2022 IMPACT REPORT

In our last annual report, I noted that our grassroots development effort was a key strategic priority. In 2022, we made great strides to grow our grassroots network through Back the Blue events (page 10), Lucy Tour (page 11), and our Raptor Tour (page 11). 136 AFA members and 106 public officials attended one of four Public Policy Series events. More than 500 members attended 7 Regional Receptions and we broke records at the September Annual Meeting in Orange Beach with almost 500 attendees, 37 sponsors and 27 exhibitors.

Our communications efforts also produced great results. Thirty-one events held around the state to promote the forest industry during Woods-to-Goods Week in October resulted in 10 earned media features. During that week, we engaged 51k on social media, 39 public officials, and 181 students. In 2022 our social media reach continued to grow, reaching 639k with 18k engagements and more than 10k followers.

CHRIS ISAACSON PRESIDENT & CEO

2022 was a busy but productive year, bookended by the legislative session that began in January and ended with the November 8th general election. In between, Association staff put in long hours and racked up thousands of miles engaging public officials, conducting events, educating landowners, training loggers, and promoting sustainable forestry and the forest industry.

The work conducted by our Foundation staff is no less noteworthy. Project Learning Tree and Teacher Conservation Workshop events continue to train teachers and provide resources to effectively educate students about the value of our sustainably managed forests. Our conservation staff worked tirelessly to engage private landowners and help them to better manage their forests, impacting more than 26k acres across the state. Alabama’s Tree Farm Program continues to be the largest program in the South, enrolling 167 new Tree Farms and adding 55,975 acres in 2022

Finally, our workforce development staff certified 45 high school teachers to use our Forest Worker Career Readiness Indicator (CRI) curriculum bringing the total number of trained teachers to 201. In 2022, more than 1,000 high school students successfully completed the Forest Worker CRI program increasing the total number of students certified to 3,516

Digital media marketing yielded 60k website visits with 27,949 visits to the ForestryWorks® Job Board. We also released the second book in the Tiny Timber Crew® series, Travis Visits a Tree Farm.

This 2022 Impact Report provides an overview of the activities and accomplishments of the Association and all of our affiliated organizations. I encourage you to take a few minutes to peruse the following pages and see what your staff has accomplished.

On behalf of the Association staff and all of our affiliated organizations, I offer our sincere thanks for your support. We appreciate your involvement in our organization and pledge to continue to find solutions to challenges confronting the forestry community in Alabama.

“WHY ARE WE MEMBERS OF AFA? BECAUSE THEY SOLVE PROBLEMS. WHETHER IT’S AN EFFORT BY THE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE TAXES OR COUNTIES TRYING TO INFRINGE ON LANDOWNER RIGHTS… AFA IS ALWAYS THERE, ALWAYS WATCHING, ALWAYS PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS.”