Elizabeth Woodworth, Author at U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc.

Three Rivers Land Trust Purchases 500 Acres to Permanently Protect and Revert to Native Forest and Wildlife Habitat

Property includes sensitive bottomland hardwoods and upland hardwoods to be restored

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 11, 2021)

Greenville, SC – Three Rivers Land Trust (Land Trust) has secured permanent conservation easements on a total of 500 acres – including more than 290 acres of bottomland hardwood forest – adjacent to the Uwharrie National Forest in Asheboro, Randolph & Montgomery Counties, NC. The ancient Uwharrie Mountain region is home to some of the earliest Native American civilizations in the country. This conservation easement is made possible in part by a grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (the Fund).

The landscape is part of the Barnes Creek and Poison Fork River watershed, one of only three priority watersheds in the Greater Uwharrie Conservation Partnership (GUCP), which is located in the southern, central Piedmont region of North Carolina. Poison Fork is an outstanding resource water, boasting the highest water quality designation given by North Carolina and home to diverse wildlife, including rare mussel species downstream. The land will be protected from residential, commercial, and industrial development and open to the public for Land Trust hikes and events, and educational workshops.

The entirely forested property includes mostly bottomland hardwoods, upland hardwoods, and some planted loblolly pine uplands. The pines will be harvested only one time to allow native hardwoods to regrow. Other than this one harvest, the conservation easement will ensure the forest is kept forever wild and that wildlife and plant habitat will continue to flourish.

The area is home to unique and rare plants and is a haven for timber rattlesnakes, which are frequently found there. The Land Trust intends to use forest management techniques, such as prescribed burns, to enhance forest habitat for the federally endangered and fire-dependent Schweinitz’s sunflower and the state listed Georgia aster. Additionally, the property is adjacent to the Uwharrie National Recreational Trail, to which there are plans to connect with spur trails.

“This project aligns perfectly with our mission to protect and conserve land, natural areas, rural landscapes, family farms, and historic places within North Carolina’s central Piedmont and Sandhills regions. Not only is this forest a part of the spectacular Uwharrie Mountain region, but it also has significant aquatic habitats, rare wetlands, and diverse forests, home to an incredible array of wildlife species,” said Travis Morehead, Executive Director of the Land Trust. “If we don’t act now to conserve the rural landscapes and natural areas in the region, these special places, and the species that call them home, will not survive. We are grateful to Enviva for their conservation partnership.”

“Congratulations to Three Rivers Land Trust on this conservation effort,” said Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President of the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “Combined with numerous projects in this important and culturally-significant area, the conservation easements that will preserve this property will help bring back the natural, native beauty and biodiversity of this region. The conservation work that the Land Trust is doing is critical to the health and future of species habitat as well as the watershed’s contribution of clean water to the surrounding communities.”

The Fund’s goal is to be a catalyst for forest and habitat conservation in the US Southeast. More than five years into the planned 10-year partnership, 20 projects have been funded with a total commitment approaching $2.3million, including today’s announcement. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have helped protect an estimated 27,000 acres of sensitive wetland forest and other habitats.

About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund

The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva Holdings, LP in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects. Learn more at http://envivaforestfund.org.

About Three Rivers Land Trust

Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural, scenic, agricultural, and historic places in a 15-county region of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Since 1995, the Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to conserve their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners to conserve our lands, vistas, and the essential nature of our region. For more information about how you can become a supporting member of Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or michael@threeriverslandtrust.org or visit their website at www.threeriverslandtrust.org/donate.

About the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities:

The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.

For more information, contact: Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org

Virginia Outdoors Foundation Completes Conservation of 1,100 Acres Safeguarding Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality

Second Phase of Project Adds More Than 400 Acres of Permanent Protection along Three Creeks River

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 19, 2021)

Greenville, SC – The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is pleased to announce its purchase of a second tract – approximately 430 acres – of riparian forest that will be held in a permanent conservation easement in Southampton County, Virginia. This purchase, which complements the more than 700-acre purchase announced in December, is made possible in part by a grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (the Fund). The tracts are adjacent and on the Three Creeks River, with over 43,000 feet of combined total stream corridor.

