Author: Site Owner

President & Chief Executive Officer
Heads to American Physiological Society

Steen at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on behalf of American Forests in 2016.

After nearly eight years of leadership at American Forests, Scott Steen, president and chief executive officer announced that he will be leaving the organization in July to become executive director at the American Physiological Society. During his tenure, Steen focused on developing a stronger scientific foundation for the organization’s efforts, expanding public understanding of the importance of forests for human life, and emphasizing stewardship and transparency.

“I will remember my time at American Forests as a high point in my career,” Steen said. “Not only have I gotten to do work that is deeply meaningful and important for the health of the planet, I have had the opportunity to do it with an amazing group of people, including an exceptionally supportive, wise and courageous board, and an incredibly talented staff team.”

American Forests Board Chair Bruce Lisman noted that during Steen’s tenure, the organization tripled its membership, launched several new, high profile initiatives, and significantly increased operating revenue. “Scott has built more capacity for greater accomplishments than we ever imagined,” Lisman said. “We’ve planted a lot of trees during his tenure, but it’s the impact that really matters – saving wildlife, cleaning water, restoring urban canopy, and repairing damaged forests. He’s done so much for American Forests, and he’s done it with style and good humor. I value his leadership and his friendship.”

Board Vice Chair Richard Kabat added, “Scott leaves the organization with a highly capable management team, a solid financial base and a staff of dedicated professionals continuing the process of leading critically important initiatives and policy-making at the highest levels.”

Past Board Chair Ann Nichols pointed to the organizational strength, financial stability and improved program focus that Scott brought to American Forests. “These are the components of his legacy,” she said. “His leadership has changed American Forests’ future for the better and built a solid foundation on which to grow.”

Jonathan Silver, like Lisman, returned as a board member during Steen’s term. Having served a decade earlier as board chair, Silver echoed the thoughts of others in crediting Scott with turning the organization around. “The American Forests we know today would not exist without Scott. Scott took over an old and venerable, but troubled, organization and, in his time there, turned it into a major voice for forest conservation. The organization, and the country, are better for his leadership.”

Board Member Zim Boulos added, “Scott is a true visionary. He inspired and challenged the board and his staff in many ways.”

During his seven-plus years, Steen has been passionate about expanding public awareness for both the organization and the cause. During this time, American Forests has received media coverage in such outlets as The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, NatGeo Weekend, NPR, and many others.

Its website traffic has more than doubled and the organization now has more than a quarter-million social media followers. The organization has also expanded public awareness through several innovative partnerships, including with actor Ryan Reynolds (with Eddie Bauer), the Super Bowl (with Verizon), and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Past Board Chair Lynda Webster commented, “American Forests is losing an extraordinary leader who made transformational changes at a pivotal point in its history. Scott built an exceptional team and together they have taken the organization to places beyond what I imagined.”

Steen will assume his new role at the American Physiological Society in July. Established in 1887, APS is a global, multidisciplinary association of scientists focused on solving major problems affecting life and health. The Society represents more than 10,500 members and publishes 15 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership.

A Prothonotary Warbler in Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: USFWS Midwest

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2018) — American Forests and Alcoa Foundation announce nine new grant recipients in year two of a three-year partnership to enhance biodiversity and combat climate change in key areas across the globe.

Newly funded projects will restore at-risk tree species and help cities address climate change by engaging 4,500 volunteers in tree plantings and other forest restoration activities in 13 locations, such as:

In Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, BRA, Associação Poços Sustentável will improve a 1.8-acre urban greenspace by planting 30 different Atlantic Forest tree species. The site currently has exposed soil and is being impacted by erosion. Restoration will stabilize the soil, reduce urban heat island effect by providing shade and thermal comfort, and demonstrate the benefits and beauty of landscaping with native species.

In Madrid and communities along Spain’s northwest coast, Ecoherencia will engage more than 400 volunteers in tree planting projects over two years. These projects will help forests close to communities recover from recent wildfires, and allow for continued restoration of the holm oak in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. The holm oak is the national tree of Spain, but has been overtaken by invasive trees in areas of the Park.

In Indiana, USA, Friends of Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will restore 55 acres of bottomland hardwood forest on former agricultural land in Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. A variety of oak and hickory species will be planted that will benefit federal and state wildlife species of concern including evening, Indiana, and long-eared bats, barn and short-eared owls, and the copperbelly water snake.

