Old-Growth Forest Network
Old-Growth Forest Network was created in. 2011 when Dr. Joan Maloof left a university position to start working full time to establish the organization. Joan had previously learned through research in the forestry literature that:
- Almost all of our original forests have been logged or otherwise disturbed. (Less than 1% left in the east, 5% in the west.)
- The majority of Americans will never get to see an old-growth forest.
- There is no national organization or government agency working to protect the remaining ancient forests and preserve recovering forests.
This led Joan to form Old-Growth Forest Network.
In 2018, they published the How to Save a Forest Toolkit, which is useful for private landowners and community groups—or individual concerned citizens wishing to garner momentum in their communities in order to save a threatened forest. It is their hope that the Toolkit will empower more people with the tools and information necessary to save more forests.
Old-Growth Forest Network's goal is to locate and designate at least one protected forest in every county in the United States that can sustain a native forest. They estimate that to be approximately 2,370 out of 3,140 total counties (75%). To achieve this aim they work to identify forests for the Network, ensure their protection, and inform people of the forest locations. We are building not only a network of forests, but also an alliance of people who care about forests.
The mission of Old-Growth Forest Network is to create a network of forests across the U.S., with one in each county where forests can grow, open for visitors and never logged, and a network of people inspired to protect them.
Why Old-Growth Forests?
Majestic forests that supported abundant biodiversity were this nation's inheritance. The vast majority of those forests have now been removed or radically altered (average loss is 95% in the west, >99% in the east).
It is time now to set aside a few forests and allow them to recover their old-growth characteristics. These "future old-growth forests" will be our generation's gift to the generations coming after us. If we are able to reverse the decline in mature, native forests we will be the first generation to have done so.
The Old-Growth Forest Network is a 501(c)(3) organization founded to preserve our last remaining old-growth forests and connect the people who care about them through their nationwide Network.
Network Forests
You can sponsor your favorite resident at A Place Called Hope.
With a $100 donation, sponsors will receive a Certificate of Adoption with sponsors name, a Photograph of bird chosen, the Bird’s personal story of survival and some general information about the Bird’s particular species.
Forests that meet their most stringent criteria are selected for dedication into their national network of old-growth forests.
WHAT CRITERIA MAKE NETWORK FORESTS EXCEPTIONAL?
The forests in the Old-Growth Forest Network are chosen because they are among the oldest known forests in their county. They have formal protection in place that ensures that their trees and ecosystems are protected from commercial logging. All Network forests are open to the public so that everyone can experience them for recreation and personal well-being.
Community Forests
Private Forests
They recognize the importance of private landowners who have made the commitment to keep their forests unlogged. Generally, there is no public access granted on these forests.
Join us in supporting Old-Growth Forest Network
75% of this month's donations will go towards this month's partner
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help Old-Growth Forest Network to create a network of old-growth forests.