The Steering Committee of the Women’s Forest Congress (aka the 8th American Forest Congress) applauds the outcomes and leadership of the 9th American Forest Congress. Held from July 15-18, 2025 in Washington, D.C., the final Principles and Resolutions of the 9th American Forest Congress reflect the shared values we hold for our forests and amplify our WFC Declaration made in 2022. 

 

The 9th American Forest Congress convened diverse perspectives – including environmental, scientific, economic, landowner, industry, and community leaders, policy and changemakers, and state, local, federal, and Tribal governments – to identify opportunities to help our forests and forest communities thrive. The Congress theme, Healthy Forests, Thriving Communities, underscores the objective of building support for new approaches to keeping forests healthy, resilient, and productive in the face of a changing climate and other stressors, and advancing new markets and economic opportunities to strengthen communities.  

 

(l to r) Gary Dunning (moderator), and Tia Beavert, Kathryn Fernholz, Lynn Jungwirth, and Tony Cheng, panelists for Looking Back to Look Forward: Reflections from the 7th & 8th Forest Congresses. Photo Courtesy of American Forests. 

The WFC was represented on the stage by Tia Beavert, current Steering Committee member and Tribal Forest Manager, Yakama Nation Tribal Forestry, and Kathryn Fernholz, past Steering Committee member and President of Dovetail Partners. Additional WFC Steering Committee members in attendance were Amy Doty, Daphne Yin, and Caitlyn Pollihan. Rebecca Turner, current Steering Committee member and Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer at American Forests, had a key role as host and convener for the event. 

Pictured: (top to bottom & left to right)  Jennifer Judd, Amy Doty, Nadine Block, Caitlin Pollihan, Shannon McCabe, Bettina Ring, Becky Turner, Hailey Frank-Bennett, Anjel Tomayko, Pipiet Larasatie, Anne Clawson, Daphne Yin.

Photos Courtesy of American Forests. 

The WFC also hosted a social hour gathering in conjunction with the event with the opportunity to connect with existing and new partners and also distribute our brand new t-shirts that include our 10-point call-to-action from the Declaration.

(Left to right) Su Ann Shupp and Alyssa Stewart-Lambert , participants at the 9th American Forest Congress and Attendees of the WFC Reception. 

 

Photo Courtesy of American Forests. 

Specific outcomes reaffirming the WFC Declaration include the following statements from the final Principles of the 9th American Forest Congress:

  • Acknowledging the significance of forested ecosystems for continental and global biodiversity and the complexity inherent in these ecosystems; and that maintaining and restoring biodiversity is integral to sustainable forests, a livable biosphere, and ecologic integrity.
  • Underscoring the need for new strategies to train, recruit, and retain a workforce capable of addressing the scale and complexity of current and future needs across public, private, and Tribal forest lands.
  • Recognizing the need to move towards more integrated and sustained approaches to forest stewardship that requires community-driven and locally led solutions; cross-sector partnerships; market-based innovations in products and services; multiple knowledge sources, including Western science; and integration of Indigenous, public, and private knowledge to achieve scalable, durable environmental and economic outcomes.

 

Additionally, these specific Resolutions reflect the priorities of the WFC:

  1. RESOLVED, to support and contribute to workforce policies and programs that develop the necessary tools, skills, and career pathways needed to recruit, train, and retain the workforce necessary to meet the sector´s future needs. These efforts should:
  • Seek the participation and representation of broad and diverse contributors;
  • Foster partnerships that provide high-quality training, mentorship, career transitions, certification, and sponsorships through universities, Tribal and community colleges, vocational education, internships, apprenticeships, justice-impacted initiatives, youth programs, and other capacity building opportunities; and
  • Facilitate shared capacity across sectors to meet public and private needs and strengthen partnerships.

 

  1. RESOLVED, to implement effective communications efforts to advance public understanding of the benefits forests provide, and of the essential roles of active forest management and forest conservation in maintaining these benefits. These communications efforts should:
  • Involve governmental, nongovernmental, philanthropic, community, and private entities;
  • Be based on a greater understanding of the sources of public attitudes towards forest management, and of how to inform these sources; and
  • Use advanced analytics and modern communications practices, approaches, and technologies, as well as powerful community-centered storytelling and personal engagements to help connect new audiences and sectors to the value proposition of investing in healthy and resilient forests.

The WFC congratulates the 9th American Forest Congress on the carrying forward of the Call to Action from the Women’s Forest Congress:

  1. FOSTER workforce opportunities for all women through mentorship programs, professional development, scholarships,, with a particular focus on reaching out to those who need help or are asking for assistance in any part of their journey;
  2. BROADEN recruiting practices to include wider networks, and build a pipeline of talent by connecting with and showcasing forests and the forest and forest products sector to youth and students, creating job shadowing and internship opportunities, etc.;
  3. BUILD workplace systems that support mental health coverage, and include training and programs promoting healthy lifestyles, such as family leave, flexible work schedules, generous vacation plans, social opportunities, and holistic wellness programs;
  4. PROMOTE a variety of working environments, encourage flexibility, and ensure all work environments are fully accessible;
  5. ENABLE employees to prioritize mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and model healthy behaviors for others;
  6. CREATE a safe, inviting, and welcoming workspace for all resulting in greater wellness, increased retention, higher productivity, improved creativity, and heart-centered decision-making;
  7. ASSESS compensation for women and promote paths to pay equity at all levels, including discrepancies in intersectional identities, communities, and demographics;
  8. INTENTIONALLY IDENTIFY and support more women and those from underrepresented groups to achieve leadership positions;
  9. INCREASE the use of storytelling in conferences, trainings, and workshops; and
  10. APPLY models and frameworks to generate and realize solutions to the greatest forest challenges that are built on women’s strengths, such as inclusive, collaborative, and multi-scale holistic thinking.

 

Together, we recommit ourselves to the importance of continuing the work that started before us, giving it our all during our time, and preparing the space for all who will join us and run beyond our reach.