“This is an especially important conservation project; it consists of large areas of wetlands and woodlands which are home to many birds, land animals, and myriad fish and mussel species both on-site and downstream,” said Brett Christina Glymph, Executive Director of VOF. “This tract, in particular, has an old-growth Bald Cypress-tupelo swamp forest in a high-priority wetland block. Its protection, along with the protection of the adjoining tract purchased late last year, significantly contributes to the area’s overall ecological health.”

The property includes planted loblolly pines and mixed hardwood forests, including substantial bottomland hardwood forests. It also features a tributary stream and frontage on Three Creeks Swamp of the Nottoway River, a tributary of the Chowan River, which drains to the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound Estuary. Under the easement, all residential, commercial, and industrial development will be restricted. Extensive riparian protection buffer zones will help protect forests and enhance water quality for future generations. The upland forests will be sustainably managed in order to have a combination of wildlife species conservation, professionally managed working forest, and riparian protections.

“This is yet another example of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s important work to secure an expansive, protected corridor, starting here and moving downstream along the Nottoway. This purchase completes the permanent protection of more than a thousand acres of sensitive wildlife habitat, watersheds, and bottomland forests while also ensuring sustainable forest management that will contribute to the community’s economic health,” stated Alicia Cramer, Sr. Vice President of the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “The Endowment is incredibly proud to be a partner with Enviva and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and to administer the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund for its critical work in preserving forested watersheds.”

The Fund’s goal is to be a catalyst for bottomland hardwood forest and habitat conservation. More than five years into the planned 10-year partnership, 19 projects have been funded, with the commitment from Enviva to date approaching $2.3 million. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have helped protect an estimated 27,000 acres of sensitive wetland forest and other habitats.

About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund

About Virginia Outdoor Foundation

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is Virginia’s leader in land conservation, protecting nearly 850,000 acres in 109 counties and cities. The Virginia General Assembly created VOF in 1966. Today, we receive both public and private support for our work. VOF protects a wide variety of open spaces, from farms and forests to parks and historic landscapes. We work with federal, state, local, and private conservation organizations to achieve our mission. Learn more at www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org.

About the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

For more information, contact:

Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org

RESTORATION FUELS, LLC RECEIVES FSC® CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION

GREENVILLE, SC (DECEMBER 21, 2020) Restoration Fuels, LLC, has earned Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification by SCS Global Services for the first commercial-scale torrefaction facility in North America, located in John Day, Oregon. Restoration Fuel’s FSC trademark license code is FSC-C162426. Restoration Fuels is a subsidiary of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment). It is the largest investment in the history of the Endowment.

Torrefaction is the roasting of wood in a low-oxygen environment – like roasting coffee beans. The technology produces a renewable biomass fuel that is a direct replacement for coal at existing power plants.

“The work that our team has put into developing a sustainable procurement system is at the core of our mission and what we are trying to accomplish. This FSC certification will demonstrate that commitment to our customers and stakeholders,” said Matt Krumenauer, CEO, Restoration Fuels, and Vice President, Special Projects at the Endowment. “This community, the Blue Mountain Forest Partners, and the USDA Forest Service have been successful at working together to implement well-designed ecological restoration treatments, and we are excited to be another tool they can rely on.”

Using low-value wood helps mitigate wildfire and climate change

Restoration Fuels uses tree thinnings and otherwise low-value wood materials primarily from national forests and private lands and existing wood manufacturing processes to produce environmentally friendly fuel for energy. By creating demand for these woody materials, Restoration Fuels helps to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfire, disease, pest infestation, and the effects of climate change. Developing this new market will help increase the pace and scale of these mitigation measures while strengthening the sustainability of the local harvesting and contracting infrastructure.

A first-of-its-kind facility

This first-of-its-kind facility is co-located with Malheur Lumber Company in John Day, Oregon. The Malheur National Forest surrounds Restoration Fuels’ facility, which has successfully implemented collaborative restoration projects for close to a decade.

