The challenges facing the forests of New England have changed since the founding of NEFF in 1944, but are still significant.
Many more landowners own smaller parcels of land and retain ownership for shorter periods of time.
The goals of each successive owner often differ. The development value of forest land frequently exceeds its potential for forestry uses. Meanwhile, demand for New England's high quality forest products has also increased on a regional, national and international scale. These markets provide landowners with more incentive to manage their forests, but also increase the opportunities for destructive forest practices. The need for private foresters is greater than ever, and NEFF has provided a distinguished cadre of foresters to work in the forests of New England over the past 50 years.