Fields & Forests

Fields & Forests is a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a national conservation organization that works to support family landowners in making meaningful conservation impact. Since 1932, AFF has brought together many different groups to work toward common objectives, such as improving clean water, wildlife habitats, and sustainable wood supplies.

As a nonprofit, we work hard to carefully manage the resources provided by our many partners and donors to maximize their impact in addressing our nation’s most pressing conservation challenges. Our current vision is to empower American landowners to capture and store an additional one billion tonnes of carbon by 2050. To learn more about AFF visit www.forestfoundation.org.

The majority of our funding currently comes from private donations, grants, and the sale of carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market. Companies are increasingly seeking solutions to help them meet their carbon emission goals, and many pay for high-quality carbon credits produced by programs like ours. We use the funds from these agreements to put as much money back into the pockets of rural American families as possible.

Fields & Forests provides landowner with a low-maintenance opporunity to diversify the income from their land. This includes the guaranteed annual payments of $30/acre each year, any profits generated from thinning or harvesting timber while enrolled, and revenue generated from continued farming or grazing cattle on adjacent fields. Landowners are also free to explore additional opportunities such as selling hunting leases.

To be eligible for Fields & Forests your land cannot have been forested in the past 10 years. Unfortunately this means if your land was recently clearcut, or damaged by a natural disaster, you are not eligible for F&F at this time.

Yes, Fields & Forests is meant to diversify your land, not replace it with forest. We require a minimum of 40 plantable acres to be eligible for the program, but any land above and beyond that minimum may remain open field and be kept as pasture or cropland.

No. While enrolled in Fields & Forests you will continue to own and have full access to your land. We are leasing only your carbon rights, which simply means you cannot enroll in another carbon payment program during your contract term with Fields & Forests. You are also entitled to the revenue from any (optional) thinning or harvesting you decide to do while enrolled.

The loblolly pine is the most common native tree species in the American Southeast. Known for its fast growth and adaptability, this evergreen can be successfully planted in wet lowlands or dry areas and is resilient to severe weather. It can grow up to 2 feet per year, reaching heights of up to 90 feet with a canopy of up to 40 feet at maturity.

Because of its impressive size and growth rate, loblolly pine stands quickly produce high-value timber, and capture and store carbon more efficiently than other species. Click here to learn more about the benefits of growing loblolly pine.

The contract you sign when you enroll with Fields & Forest "runs with the land" meaning any future owners would need to take over the agreement for the remainder of the original enrollment period. Because this program provides low-maintenance income, for many landowners it is a great opportunity to keep their land in the family while requiring less labor and maintenance than growing crops or grazing cattle.

Our team will reach out to answer any questions you have an help you decide if Fields & Forests fits your goals for your land. If you decide to continue with enrollment we will connect you with a local professional forester who will walk your land and confirm your eligible acres.

When you are ready, we will send you a payment offer to review and approve. Once you have signed your official landowner agreement we will begin processing your first payment, and your forester will reach out to get started on your management plan!

Your AFF-contracted forester will oversee site preparation in the late-summer or fall months, ahead of the winter planting season. This process usually includes 1-2 rounds of chemical site prep, and sometimes involves mechanical site prep such as chipping, mastication, or piling. Your consulting forester is welcome to be on site for this work.

Our team will provide loblolly pine seedlings that are adapted to your area for optimal growth and disease resistance. Our contracted foresters will oversee the on-the-ground-work of planting in the late winter months. If you have a consulting forester they are also welcome on site. Our team will then work to ensure the survival of your seedlings in the first year of growth.

We understand that many landowners enter this program without any forestry experience or access to forestry expertise. We become your long-term partner in forest stewardship by providing you with ongoing technical support and guidance, as well as access to a community of forest owners and professionals who can answer questions and share resources.