May 09, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael A. Virga as executive director of the association's forestry sector. Mr. Virga brings over 23 years of experience in forest management and policy to the position, including 15 years as forester and resource manager on 67 000 acres of timberland for Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper in New York. Mr. Virga is an expert in increasing the value and productivity of private forest lands. During his tenure with Lyons Falls, he implemented a comprehensive forest inventory and analysis program, and negotiated an innovative easement transaction between Lyons Falls, the State of New York, and The Nature Conservancy to achieve significant environmental protections on 17 000 acres in the Adirondack Mountains while maintaining the area as a working forest. Since his arrival at AF&PA in 2000 as senior director of the forestry sector, Mr. Virga has been instrumental in developing the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® to meet the increasingly demanding environmental requirements of domestic and international markets. "Mike brings valuable expertise to AF&PA at a time of significant change within the Forestry Sector,” said AF&PA president and CEO Juanita D. Duggan. “His experience in sustainable forest management will enable AF&PA to advocate more effectively good public policy at all levels of government on behalf of an increasingly diverse and sophisticated class of forest landowners." In his new role as executive director of AF&PA’s forestry sector, Mr. Virga will lead the development and execution of policies and strategies at the federal, state and local level to maintain the long term value and productivity of private forestlands throughout the United States. AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, pulp, paper, paperboard, and wood products industry.