Construction of the facility was completed in late 2020, with production coming online after commissioning is completed in January 2021. The plant is being designed for a production capacity of 100,000 tons of torrefied fuel annually. The first few years will be a ramp-up period. Full production capacity is anticipated in 2022.

Jump-starting the torrefied biomass industry

The Endowment and the USDA Forest Service have made significant investments in jump-starting the torrefied biomass industry. They formed the Consortium for Advanced Wood-to-Energy Solutions (CAWES) to address knowledge gaps and advance commercialization. This work is vital to the industry’s success. CAWES has engaged with most of the industry participants in an early stage, non-competitive manner to share learnings and avoid duplicating mistakes. Specific areas of investigation included optimizing densification, de-ashing techniques to extend raw material sources to lower-cost biomass, utility-scale testing, safety evaluation, life cycle, and techno-economic analysis.

About Restoration Fuels, LLC

Restoration Fuels is an Oregon benefit corporation formed in January 2018 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Inc., a 501(c)3 public charity formed to help keep forests as forests and benefit forest-rich rural communities. Restoration Fuels’ mission is to advance forest health and rural forest-rich community vitality by creating a viable market for low-value biomass from forest health restoration treatments and, in doing so, create jobs and economic value in the surrounding communities that depend on these forest resources. Learn more at restorationfuels.com.

About the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)

FSC is the most rigorous international standard for responsible forestry. FSC-certified forests conserve biological diversity, water resources, and crucial ecosystems. The FSC standard also upholds worker rights and supports economic prosperity in surrounding communities. The FSC Chain of Custody certification ensures that certified wood products are tracked from forest to final product (and, if applicable, that qualified recycled materials are used), adding legitimacy to the FSC claim throughout the supply chain. Learn more at https://us.fsc.org/en-us.

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a leader in environmental and sustainability certification. A founding member and one of the first certification bodies accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council in 1996, SCS is one of the world’s leading FSC certifiers with more than 35 million acres of responsibly managed forests and 4000 companies in the FSC supply chain worldwide. SCS programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, and more. SCS is a Certified B Corporation™, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Learn more at scsglobalservices.com.

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at usendowment.org.

For more information, contact

Matt Krumenauer, CEO Restoration Fuels, LLC, (503) 757-9322, matt@restorationfuels.com

2021 ENVIVA FOREST CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline for Proposals is January 29, 2021

GREENVILLE, SC AND BETHESDA, MD (DECEMBER 15, 2020) The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) today released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (the Fund). $500,000 is the targeted funding amount for 2021 grants to protect bottomland hardwood and other wetland forests in eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia.

This is the sixth cycle of a $5 million, 10-year program, which was launched by Enviva Holdings, LP (Enviva), and the Endowment in 2015. Not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and tribes are eligible to apply for grants. The deadline for proposals is January 29, 2021. The RFP and additional materials are available on the Endowment’s website.

“The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund was established to preserve sensitive forests that might otherwise be threatened by land conversion, altered hydrology, invasive species, and the impact of climate change. These forests are critical to biodiversity, community resiliency, outdoor recreation, and clean water within Virginia and North Carolina,” said Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President at the Endowment. “Efforts, like those of the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund, in partnership with on-the-ground conservation organizations, will help preserve these special forests for years to come.”

“As we embark on our sixth year of this incredible work, we are proud to be on target to help conserve more than 35,000 acres of critical bottomland hardwood forests by 2025,” said Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Enviva. “Southern bottomland hardwoods and wetland forests not only protect wildlife and water quality, but they are also a critical component to the fight against climate change, and with the help of conservation organizations, we are helping to preserve these important ecosystems.”

Since its inception in 2015, the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund has supported 19 projects with approximately $2.2 million invested. Once completed, these projects will protect approximately 27,000 acres across North Carolina and Virginia. These protected forests help provide a clean drinking water source, act as a buffer to infrastructure during storms, and provide critical habitats for many species of wildlife while at the same time providing jobs and economic opportunity for rural families and private landowners.

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About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund

The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva Holdings, LP in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects in North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at http://envivaforestfund.org.