In Washington and Oregon, USA, the U.S. Forest Service will collect whitebark pine seed from disease-resistant trees and use them to grow tree seedlings needed for future forest restoration. Whitebark pine is endangered in Canada and a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection in the United States, due to threats including a non-native fungal disease (whitepine blister rust), wildfire and climate change. Availability of disease-resistant whitebark pine seedlings is a key limiting factor to range-wide recovery.

These and other new projects add to ongoing restoration work previously funded through the American Forests and Alcoa Foundation Partnership in Iceland, Quebec, Canada and Pennsylvania, USA. Early efforts in 2018 planted 75,000 trees over 175 acres with the help of 2,500 volunteers.

“Alcoa Foundation believes that the best chance we have of progressing towards a healthier environment is through partnership and collaboration, and our program with American Forests demonstrates this powerfully,” said Rosa García Pineiro, Alcoa Foundation President and Sustainability Vice President. “We are excited to build on the momentum of the first year of this program to continue the important work of environmental restoration in communities around the world.”

Since 2011, Alcoa Foundation and American Forests have worked together to enhance and protect forests in 14 countries, restoring wildlife habitat and combating climate change by utilizing forests to augment carbon storage and purify water and air. Through the dedication of Alcoa employees, local communities and partners, more than 1.6 million trees have been planted.

“Our partnership with the Alcoa Foundation exemplifies the commitment and collaboration we need to work toward natural, high impact climate change solutions,” said Scott Steen, president & CEO of American Forests. “These newly funded projects in year two of our current three-year partnership address a wide range of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Alcoa is serious about making a difference.”

###

ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS

American Forests inspires and advances the conservation of forests, which are essential to life. We do this by protecting and restoring threatened forest ecosystems, promoting and expanding urban forests, and increasing understanding of the importance of forests. Founded in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the country and has served as a catalyst for many key milestones in the conservation movement, including the founding of the U.S. Forest Service, the national forest system and thousands of forest ecosystem restoration projects and public education efforts. Since 1990, American Forests has planted more than 50 million trees in all 50 states and nearly 50 countries, resulting in cleaner air and drinking water, restored habitat for wildlife and fish, and the removal of millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

ABOUT ALCOA FOUNDATION

Alcoa Foundation’s predecessor, currently known as Legacy Alcoa Foundation (and formerly known as Alcoa Foundation), was founded in 1952 as one of the few endowed corporate foundations in the United States. As a result of the separation of Alcoa Inc. into Alcoa Corporation and Arconic Inc. in November 2016, two new foundations were formed, into which the assets of Legacy Alcoa Foundation were transferred. One of the newly formed foundations, known now as Alcoa Foundation, is the foundation associated with Alcoa Corporation. Today, Alcoa Foundation invests where Alcoa Corporation has a presence, providing grants that contribute to environmental excellence around the world, particularly in the areas of biodiversity conservation and climate change research. Learn more at alcoafoundation.com  and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT

Lea Sloan | Vice President of Communications | 202.370.4509 (direct) | 202.330.3253 (mobile) | lsloan@americanforests.org

Credit: Jeff D. Muth

Check out what’s happened this week in forestry news!

Novelist Richard Powers Finds New Stories Deep In Old Growth Forests – NPR

Richard Powers’ latest book, “The Overstory,” focuses on the lives of nine people who are inspired by their reverence for trees to save old-growth forests from destruction — with unforeseen consequences. Powers did extensive research to include factual details about the importance of trees and forests to the environment.

‘Magical’ mushroom mix to boost regrowth of lost Scottish forests – The Guardian

In a project run by Trees for Life, a special mix of mushroom spores is being used to help restore the Great Caledonian Forest in the Scottish highlands. Mycorrhizal fungi will be added to the roots of saplings planned for planting this year, with the possibility of introducing this practice in the tree nursery as well.

Human Footprint Devastating Wildlife: An Article For Earth Day – moderndiplomacy

This series from Science describes the harmful impact of modern human presence on wildlife. One article discusses the negative effect of the human footprint on animal movement, another is about the negative impact that managed honeybees have on wildflowers and wild honeybees, and the final piece assesses the influence of plastic waste on disease in reef-building corals.

