A System Level Approach To Southern Forest Conservation
Southern Forest, Global Impact
Our forests are the planet’s hardest workers. They sustain our economy and quality of life. They keep our air and water pure. They provide a fertile habitat for wildlife. They offer us space to delight in nature. Over 105 million people call this region home and depend on the benefits provided by the roughly 245 million acres of remaining forestland.
As the 13 states that make up the southern region of the U.S. continue to grow, urbanization will have a drastic impact on our forests. If the South continues to develop at its current rate, our forests will pay the price.
Urbanization is threatening up to 23 million acres of southern forests
The Southern Forest Futures Report, USDA Forest Service
Keeping Forests is taking a radically different approach to forest conservation
Eighty-six percent of southern forests are in the hands of private landowners, two-thirds of which are owned by families and individuals. We believe that the best chance to sustain southern forests is to create the conditions for our current land stewards to keep forests as forests.
We are determined to ensure that our region's forests have a future. Our work focuses on conserving the 245 million acres of remaining forests by supporting private landowners, shedding light on why this land matters, and showing what you can do to help.
Our Strategy
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We expand the use of products made from southern trees, going beyond consumer goods to include construction technologies and building codes that are forest-friendly.
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Working with conservation leaders, we help the general public connect the dots between responsible forest management and the long-term viability of southern forests.
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In the spirit of innovation, we will create an investment model that compensates private landowners for the range of benefits - like clean air and water - that originate in their forests.
OUR PARTNERS
Forty partners strong, we represent a diverse range of interests with a common mission. From environmental experts and private landowners to global corporations and government agencies, each of our partners illuminates the critical importance of the region’s woodlands.
LEADERSHIP & STAFF
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Laura Calandrella
Executive Director
Since Keeping Forests launched in 2016, Laura has been an advisor to Keeping Forests on the development of collaborative partnerships and collective impact strategies.
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Daniel McInnis
USDA Forest Service Shared Stewardship Coordinator, Southern Region
Daniel is responsible for implementing the agency’s Shared Stewardship strategy in the 13 southern states and Puerto Rico. Additionally, he serves as the regional coordinator and liaison for several conservation initiatives and collaborations, including Keeping Forests.
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Zach Clifton
Communications Specialist
Zach supports Keeping Forests via its partnership with the Georgia Forestry Association. Zach and the other communications staff at GFA lend support to the partnership both strategically & tactically.