Building 27, Suite 3 Fort Missoula Road Missoula, MT 59804 www.nationalforests.org Printed on recycled paper Cert no. SW-COC-1724 2012 ANNUAL REPORT In 2009, the National Forest Foundation (NFF) launched with cash or in-kind contributions of so, by their collective action. That action their own. This formula amplifies results. is needed as much now as ever. The an exciting initiative to help address forest health issues Through this program, which began in challenges facing our National Forests are on the 193-million-acre National Forest System and raise 2006, we have invested more than $4.5 immense—budget cuts, climate change, million in forest restoration projects. We catastrophic wildfires, increasing population awareness of the importance and relevance of public lands begin by asking for a dollar and the result pressures, and increasing storm intensity to all Americans. This report covers the third year of the is an investment of millions. are making our work more necessary $100 million Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Our mission isn’t just restoration than ever. focused. It includes raising awareness, Through public engagement and Experiences capital campaign. We are pleased to report empowering communities, and building a leverage, we are gaining momentum in another record year in advancing the objectives of the shared sense of responsibility. Since 2001, implementing long-term conservation the NFF and our partners have created a projects. We are privileged to be involved NFF through this unique public-private partnership. team of more than 102,000 volunteers to in carrying out this important work. You, work on their local National Forest, our growing network of supporters, make Restoring our extraordinary National to get involved. The result is more acres tallying an incredible 1,260,000 hours of our accomplishments possible. Hopefully, Forests and Grasslands is a long-term, restored, more trees planted, more service. Our relationships with more than like us, you get to enjoy the many benefits ongoing endeavor that will require technical assistance provided, and 5,400 different organizations has allowed these amazing landscapes provide. As we sustained effort for years to come. Our ultimately more people empowered to us to complete almost 1,400 projects that approach 2014 with the anticipation of principal partner, the U.S. Forest Service make a difference. have restored nearly 10,000 miles of trails, successfully completing our Treasured estimates that between 65 and 82 million Two good examples of the efficacy of reduced the risk of wildfire on 154,000 Landscapes campaign, we want to thank acres are in need of restorative action— this approach are our Ski Conservation acres, planted more than four million trees you for your confidence in our work and that’s up to 42 percent of the entire and Forest Stewardship Fund programs. and shrubs, and restored more than your commitment to our rich legacy of National Forest System. There are no These innovative programs solicit voluntary 50,000 acres of important wildlife habitat. public lands. quick fixes, no silver bullets, just the one dollar contributions from an important In 2012, we launched a public clear and compelling need to accelerate constituency of National Forest System awareness campaign around the Treasured restoration activities and amplify users—skiers and snowboarders. At the Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences important conservation work through individual level, one dollar is a modest campaign. This effort expanded the partnerships and cooperative action. sum. But when pooled, these donations constituency for our National Forests— In focusing our efforts on this quickly add up to a source of funding that our Friends of the Forest—by more than immense task, the NFF’s strategy relies on can make a real difference. But we don’t 100,000 individuals. This growth is two underlying principals—public stop there. We add 50 cents of our federal exciting and heartening. These new engagement and leverage. Working with funding for every private dollar contributed. Friends aren’t simply casual fans of our others and leveraging both human and And finally, to leverage these funds further, work; they are engaged and active and are financial resources has led to more non- when we invest these pooled contributions recruiting their friends and family to profit partners stepping up to help and into forest restoration projects, we ask our support us as well. We are encouraged more individuals rolling up their sleeves grantees to further match their awards and motivated by their support and more John Hendricks William J. Possiel NFF Chairman NFF President 2 National Forest Foundation 20 12 Annual Report 3 Growing Connections t r o p The National Forest System—the words sound almost clinical and e R l a academic. The power, majesty and complexity of life, of watersheds u n n and mountain ranges, of rivers and deserts, of prairies and living A 2 1 beings reduced to a simple three word phrase—a system, like the 0 2 n Interstate Highway System. The National Forest Foundation and o i t a d the millions of Americans who support our work know that our n u o National Forests and Grasslands are no mere system. They are the F t s e r clean water that flows from our taps. They are the backdrop of o F l family memories and traditions. They are livelihoods and they are a n o i t the resources that power rural economies. They are ski slopes and a N fishing holes. They are carbon sequestration and cutting edge research. These incredibly diverse, beautiful, fascinating lands are critical to our country and our lives. They are more than this too. They are the realization of an idea that the natural world is a treasure that requires our attention, stewardship, and appreciation. They are our past and our future. They are worth supporting and worth treasuring. They are our National Forests. The National Forest Foundation exists to perpetuate the wide-ranging values of National Forests and Grasslands. In the quest to conserve and enhance our public lands, the NFF frames our work within a core set of 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. 4 t r o p e R l a u n n A 2 1 0 2 n o i t a d n u o F t s e r o F Carbon Capital Fund Program Restoring America ’s Headwaters Conservation Connect Youth Engagement l a n o The NFF’s Carbon Capital Fund connects The NFF’s newest initiative provides Peer-mentoring, tools for collaborative Engaging youth in National Forest i t a N Americans and American businesses to targeted watershed restoration opportunities action, expertise, and direct support of stewardship is critical to perpetuating a forests through innovative projects that for corporate and municipal partners forest collaboratives across the country. healthy National Forest System for the reforest National Forests damaged by committed to reducing their water These are the critical tools the NFF future. In Washington and Oregon, we wildfires. In addition to restoring forests, impacts. Coca-Cola, the city of Aurora, CO, provides through its pioneering led youth-oriented Friends of the Forest ® improving watersheds, and enhancing and other companies are supporting Conservation Connect Program. In Days on National Forests near Seattle and habitat, these projects provide partners projects that provide measureable forests from Alaska to New Hampshire, Portland. On the Midewin National with high quality voluntary carbon offsets. watershed benefits, help meet corporate we work with nonprofit partners, the Tallgrass Prairie, high-school aged youth Partners like the Walt Disney Company sustainability goals, or protect important U.S. Forest Service, and engaged citizens from Chicago’s North Lawndale and Chevrolet have supported the watersheds. National Forests provide to reach consensus and build capacity Preparatory School spent six weeks reforestation of thousands of acres through water for 123 million Americans, and our for addressing the restoration and learning restoration skills through the their investments in the Carbon Capital Restoring America’s Headwaters Program management needs on the National NFF’s sponsorship and organization. Fund. Additionally, individual Americans ensures that this water remains clean, Forest System. In Los Angeles, urban kids are getting and forward-thinking small businesses pure, and low cost for the next generation to know their local forests through a have also contributed to projects, resulting of Americans. custom-created virtual hike and species in restored forests and reduced greenhouse identification program that introduces gases. We are proud of the opportunities them to the Angeles National Forest. we’ve created for these partners to mitigate Participants get a chance to get out on the climate change while investing in our In 2012, the NFF and partners had 11,374 Angeles for a service and educational day public lands. volunteers commit 190,966 hours towards that includes an opportunity for them to restore the forest and gain ecological National Forest restoration. understanding that they can apply in their own neighborhoods and urban parks. These efforts are essential to our work and continue to form a growing aspect of our engagement efforts. 5 t r o p e Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable R l a u n Experiences Conservation Campaign n A 2 1 0 Large-scale restoration connecting Americans to their public lands: 2 n o i t that is the heart of the NFF’s Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable a d n u o Experiences conservation campaign.