How Big Forests Solve Global Problems – The New York Times

Intact forests landscapes are able to maintain their native plant and animal life, and biophysical processes. This gives them the ability to help manage climate change by absorbing carbon emissions in large amounts. But that’s not the only reason intact forests are important: They also influence cultural diversity, and language in particular!

The vulnerability of Kirtland’s warblers, and their unique dependence on jack pine forests, had been on American Forests’ radar since before 1980. When our American ReLeaf program was launched in 1990, American Forests began investing in bringing back the Kirtland’s warbler by restoring its habitat. In fact, our first-ever project was to restore jack pine on the AuSable State Forest in Michigan. Since then, American Forests has planted more than 4.6 million jack pines on more than 4,200 acres.

This nationally unique public-private restoration effort has brought the Kirtland’s warbler population back from the brink. The current population is now over 2,000 pairs, more than double the recovery goal. Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to remove the species from the federal Endangered Species List.

This is a great achievement for the Kirtland’s warbler, but also underscores the importance of the ESA. The ESA has kept 98% of listed species from going extinct. These protections give state, federal and private partners the space to develop complex restoration strategies.

Of course, challenges still remain for the Kirtland’s warbler. Because large scale reintroduction of wildfire is not reasonable, forest management will be required to continually create new breeding habitat every year.

The jack pine timber market has enhanced the conservation effort, but it isn’t a silver bullet. Jack pine prices can fluctuate and the tree is not as sought after as other species like red pine. In addition to habitat needs, the conservation effort supports brown-headed cowbird control. Cowbirds lay their eggs in Kirtland’s warbler nests, and the cowbirds then outcompete warbler nestlings for food.

To ensure the ultimate success of the Kirtland’s warbler, American Forests and the Michigan DNR are in the second year of a five-year partnership that will plant 5 million jack pine trees on more than 3,000 acres of managed state forest land. The tree planting will create the next young forests for the warbler. The partnership helps to fill funding gaps and ensure that the species will remain secure.

Our investment is focused on future habitat needs too. Since 1951, 98 percent of all singing males have been found in Michigan. However, as the population grows, the Kirtland’s warbler is slowly expanding its range into northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario. As temperatures and precipitation changes due to climate change, the need for jack pine restoration will also grow. American Forests is currently partnering with Simcoe County, Ontario, and the Canadian Wildlife Service to implement the first-ever Kirtland’s warbler habitat restoration in Canada.

Credit: Chris Drumm via rootsrated.com | Pinterest

Check out what’s happened this week in forestry news!

That Python in the Pet Store? It May Have Been Snatched From the Wild – The New York Times

The popularity of exotic reptiles and amphibians as pets has created an enormous illegal trade. Most of the reptiles sold as pets are said to have been bred in captivity – however, depending on the species, many of those reptiles were likely illegally captured in the wild.

Animal images used in marketing may skew public perception about their survival risks – Science Daily

A recent international study reveals that animals such as tigers, lions and polar bears are at a high risk of extinction because the public believes their popularity guarantees their survival. Since these popular animals are frequently used in marketing campaigns, the public creates the misconception that these animals aren’t endangered.

Using virtual reality to plot urban green spaces – Phys.org

Researchers at NC State University used immersive virtual reality (IVR) to test perceptions of green enclosures set in a downtown plaza and a city park, manipulating the vegetation to create different environments. This technology will allow landscape designers to experiment with designing urban landscapes and people’s perception of them without having to plant trees.

How Norwegian trees have revealed the story of Germany’s biggest WWII battleship – The Local

Tree experts used tree ring measurements from forests along the northern coast of Norway to show how the Germans were able to avoid the destruction of their largest battleship, the Tirpitz, for years during World War II.

Infrastructure improvements for national forest system trails announced – Nooga.com

The trail maintenance scheduled for 15 priority areas in the Southern Appalachian region is expected to address the needed infrastructure work, so that trails managed by the USDA Forest Service can be enjoyed by the general public and trail enthusiasts.

Tiny Gold Monkeys and Pumas Are Getting Their Own Highway – National Geographic

A new wildlife corridor is being planned to allow species to move out of the now-isolated Reserva Biológica União in Brazil. This will give the endangered and threatened species, such as the golden lion tamarin, the opportunity to repopulate and become genetically diverse in a larger environment. The land bridge will lead to a region north of the reserve, which is in the process of being reforested with native flora.