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:

For more information, contact:

Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org

Endowment Announces $2M in Grant Funding to Accelerate Cellulosic Nanomaterials Commercialization

Seeks proposals from diverse organizations to take revolutionary technology to next level

GREENVILLE, SC (DECEMBER 4, 2020) The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, today announced the initiation of a new round of $2,000,000 in funding and related request for proposals (RFP) for their public-private partnership known as P3Nano. The proposal submission deadline is January 15, 2021.

The RFP supports efforts aimed at rapidly commercializing cellulosic nanomaterials. Accepted proposals will show great potential for commercialization, have compelling business analysis, a credible research and development approach, and make a strong case for how P3Nano funding will address key development challenges.

There is no specific dollar limit for each proposal, but the Endowment hopes to fund four to eight proposals with anticipated budgets of $250,000 to $500,000 each. This round of funding will entertain proposals from a broad range of market segments and researchers from universities, private companies, and other entities with the potential to rapidly commercialize this revolutionary technology.

Cellulosic nanomaterials are a new class of cellulose particles with properties and functionalities distinct from molecular cellulose and wood pulp. As a result, they are being developed for applications that were once thought impossible for cellulosic materials.

“Cellulosic nanomaterials have the strength of steel with just one-fifth of the weight,” said Michael Goergen, Vice-President, Innovation and Director, P3Nano. “This technology offers a range of solutions and applications that support our forests by developing new markets. Collaborations with P3Nano have produced significant results including numerous patents, technology breakthroughs, and commercial-scale applications.”

The available funds will support costs associated with pioneering products that utilize cellulosic materials and open the door for more widespread adoption of these innovative materials. The intent is to develop new technology that solves industrial challenges, provides climate solutions, and creates markets for forest products.

Award announcements will be made around March 1, 2021. Visit the Endowment RFP page for more details and the RFP application.

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For more information, contact
Michael Goergen, Vice-President, Innovation and Director, P3Nano. (240) 475-5741. Michael@usendowment.org

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

Virginia Outdoors Foundation and Enviva Forest Conservation Fund Continue to Protect Virginia Open Spaces

More than 700 Acres Permanently Preserved through Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 2, 2020)

Greenville, SC – The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) announced its purchase of a permanent conservation easement on 710 acres of bottomland hardwood forests in Southampton County, Virginia, made possible in part by a grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (the Fund). The easement restricts all future residential, commercial, and industrial development for any purpose. Additionally, it will promote sound, upland forest management via the implementation of a formal forest management plan and establish riparian protection zones.

Brett Christina Glymph, Executive Director of VOF, explained, “The state of Virginia has designated this area with a high ‘Forest Conservation Value’ encouraging its protection. However, without intervention, bottomland harvesting would be inevitable, given the quality and volume of bald cypress and hardwood saw-timber present. Helping to mitigate conversion risk, combined with our strong desire to build on other ongoing conservation efforts, made this purchase essential. Enviva understands this imperative and once again provided vital support for our success. We are grateful for their partnership.”

The tract’s 10,000 feet of perennial streams help comprise the Three Creek Swamp of the Nottoway River, a tributary of the Chowan River, which drains to the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound Estuary. The Nottoway is designated as a Virginia Scenic River by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. It’s home to 32 species of “greatest conservation need” and also functions as an important bird nesting and rookery area along the Three Creek bottomlands.

The site has 200 acres of old-growth bald cypress-tupelo swamp forest. The remaining 510 acres are predominantly in working pine plantations. Of the approximately 603 square miles in Southampton County, 345 square miles, or 57.3% of the land area, are devoted to forests. The newly acquired easement is roughly 1.5 miles upstream of a previously conserved site partially funded through the use of the Fund in 2019.

“Two hundred years ago, these glorious bottomland forests covered approximately thirty million acres across the Southeastern United States,” explained Alicia Cramer, Sr. Vice President of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “Today, only about forty percent of that area still supports the productive and unique ecosystems provided by these forests. The determination of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and its many partners to help stem the loss of lands is most appreciated by the conservation community.”

