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30 PalletCentral • May-June 2018 palletcentral.com or a recent project on healthy forests, healthy markets and healthy communities, NWPCA had the honor to sit down with several leading environmental organizations and discuss wood packaging's integral role to each of those three segments. Finding common ground is critical when it comes to healthy forests, and NWPCA is excited to partner with organizations who share our common goals. Speaking on a newly released video, "Wood Packaging Supports Healthy Forests and Strong Communities," were Tom Martin, president and CEO, The American Forest Foundation; Larry Selzer, president and CEO, The Conservation Fund; Jay Farrell, executive director, The National Association of State Foresters; Carlton Owen, president & CEO, U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities; Brent McClendon, CAE, president & CEO, NWPCA. Chris Topik, director of Restoring America's Forests, The Nature Conservancy, provided extensive comments to NWPCA on the value of partnerships, and where healthy, well-managed forests intersect with the wood packaging industry. "Many partners from many sectors are desperately needed to help our nation find durable solutions for healthy forests and the necessary lifegiving benefits they provide. It requires many voices to achieve the future forests our children and grandchildren will absolutely depend on for their health and economic well-being," stated Topik. Working together works for the environment and for the economy. McClendon noted, "The wood packaging industry supports local communities and healthy forests. We have a responsibility to build a future with healthier forests, cleaner water, and safer work environments." For this edition, we present a Q&A conversation with Chris Topik of The Nature Conservancy, where he directs their North America priority project, "Restoring America's Forests." The project helps restore forest health and improve ecological management of America's forests to sustainably provide water, wildlife, recreation and forest products nationwide. Chris also directs and coordinates efforts of the Conservancy's U.S. chapters, guiding national policy efforts and coalitions. He leads a set of large-scale collaborative restoration projects around the Nation, while integrating TNC's portion of the Fire Learning Network and Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. What is the mission of your organization? The Nature Conservancy's mission is conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends, for the benefit of both nature and people. Protecting and stewarding trees and forests is at the heart of our mission. We have been doing this since 1951; our first project was a forest protection effort at Mianus River Gorge in New York state, and now we are working in all U.S. states and over 70 nations. Where do you see the intersection between the wood packaging industry and your mission? Healthy, well-managed forests are where the wood packaging industry and The Nature Conservancy share a core interest. Today a forested area the size of Oregon is in need of restoration on U.S. Forest Service lands alone—partly due to the lack of P A R T N E R S H I P S : Finding Common Ground on Forest Health, Forest Markets F ENVIRONMENT A Conversation with The Nature Conservancy