National
Organizations
American Forest Foundation:
American Forest and Paper
Association:
AF&PA is a national organization of forest products
companies, associations, and related businesses.
They play an integral role in advocating for sound forest management
practices, both on private and public lands.
Their website contains numerous opportunities to learn about and get
involved with forestry, the industry, and national forest policies.
Alliance
for America:
The AFA is a nationwide grassroots organization of ‘true
conservationists’ - that is, those who love the land because they earn their
living caring for it. The Alliance
is headquartered in Spearfish, SD, and involves itself in a wide range of
natural resource management and land-use issues, with the idea that “all
politics is local”. A great way
to get involved is right at home!
Mountain
States Legal Foundation: The MSLF is a nonprofit, public interest legal center
dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and
ethical government and the free enterprise system. Specifically, they focus on access and use of Federal and
State lands and resources, the Endangered Species Act and private property
takings, and environmental accountability.
If you’ve got a legal problem with an environmental law, but don’t
know what to do about it, MSLF is a good place to start.
Paragon
Foundation:
The Paragon Foundation is an organization that provides
financial support to individuals and organizations involved in litigation,
education, research, and exchange of ideas to protect our individual freedoms
and private property rights, and maintain rural customs, culture, and
lifestyles. Their focus in recent
times has been on the Endangered Species Act and private property takings, and
in this capacity, they serve in a similar role to MSLF.
Partnership for America: The Partnership for America is a broad-based alliance of people who support public policies that seek to restore a common sense balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. The Partnership offers wonderful tools to help grassroots activists take action on local, state, and federal policy issues.
Society of
American Foresters:
SAF is the national organization representing the
profession of forestry in the United States.
The Society plays a role national policy-making, public education, and
furthering the advancement of our scientific knowledge of forestry.
If you aren’t a forester, you may still join SAF as a ‘corresponding
member’ and receive all their publications, including a monthly newsletter and
quarterly scientific journal. Also, SAF is always interested in performing outreach, so if
you spot an opportunity to promote forestry in your community, just let ‘em
know!
Water
for the West:
Water for the West is an organization that provides a forum
intended to bring people together to discuss and debate a wide spectrum of
environmental issues and policies that affect not only ‘water’ and ‘the
west’, but all of our country and each of our lives and livelihoods.
Their goal is to restore a modicum of objectivity and reason to the
environmental policies chosen. How?
By a process of learning from some and educating others through the
sharing of information, thoughts, and philosophies.
Except where
otherwise indicated, the BHFRA claims no affiliation with the groups above.
They are sources of information and outlets through which you may become
involved or informed about forestry and public lands issues.
Their views are their own, and not necessarily those of BHFRA.