This is a longer letter, but the situation is urgent. With federal funding in jeopardy, forests and rural communities face real risks. Please take a moment to understand what’s at stake—and how you can help.
Imagine standing in a New England forest—the air crisp, the scent of pine and earth surrounding you. Maybe it’s a place you’ve known since childhood, where you walked with a grandparent, or maybe it’s the woods behind your home where your kids build forts and chase fireflies. Our forests are more than trees; they are part of who we are. They sustain our communities, provide livelihoods, and protect our planet. But right now, they—and the organizations that safeguard them—are at risk.
With many federal programs frozen and funding for conservation initiatives in limbo, landowners and rural communities are left in a precarious position. More than 75% of New England’s forests are privately owned, and these landowners—many of them families who have stewarded their land for generations—now face increasing challenges in keeping their forests intact and well-managed. Without support, forests that could be thriving, supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, and providing sustainable materials may instead be lost to fragmentation, development, or poor management.
This crisis directly affects NEFF as well. Our ability to bridge the gap between New England’s landowners, communities, and conservation funding depends on having the necessary resources. We are ready with solutions—pioneering climate-smart forestry, advocating for policies that protect forests, and working alongside landowners to keep forests intact—but without sufficient funding, our ability to deliver these programs is at risk. If we can’t act at scale, more forests will be lost, landowners will lack support, and the rural communities that rely on sustainable forestry will suffer.
NEFF has always stood for New England’s forests and the people who depend on them—but we can’t do it without you. Your support is the difference between momentum and stagnation, between action and inaction.
Your generosity has always been the bedrock of NEFF’s success. In uncertain times like these, private philanthropy is what ensures our work continues uninterrupted. Simply put: If we don’t secure increased private funding now, the progress we’ve made is at risk.
Your donation today will allow us to:
- Help landowners implement Exemplary Forestry to keep forests healthy and intact.
- Advocate for policies that support sustainable forestry and rural communities.
- Expand climate-smart forestry solutions to combat climate change.
- Ensure NEFF remains strong and able to meet the challenges ahead.
NEFF is uniquely positioned to carry this work forward, but only if we have the resources to do so. That’s why we need your support today.
One of the most powerful ways to sustain this essential work is through recurring giving—providing steady, ongoing support that ensures there are no gaps in our efforts to protect and strengthen New England’s forests. If a recurring gift isn’t right for you, there are many other ways to help: make a one-time donation, give stock, contribute through a donor-advised fund, explore planned giving options, or be a vocal advocate for forests in your community. However you choose to give, your support will help keep our forests thriving for generations to come. Visit newenglandforestry.org/support to learn more and make your gift today.
Our commitment to New England’s forests and the communities that depend on them has never been stronger. For 80 years, we’ve led the way in conservation and sustainable forestry, and we intend to be here for the next 80. In the face of uncertainty, our dedicated staff are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that landowners, forests, and rural economies are not left vulnerable. This work is too important to slow down—so we won’t.
Together, we have the power to protect New England’s forests and the communities that depend on them. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to this vital work.
Rick Weyerhaeuser
President, Board of Directors
Ryan Owens
Executive Director
Andi Colnes
Deputy Director and Climate Fellow
Kerry Castorano
Chief Development Officer