A national forestry initiative aimed at helping small landowners generate income and strengthen rural economies has reached a major milestone in Alabama, with the American Forest Foundation (AFF) announcing the planting of its millionth tree through its Fields & Forests afforestation project. The AFF’s milestone planting took place on land owned by Portia Fulford near Montgomery, highlighting Alabama’s role in a program designed to bring new economic opportunities to family landowners while supporting long-term timber production and conservation efforts. Launched in 2024, Fields & Forests works with landowners to convert underused acreage into managed forests, allowing participants to diversify income streams while maintaining full ownership of their land and retaining future timber profits. The program is available in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, with a minimum enrollment requirement of 30 acres. According to the American Forest Foundation, the project’s first million trees have been planted across nearly 2,000 acres in the U.S. South.