The Infamous “Backlog”
In a world where most of us function while being overrun by our personal and professional responsibilities, it’s easy to put some activities on the back burner. Recently, the word “back log” has surfaced in Tree Farm conversations while discussing Tree Farm re-inspections.
In ATFS, backlog means Tree Farm re-inspections. Those Tree Farms that have not been contacted for certification re-inspection by a Tree Farm Inspector within the last five years or more, and those without a submitted 004 Form. This backlog does not involve getting new Tree Farmers into the program but rather staying up-to-date with current Tree Farmer certification.
ATFS has taken the first step to eliminate the re-inspection backlog with its Certification Readiness Initiative (CRI) that addresses reducing re-inspection backlogs and recruiting forester volunteers.
At the state level, many state committees have begun to prioritize their yearly re-inspection reports with the most out-of-date Tree Farms being contacted first, rather than prioritizing alphabetically. This method keeps Tree Farmers that normally fall at the end of the alphabet from being bumped year after year.
Easy Inspector steps to help eliminate the backlog
- Contact your state committee/district chair for the re-inspection forms (004 Forms) for your area. These forms are preprinted with the Tree Farmer’s information.
- Begin the re-inspection process with the most outdated “last re-inspection Tree Farm dates” first. An over the phone re-inspection may even be possible if you have been on the Tree Farm in the past 180 days and no forest management activities have occurred since your last visit. Check with the Tree Farmer and ask if a telephone re-inspection is acceptable before completing the 004 Form.
- Count the number of re-inspections that have to be conducted. Set a time period for getting them completed. Mark each individual Tree Farm visit on a calendar and conduct a handful of re-inspections each month.
Devoting time to Tree Farm re-inspections is critical to eliminating the backlog and only with the help of volunteer inspectors can it be done. The more active inspectors in an area, the easier the re-inspection process becomes for everyone. If you have a friend who wants to become a volunteer inspector, refer them to their state committee so they can get involved and get trained quickly. There are also other ways to get involved and to help support the Tree Farm System – give your state committee a call to discover how.
Tree Farm is proud of its legacy as America’s oldest and largest forest certification system, of its commitment to private forest landowners and of its continued support from thousands of dedicated volunteers. Working together, the infamous backlog can be eliminated.
