Photo by Louis Kamler. www.nationalforests.org Building 27, Suite 3 Fort Missoula Road Missoula, MT 59804 Printed on recycled paper 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Island Lake, Eldorado National Forest Desolation Wilderness. Photo by Adam Braziel. 1 We are pleased to present the National Forest Foundation’s (NFF) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013. During this fourth year of the Treasured Landscapes campaign, we have reached $86 million in both public and private support towards our $100 million campaign goal. In this year’s report, you can read about the National Forests comprising the centerpieces of our work. While these landscapes merit special attention, they are really emblematic of the entire National Forest System consisting of 155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands. he historical context for these diverse and beautiful Working to protect all of these treasured landscapes, landscapes is truly inspirational. The century-old to ensure that they are maintained to provide renewable vision to put forests in a public trust to secure their resources and high quality recreation experiences, is National Forest Foundation 2013 Annual Report values for the future was an effort so bold in the late at the core of the NFF’s mission. Adding value to the 1800’s and early 1900’s that today it seems almost mission of our principal partner, the Forest Service, is impossible to imagine. While vestiges of past resistance what motivates and challenges the NFF Board and staff. to the public lands concept live on in the present, Connecting people and places reflects our organizational the American public today overwhelmingly supports values and gives us a sense of pride in telling the NFF maintaining these lands and waters in public ownership story of success to those who generously support for the benefit of all. our work. We continue to make significant progress on the We are grateful for the support of our partners and Treasured Landscapes sites featured here. Additionally, we donors. We are resolute in our determination to achieve have seen increasing interest and commitment to other tangible improvements to the 193-million-acre National important program areas—our tree planting efforts, Forest System. We enthusiastically invite your continued water replenishment work, and wilderness stewardship engagement, suggestions, and support. activities are all growing rapidly. Our Conservation Connect program is a powerful approach to connecting people to places and giving them a direct stake in the future of their public resources through collaboration and new learning. One element we consistently seek in our conservation work is leverage. It shapes our grant programs’ criteria, is reflected in how we think about conservation, and is measured so that we can report to our Board of Directors and to our financial supporters. We are pleased that each dollar of federal and private support has been leveraged three to one in 2013. Such leverage gives the NFF both impact and efficiency and—in this era of tight federal budgets and wildfires that consume disproportionate Forest William J. Possiel John Hendricks Service funds—this becomes more important than ever. NFF President NFF Chairman 2 ur National Forests and Grasslands are loved and appreciated. Almost every day, we receive notes and messages saying “thank you” and “keep up the good work” from folks across the country who support our efforts on behalf of these treasured places. These notes remind us that Americans value these lands and all they provide: clean water and air, abundant wildlife, secluded campgrounds, pristine rivers, sustainable communities, and cherished family memories. The National Forests and Grasslands truly are “The People’s Land,” and we take immense pride in connecting Americans to their backyard forests, knowing that these ties are vital to our National Forest Foundation 2013 Annual Report country’s future. In July 2013, we commissioned a poll to gauge just how much Americans loved, used, and understood “The People’s Lands.” The results were astounding, even to us. Seven in ten Americans we polled think that “protecting our country’s natural beauty and history through public lands like National Forests is something government does best.” Vast majorities, from all political parties, agree that funding to safeguard National Forests “should not be cut” even with federal budget problems. Americans value the clean water these forests produce, the wildlife habitat they provide, the hundreds of thousands of jobs they support, and the opportunities for recreation and exploration contained within their 193 million acres. Heartened and inspired by these responses, we are redoubling our work across the country—improving watersheds, engaging citizens, planting trees, restoring streams and wildlife habitat, and finding new partners who share our values. Please join us in celebrating Americans’ love and appreciation for these treasured landscapes. The NFF frames our work within a set of core values that help us to perpetuate the forest and watershed benefits of importance to us all. Filling unmet stewardship needs and adding conservation value where we work, the NFF employs the following core values: •Unite the power of diverse interests and communities in collaborative stewardship; • Restore ecosystems to their natural resiliency and functions through on-the-ground conservation; • Sustain the commitment and ability of communities to serve as stewards by building the capacity of collaborative organizations; and • Engage Americans, young and old, in recognizing the gifts of our National Forests and Grasslands and in caring for them. Photo by Jolane Stroh. 3 Photo by David Anderson National Forest Foundation 2013 Annual Report Innovative Market-Based Youth Engagement Growing Connections Conservation Connect Solutions Engaging youth in National Forest An educated and engaged constituency Forest issues are often conflict laden The NFF continues to create innovative stewardship is critical to perpetuating is critical for the future of our National and divisive, but common ground can ways to restore our National Forests a healthy National Forest System for Forests and Grasslands. Our broad and be found. Through our pioneering and Grasslands. Our Carbon Capital the future. In Washington and Oregon, effective communications efforts are Conservation Connect Program, the NFF Fund is pursuing new methodologies to we led youth-oriented Friends of the building this constituency one Friend provides communities with the tools expand restoration opportunities that Forest® Days on National Forests near of the Forest at a time. From our semi- needed to seek this common ground: utilize voluntary funding to improve the Seattle and Portland. On the Midewin annual magazine, Your National Forests, peer-mentoring, tools for collaborative resiliency and health of our National National Tallgrass Prairie, high-school to our 150,000-fan-strong Facebook action, expertise, and direct support of Forests. Our tree-planting program is students from Chicago’s North Lawndale page, we are constantly reaching out to stakeholder groups seeking agreement. reforesting thousands of acres damaged Preparatory School spent six weeks and engaging the hundreds of thousands In forests from Alaska to Florida, we by wildfire and insects across the country learning restoration skills through the of Americans who want to know more work with nonprofit partners, the through support from trusted American NFF’s sponsorship and organization and do more for our National Forests. By Forest Service, and engaged citizens businesses like Lands’ End and Plow and (we’re doubling the number of students sharing the stories that make these places to reach consensus and build capacity Hearth as well as through thousands of in 2014). In Los Angeles, urban kids are so special, we are ensuring that there is a for addressing the restoration and individual Americans and dozens of small getting to know their local forests through robust and growing group of Americans management needs on the National independent businesses. Through our a custom-created virtual hike and species from all walks of life who recognize and Forest System. Restoring America’s Headwaters program, identification program that introduces support the immeasurable values that we are helping companies like Coca-Cola them to the Angeles National Forest. the National Forest System represents. meet their voluntary water replenishment Participants get a chance to get out on We invite YOU to share your thoughts, goals via forest restoration projects that the Angeles for a service and educational experiences, and ideas about our National return water back to the ecosystems day that includes an opportunity for them Forests with the NFF today. Please send where it’s needed most. All of these to restore the forest and gain ecological your thoughts to NFF Executive programs connect American businesses understanding that they can apply in their Vice President, Ray A. Foote, at and individuals to our National Forests own neighborhoods and urban parks. [email protected]. and achieve real, measureable restoration These efforts are essential to our work and Projects Completed results. continue to form a growing aspect of our engagement efforts. 1,548 Since 2001 4 Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences Conservation Campaign The NFF’s flagship conservation initiative, Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences, addresses large-scale restoration challenges, connects communities to their