Oregonian Elected to Lead American Forest Foundation
Priority Programs will Stem the Loss of America's Woodlands
Portland, OR - The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced the election of Clint Bentz, CPA and family forest landowner from Scio, Oregon, as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees; Connie Best, co-founder and Managing Director of Pacific Forest Trust in California, as Vice-Chair; and Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as Treasurer. Bentz succeeds Colin Moseley, Chairman of Green Diamond Resource Company of Seattle, who has served on the AFF board since 2004.
Bentz said "I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the oldest and largest forest landowner group in the U.S, also a national leader in the field of environmental education, at a time of tremendous challenge in dealing with climate change, forest loss, landowner incentives, emerging forest markets, and other issues that can make or break the 10 million American woodland owners like me."
The Foundation is best known for its American Tree Farm System, which administers an internationally recognized forest certification program for its 90,000 members, and Project Learning Tree, which develops environmental education curriculum and trains 30,000 educators every year. AFF convened and leads the Forest Climate Working Group, a diverse coalition of woodland owners, timber companies, and conservation groups that is making policy recommendations to Congress on climate change remedies that help conserve our working woodlands.
"Clint is the perfect person for the post, bringing his diverse experience in business, finance, forestry extension, estate planning for woodland owners, community service, policy, and especially managing his own sustainable Tree Farm," said Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. "We are also deeply grateful to our former Chair, Colin Moseley, who has ably shepherded the organization through its program growth at a time of tremendous challenge for the timber business."
Bentz and his parents, Ron and Barbara, were honored by the American Tree Farm System as the 2002 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the year. Clint and his wife Maureen have six children and live next to their award-winning 700-acre Tree Farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Scio, Oregon. Clint is a partner with Boldt, Carlisle & Smith, LLC, a local CPA firm with offices in Salem, Stayton, and Albany, Oregon, where he specializes in estate and succession planning for family farm and forest owners.
During its meeting in Portland this week, AFF's Board of Trustees identified the most important strategic priorities needed to achieve its mission of ensuring the sustainability of America's family forests for present and future generations. Bentz said AFF is committed to a national campaign and programs that will:
- Stem the loss of American's woodlands
- Enhance the quality of America's woodlands, and
- Ensure decision makers and educators understand and value America's woodlands.
America's woodlands are disappearing at a rate of 1.5 million acres a year, due mostly to development and fragmentation. Forest experts are increasingly sounding the alarm that loss of forests will lead to a parallel loss of clean drinking water supplies, a buffer against climate change, wildlife habitat, flood control in intense storms, and recreational opportunities.
Bentz previously served as the National Chairman of the American Tree Farm System, being the first private forest owner to serve in that capacity in its 68-year history. He is a nationally recognized leader in the field of intergenerational planning for family forest owners and is a popular speaker and author on this topic. He is the principal author of the award-winning "Ties to the Land" workbook and DVD curriculum, developed in partnership with the Austin Family Business Program and Oregon State University Forestry Extension. This program is currently being used in 22 states to help family forest landowners with the difficult process of handing the baton to the next generation. Bentz actively participated in developing, writing, passing, and implementing HB 2197, which was a complete re-write of the property tax system for small landowners in Oregon and is currently working on the overhaul of Oregon's estate tax system. Bentz and his parents were honored by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski for their participation in the Oregon Plan for Salmon Recovery.