The Fund’s goal is to be a catalyst for forest and habitat conservation in the southeastern Virginia region and North Carolina’s coastal plain. More than five years into the planned 10-year partnership, 19 projects have been funded with a total commitment approaching $2.2 million, including the grant announced today. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have helped protect an estimated 27,000 acres of sensitive wetland forest and other habitats.

About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund

The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva Holdings, LP in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects in North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more: http://envivaforestfund.org

About Virginia Outdoor Foundation

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

For more information, contact:

Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org

Endowment to Experience Historic Leadership Transition

Founding CEO Carlton Owen retiring, President Pete Madden assuming role of President & CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 18, 2020)

Greenville, SC—The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) today announced a historic leadership transition. Current President Pete Madden has assumed the role of President and CEO, replacing Carlton Owen, who has led as CEO since the Endowment was founded on September 21, 2006. Madden joined the staff as President on February 17, 2020. Owen will retire on December 31, 2020.

“The Endowment’s success is the direct result of Carlton’s passion for the forest industry and his unwavering commitment to the institution,” said Mark Emmerson, the Endowment’s Chairman of the Board. “It’s a passion that can almost be quantified when considering the millions of dollars invested and thousands of lives touched over the past 15 years. While the Endowment and the board will certainly feel Carlton’s absence, this is tempered by the knowledge that Pete Madden is uniquely positioned to assume leadership of the organization.”

The Endowment was initially formed in 2006 as a result of the signing of the Softwood Lumber Agreement to end ongoing litigation between the United States and Canadian governments. A key component of this agreement was to utilize a portion of the disputed fees to fund jointly agreed-upon initiatives supporting the lumber industry. To cement the organization’s establishment, Owen helped negotiate two final agreements: it would have an independent board of directors, initially selected by the Chairman and CEO, and its principal would be managed as a perpetual endowment. Under Owen’s leadership, the Endowment has utilized $82 million of its original $200 million to leverage $647 million from partner and external investments, totaling $730 million in economic impact.

“Leading this organization–and being a part of the country’s largest charity dedicated to forests and the communities upon which they rely–has been both an honor and a source of immense satisfaction. Of all the many accomplishments the Endowment can claim over the past 14 years, I am most grateful for the collaboration and partnerships that have immeasurably amplified the work we have done as a team,” Owen said. “Through our partnerships, we have been able to advance the dual mission of keeping working forests as forests and advancing family-wage jobs in forest-rich rural communities.”

Owen plans to take some additional time to enjoy the mountain home he and his wife, Brenda, purchased in 2015 and to invest more time with his children and five grandchildren. He also looks forward to working with his church and on several community projects in his adopted home of Greenville, South Carolina.

“Under Carlton’s leadership, I have watched the Endowment emerge as one of the most progressive and impactful players in the greater forest sector bridging academia, conservation, government at all levels, and industry,” said Madden. “I am excited to pursue the next chapter in my career with a brilliant organization that has accomplished such amazing results and to have the opportunity to join the outstanding board and staff in doing so.”

About Carlton Owen

A native of Mississippi, Owen began his nearly 45-year career as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation. He spent seven years with Potlatch Corporation in Warren, Arkansas, where he served as the company’s first wildlife biologist and later supervisor for forestry environmental affairs. His career included five years in Washington, D.C., with the American Forest Institute, the American Forest Council, and the American Forest Foundation. In 1990, Owen joined Champion International Corporation in a position that ultimately led to his being named Vice President, Forest Policy. Owen was among the creators of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. He was the creator of Walmart’s historic Acres for America program with the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, where he served on the board for nine years. He is a past Chair and still a member of the Board of CEI Capital Management and was the first outside board member of privately held SynTerra Corporation. Owen earned a B.S. in Forestry and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State University.

