PFT’s collaboration with the van Eck family began with Fred van Eck on the van Eck Demonstration Forests and now extends through the next generation with Jan and Cynthia van Eck. In addition to their generous financial support, Jan and Cynthia have sponsored Beyond the Trees, the award-winning documentary about PFT’s work centered on the van Eck forests.

Why did you want to make BEYOND THE TREES? What was your goal?

CvE: For me, part of making this film was to educate people. The more people that we educate, the more people we will have to advocate for forests.

JvE: I felt that the story of how the van Eck Forests were being managed by PFT deserved to be better known and understood. It is such a practical, efficient, and financially effective way for us to improve forest conditions and ensure that our children and grandchildren benefit from forests that I wanted more people to have the opportunity to learn about this and support it.

Why do you support PFT?

the van Ecks: The work that you’re doing is compelling – you are actually making a difference! You are showing others how one can bring a forest back to its natural state while still utilizing the resource income.