Washington, D.C. – The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) continued its commitment to balanced leadership by electing new members of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee representing conservation, industry and academia. Since formed in 1990, TFF has maintained that balance to foster improvements in management of the tropical forests to conserve them and sustain their value for forest-dependent people.

The most recent addition of four new members to TFF’s Board of Directors and appointment of two elected officials to its Executive Committee is also a testament to the foundation’s commitment to increasing awareness of sustainable forestry practices.

“The TFF Board and Executive Committee are the heart of our organization,” said TFF Executive Director Bob Johnston. “The members offer their expertise and knowledge in order to make real advancements in the management of tropical forests for the benefit of the environment, economy, and people that depend on forests for their livelihood. Each new member and appointed official adds unprecedented value and we look forward to their engagement and contributions.”

The new Board of Directors include:

· Julie Kunen, Director of Latin America and Caribbean Programs for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

· Fran Raymond Price, Director of Certification Programs for The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

· Philip Duvic, Executive Vice President of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)

· Brent McClendon, Executive Vice President of the International Wood Products Association (IWPA)

Before joining WCS in 2011, Kunen spent nine years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), working on forestry and climate change projects, including the role of USAID policy advisor for President’s Global Climate Change Initiative.

As Director of Certification Programs at TNC, Price works to promote certification as a conservation tool and is particularly interested in efforts to align conservation incentives such asforest carbon and certification in the marketplace. In addition to her work at TNC, she is co-chair of the Forest Stewardship Council - US Board. Prior tojoining TNC, Fran directed the Forest Monitoring Project of the Izaak Walton League of America.

As Executive Vice President, Duvic joined the staff of AWI in 2000 and has been in his current leadership rolesince 2006. AWI represents the millwork industry, which manufactures customdesigned wood products primarily used in construction of new buildings and renovation of existing buildings. Duvic gained his knowledge of the field at AWD Corporation, an architectural woodwork company.

Since 2003, McClendon has been leader of IWPA, which advances international trade of wood products. Previously he had been employed in the industry at the Dean Company after six years with the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association.

In addition to the new Board of Director members, TFF has also appointed two existing board members to its Executive Committee. Laura Snook of Bioversity International was elected as Vice President of the Board and Chad Oliver of Yale University was elected as a Board representative to the Executive Committee. Snook was a TFF director from 1994 to 2005 and rejoined the Board four years ago, while Oliver became a TFF director in 2006.

Source: Tropical Forest Foundation