Our nation’s forests not only provide the critical commodities that many Americans rely upon every day, they also foster clean air and water, abundant fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, and meaningful employment in forested communities. Unprecedented threats spanning wildfires and extreme weather events, pests and disease, and marketplace disruptions are eroding the many benefits derived from our forests and raising concerns about the sufficiency of our current strategies to effectively respond.  

We are at a turning point, with an opportunity to embrace a new stewardship ethic that not only addresses these challenges but also holds the promise of rebuilding economic opportunity in forested communities. To succeed, we need new innovations, new partnerships, and new investments.  Now is the time to come together for America’s forests, and the communities that depend on them, to build a collaborative and unified course of action. 

The theme Healthy Forests, Thriving Communities highlights the Congress’s commitment to grow economic opportunities for forested communities by advancing practical forest management and stewardship in the face of a changing climate,  among other stresses. The Congress will bring together diverse perspectives —including environmental, science, and economic experts, policy- and changemakers, state, local and Tribal governments, industry and community leaders, and others—to examine the threats facing our forests and develop a common vision for measurable impact within the forestry sector and beyond.