Advocacy & Outreach

SAF's Policy and Public Affairs Team works with policymakers, partner organizations, and key coalitions to provide a unified voice for sustainable forest management and forestry and natural resources professionals. From collaborating with legislative and administrative leaders to creating new partnership and engagement opportunities, our team works every day to keep forests and those who manage, study, and care for them in the conversation as part of the solution to society’s most pressing economic, environmental, and social issues.

National User Group Meetings

In partnership with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, SAF convenes annual meetings of partners and stakeholders from across the sector to discuss challenges and opportunities for using data generated by the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.

Recommendations and action items are developed and shared with FIA program leaders and the broader user community to build awareness, facilitate collaboration, and, ultimately, continue the work of using FIA data to improve management of the nation’s forests. Click below to download and share the meeting reports, which include video links, presentation recaps, and recommendations.

2020 FIA Meeting Report

2020 Small Area Estimation Focus Session Report

2021 Timber Products Output Survey Focus Session Report  

2021 FIA Meeting Report

2022 Forest Carbon Focus Session Report

2022 FIA Meeting Report

2022 National Woodland Owners Survey Focus Session Report

Our Team In Action

SAF Publishes Report from FIA User Group

Posted on 5/25/2023
SAF and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) recently convened the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) National User Group for its 2023 meeting.

SAF Educates Congressional Staffers on Capitol Hill with New Educational Series

Posted on 5/17/2023
SAF is a proud member of the Forest-Climate Working Group (FCWG), which is the only coalition of forest sector organizations addressing the essential role of forests in mitigating climate change.

SAF Responds to Mature & Old-Growth Forest Report

Posted on 4/20/2023
Today, the two agencies released a report on their efforts under Executive Order 14072 to define and inventory mature and old-growth forests on Forest Service and BLM lands.

SAF Develops Briefer to Support Updated Forest Inventory and Analysis Position Statement

Posted on 4/13/2023
The USDA’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program is a unique and invaluable source of data to measure our nation’s forestlands.

SAF Updates National Position Statement on Invasive Species

Posted on 3/16/2023
The updated position statement is a call to action for a broad base of stakeholders to engage in activities that are proactive, cooperative, and comprehensive when it comes to invasive species.

SAF Weighs in on Mature and Old-Growth Forest Management

Posted on 2/27/2023
On April 22, 2022, the Biden Administration signed Executive Order 14072—also known as “Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies”—which set the stage for a number of forest-centered policy initiatives.

SAF Develops New Reforestation Position Statement

Posted on 2/1/2023
SAF’s Board of Directors recently approved a new position statement titled “Regenerating America’s Forests,” which acknowledges the increasing pressure on the profession for reforestation and afforestation efforts across the country.

Society of American Foresters Applauds Passage of FY23 Omnibus Spending Bill

Posted on 1/5/2023
SAF applauds the efforts of Congress in advancing a robust fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus spending bill that will provide much needed support for the sustainable management of America’s forests.

Our Team

Our Team

Government Affairs and External Relations Staff and more.

Meet the Team

Our Priorities

Our Priorities

Support sustainable forest management and empower forestry and natural resources professionals

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Position Statements

Position Statements

SAF's national position statements are important components of our advocacy and outreach efforts.

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Advocacy Tools

Advocacy Tools

Find tips & tools to get you started toward more effective advocacy and outreach

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National User Groups

SAF convenes stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities for FIA data utilization.

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Take Action

Take Action

Together we can reach new audiences and share the incredible environmental, economic, and social benefits forests provide.

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