His many recognitions include:

Gifford Pinchot Medal, Society of American Foresters, 2019
Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, 2010
Mississippi State University, College of Forest Resources: Alumnus of the Year, 1990; Alumni Fellow, 1990

About Pete Madden

A native of Connecticut, Madden began his 32-year career as a forestry technician in 1988 for the Westvaco Corporation in the Low Country of South Carolina. In 1992, he joined Georgia-Pacific Corporation, where he held various positions, including operations manager, procurement manager, and senior financial analyst. In 2001 when Plum Creek Timber acquired landholdings from Georgia-Pacific, he held several key positions including director of financial planning, manager of construction materials, senior resource manager of Michigan, director of southern regional marketing, vice president of operations support, and most recently as vice president, renewable energy and supply chain. In 2015 Madden joined Drax Biomass as President and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, he oversaw the company’s global supply chain operations that included several manufacturing facilities and an export terminal in the Southeastern United States. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Keweenaw Land Association and is a member of the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Energy. Madden holds a B.A. from Marlboro College and an M.S. in Forestry and MBA from the University of New Hampshire.

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For more information, contact:

Pete Madden, President & CEO, 864-233-7646, madden@usendowment.org

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.

Endowment Adds New Members to Board of Directors; Bids Farewell to John Cooper, Jim Hoolihan, Andrea Tuttle, and Colin Moseley

Caroline Dauzat, Shannon Estenoz, and Curtis Wynn Join Endowment Board

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 16, 2020)

Greenville, SC – The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) is pleased to announce the election of Board members and officers for 2021 at the organization’s semi-annual meeting held last week. The Board welcomes Caroline Dauzat from Rex Lumber, Shannon Estenoz from the Everglades Foundation, and Curtis Wynn from the Roanoke Electric Cooperative to serve three-year terms.

Caroline (McRae) Dauzat is a fourth-generation owner at Rex Lumber (Rex) and also serves as President of Apalachee Pole Company, one of Rex’s operating companies. Rex has been manufacturing forest products since 1926 and specializes in Southern Yellow Pine lumber. With more than 700 employees located at four mills, two in Florida, one in Mississippi, and one in Alabama, the company actively contributes to the communities in which it operates, including educational programs and training and supporting projects with Habitat for Humanity. Caroline received a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida.

Shannon Estenoz serves as Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs and Chief Operating Officer at the Everglades Foundation based in Palmetto Bay, Florida. Shannon’s career championing the Florida Everglades spans twenty-three years. She has served in multiple executive roles leading various organizations, including the Environmental and Land Use Law Center, the World Wildlife Fund, and the National Parks Conservation Association. She also served as National Co-Chair for the Everglades Coalition and on numerous commissions for Florida State Governors. In 2010, Shannon was appointed by the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, as the Department’s Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives. Shannon holds degrees in International Affairs and Civil Engineering from Florida State University and has won numerous awards and honors throughout her career.

Curtis Wynn is President & CEO at the Roanoke Electric Cooperative (REC), located in Aulander, North Carolina. He brings 35 years of experience in the electric utility industry to the Endowment Board, having served in various capacities, including information technology, marketing, economic development, and senior management. He is the first African American in the nation to serve as the top executive of an electric cooperative. Under Curtis’s leadership, REC has won numerous awards and accolades and continues to expand on its foundational cooperative principles: voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, and concern for the community. Curtis received his Associate of Arts degree from Chipola College in Marianna, FL, and a Bachelor of Science from Troy University, in Dothan, AL.

“The expertise and experience represented on our Board, including our newest members Caroline, Shannon, and Curtis, is unparalleled. Each member brings a unique skill set and perspective and is committed to the future and success of the Endowment,” said Endowment President and CEO Pete Madden. “The year 2021 will no doubt bring new and unforeseen challenges, and I’m confident that, with our Board’s guidance, we will continue to do excellent work for the good of the forest and the rural communities that depend on them.”

In addition to welcoming these new members, the Board and Endowment staff express particular appreciation for the immense contribution of outgoing members John Cooper, Jim Hoolihan, Andrea Tuttle, and Colin Moseley who have now completed their terms.

For a complete list of Endowment Board members, please go to www.usendowment.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors.

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For more information contact:
Pete Madden, President & CEO, 864-233-7646, madden@usendowment.org

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.

