Endowment Supports Assessment of Large Forested Holdings

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) today announced a $25,000 grant to the Open Space Institute, Inc. (OSI) in support of a project entitled, “Private Forest Landscape Planning.”  “OSI’s effort is focused on working with landowners of large forestland holdings in the east to identify new markets and conservation funding to ensure continued active forest management of these important properties,” said Endowment President Carlton Owen.  “Too, it fits well with work the Endowment is already doing as a charter supporter of the Partnership for Southern Forestland Conservation and the emerging Working Forests Coalition — both designed to support conservation of working forest landscapes across the nation.”  Data to be generated via the OSI initiative is foundational to several important planning efforts.  American Forest Management, one of the nation’s largest forestry consulting companies, is leading the outreach phase of the work for OSI.  The project is expected to be completed in late 2010.