Paul is the Senior Vice President for the American Tree Farm System & Conservation at the American Forest Foundation (AFF). He leads a talented team of conservationists working with partners to administer the 20 million acre Tree Farm program, and implement projects on family-owned forest lands designed to protect drinking water supplies, at-risk wildlife and sustainably produced wood across the country.

Prior to joining the AFF team in 2016, Paul was for 13 years Wisconsin’s Chief State Forester and Administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry, part of his 24-year investment serving the people of Wisconsin. Prior to his work in Wisconsin, Paul worked as a mediator for the RESOLVE Center for Environmental Dispute Resolution, and subsequently as a senior program officer for World Wildlife Fund, both in Washington, D.C.

Paul received a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a master’s degree in natural resource policy from the University of Michigan. A Certified Forester, Paul completed a term as President of the National Association of State Foresters in 2016.