Enviva Forest Conservation Fund Helps Virginia Department of Forestry Protect Sensitive Bottomland Hardwood Ecosystem and Rare Species along the Meherrin River

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 10, 2020)

Greenville, S.C. – The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has secured a conservation easement on 618 acres located along the beautiful Meherrin River in Southampton County, Virginia. The property, which includes 269 acres of bottomland hardwood swamp, 259 acres of mixed pine and hardwood working forests, and 90 acres of open land, will be permanently protected by this transaction thanks in part to a grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (Fund). The easement will significantly limit development on the property, which is rich in biodiversity, and will promote sound upland forest management via the implementation of a formal forest management plan.

According to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Natural Heritage Program (DCR-NH), the easement is located in a VDOF Longleaf Pine priority conservation area, with 533 acres of the property located within the Branchville Sand Quarry Conservation site. Additionally, the acreage contains about 1.77 miles of frontage on the Meherrin River. The property’s forest cover, fields, edge areas, and streams provide a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. In fact, the property is home to a rare plant, the crowfoot sedge, that lives within this unique “Coastal Plain Bottomland Forest.” Through the easement, this critical natural habitat will be permanently preserved and continuously enhanced.

“The conservation of this property will help support wildlife and fish populations in the local ecosystem, which is mostly in a natural, undeveloped state. With a working forest conservation easement in place, it will continue to contribute to healthy watersheds, wildlife habitat, rare species preservation, and ecosystem restoration while supporting the local economy,” said Rob Farrell, Virginia’s State Forester. “We are grateful to Enviva, not only for their contribution to the preservation of this property but for their support of several other important conservation projects in the area.”

“Congratulations to the Virginia Department of Forestry on this important acquisition,” said Carlton Owen, CEO of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “The conservation easement that will preserve this property will allow both management of the forest on a sustainable basis and the protection of areas that are critical to the health and future of species habitat as well as the watershed’s contribution of clean water to the surrounding community.”

“We’re proud to partner with Virginia Department of Forestry to help conserve this forestland, which contains both bottomland hardwood and upland pine forests,” said John Keppler, Chairman and CEO of Enviva. “Since the inception of our Forest Conservation Fund, Enviva has helped conserve more than 4,200 acres of ecologically sensitive forests in Virginia. This is the third conservation project we’ve helped fund on the Meherrin River, and we are pleased it will help accomplish conservation priorities of the Virginia Department of Forestry as well as the Department of Conservation and Recreation.”

The Fund’s goal is to be a catalyst for investments in forest and habitat conservation in southeast Virginia and North Carolina’s coastal plain. As the Fund enters its fifth year of the planned 10-year partnership, 20 projects have been funded with a total commitment of over $2.4 million, including the transaction announced today. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have helped protect an estimated 27,500 acres of sensitive wetland forests and other habitats.

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About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund

The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva Holdings, LP in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects in North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more: www.envivaforestfund.org

About the Virginia Department of Forestry

The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 108,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products, and related industries, Virginia forests provide an overall economic output of more than $21 billion annually. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va. the agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide citizen service and public safety protection across the Commonwealth, which it’s been doing now for more than 100 years. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more: www.dof.virginia.gov

For more information, contact:

For more information contact:
Alicia Cramer, Sr. Vice President, 205-792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org

Rural Development Innovation Group Achieves Multiple Successes During First Four Years, Looks Ahead

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 13, 2020)

GREENVILLE, SC – The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) is pleased to formally recognize the successful first phase of the Rural Development Innovation Group (RDIG), a voluntary collective of development practitioners, intermediates, and other organizations committed to advancing rural community and economic development. RDIG was initiated in 2016 to demonstrate successful and innovative rural economic development strategies, provide peer advice among organizations, and identify national trends and emerging opportunities to support sector-based strategies. The Endowment provided a grant in 2016 to launch RDIG, and over time those funds were matched with the LOR, Mary Reynolds Babcock, Northwest Area, Annie E. Casey, and Incourage Foundations, along with several other funders. RDIG convened for the first time in September 2016 at the invitation of three convening partners: Northern Forest Center, Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, and the Endowment.

