field to Forest is designed to offer these landowners financial and technical resources to improve their land. Aimee says, “The magic of forests inspires and sustains me in ways words cannot describe. I can think of no better way to spend my life than walking among trees and working to keep forests in the landscape.”