American Forest Foundation announces planting of millionth Fields & Forests tree outside Montgomery

The American Forest Foundation has announced that its Fields & Forests afforestation project has planted its millionth tree. 

According to the announcement the project works with small acreage landowners to plant trees on underused fields and reportedly generates income that supplements their revenue streams. 

“Family landowners are the backbone of our country’s economy, but they’re too often left out of opportunities to keep their lands healthy and productive and ensure their legacy is protected into the future,” said Christine Cadigan, EVP of Carbon Origination at AFF.

“Through projects like Fields & Forests, landowners can hold onto their land and diversify their revenue streams, all while growing thriving forests that help our planet. Planting the millionth tree is the first of many milestones in our efforts to scale meaningful conservation and economic impact for rural America.”

The millionth tree was planted on landowner Portia Fulford’s property near Montgomery. 

“We have a lot of acreage here, and we just, for years, didn't know what to do,” Fulford said. “I was like, ‘what can we do to utilize this space, and do some good for the environment as well?’ So, this has been really a godsend program for us.”

Fields & Forests is available in Alabama along with Georgia, Florida and South Carolina to small landowners with a minimum of 30 acres to be eligible.

Landowners enrolled in the project retain full ownership of their property and any profits generated from the sale of timber.