More than two-thirds of the nation’s 3,143 counties are rural, and so are the majority of incorporated places. Most of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. have a significant presence in the country’s rural regions. Ninety-seven percent of the United States’ landmass is rural, and one in five Americans lives in a rural area. Rural entrepreneurs start businesses at higher rates than their urban counterparts, and they have higher five-year business survival rates. These mostly small businesses play a particularly vital role in rural America, creating roughly two-thirds of new jobs and supporting the economic and social well-being of their communities.

“Our motivation for RDIG’s creation was the shared conviction that the innovation in rural economic and community development practice from around the nation must become better known, connected, and leveraged to accelerate better and more equitable development more quickly in more rural places,” said Janet Topolsky, Executive Director, Community Strategies Group of the Aspen Institute. “Every RDIG member is deeply committed to and involved in rural community and economic development that steers away from an over-reliance on business recruitment and resource extraction. Instead, we are advancing build-from-within ‘wealth-building’ approaches that strengthen and leverage local assets and know-how to increase more widely shared prosperity for local people, places, businesses, and economies.”

RDIG’s principal goals are to:

Accelerate the adoption, adaptation, and impact of innovative rural development strategies.
Forge and provide a strong voice for sensible and productive rural development strategies and partnerships via constructive dialogues with philanthropic and government investors.
Convene key innovators to increase learning, leadership, and dissemination about “what works” throughout fields relevant to rural development. See more on the Group’s principles.

In just a few short years, RDIG has undertaken several successful initiatives:

The America’s Rural Opportunity (ARO) series highlights innovation and on-the-ground practitioners from rural places who are successfully addressing important facets of rural economic development. Since February 2017, twelve ARO panels have featured policymakers, rural economic and community development practitioners, and rural business and philanthropic leaders in dialogue around advancing development innovations and a rural opportunity agenda.
A Critical Rural Development Program framework that reviewed and provided suggested improvements to a dozen USDA RD programs – and held a briefing for Congressional staff in 2017. Individual RDIG members briefed many more congressional and agency staff on our principles and rural program report cards. Some of our proposed changes were incorporated into the 2018 Farm Bill. Others have been used as the basis for additional rural investment legislation.
With significant RDIG input, Aspen CSG has published a report on Rural Development Hubs that bolsters RDIG’s principles, features many RDIG member organizations, and underscores the importance of doing economic development differently. This publication has been distributed nationally with the report and the concept of Rural Development Hubs now regularly cited in other publications and featured at several conferences and meetings ranging from a National Institute of Health Population Health Virtual Roundtable and Colorado’s Just Transition from Coal Advisory Committee the North Carolina Annual Rural Assembly to Rural RISE.
Policy Letters to Congress, calling for bi-partisan Congressional support of U.S. rural communities severely and negatively impacted by COVID-19. RDIG spearheaded a June 12, 2020 policy letter sent to Congressional leaders, including approximately 60 Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors, and Staff Directors – and a companion letter to the Office of Management and Budget. More than 100 representatives signed each letter, with each signatory representing an organization or innovator from across the nation. Both letters are available online on the Northern Forest Center’s website.

Rob Riley, President of the Northern Forest Center and one of the founding members of RDIG said, “Since 2016, interest in rural America has grown considerably and rural narratives are considerably more constructive and complex – if not more positive – than they were in 2016. RDIG, through advocacy, ARO events, philanthropic engagement, and ongoing communications has had a sparking effect on that – and on giving hope and inspiration to other national rural organizations that are now stepping up to the plate to do more.”

Looking ahead, the Group, in partnership with the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, is poised to continue its role in bringing the issues and opportunities of rural America to the fore.

“Rural places, resources, and people are significant contributors to the nation’s progress and well-being. RDIG has built a reputation as a unique resource on rural economies and rural development,” said Carlton Owen, CEO of the Endowment. “With increased interest, awareness, and funding, this collaborative effort to support rural communities has achieved the power of the original vision and reached the point that it can be transitioned from a pilot to a vibrant, self-sustaining program. The Endowment is extremely proud to have been a part of its foundation.”

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