Skip navigation

Resources for Foresters

Share

Standards for Certification

Certification in the American Tree Farm System is voluntary. The certification process incorporates established standards and guidelines. Certification is evidenced exclusively by listing of a forest in the ATFS Verification Database.  All properties certified under the three certification options must conform to the 2021 Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification.


The 2021 Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification were approved by the American Forest Foundation's Board of Trustees in November of 2020.  ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation.  The 2021 Standards were developed by an independent panel of experts, representing academia, conservation organizations, federal and state governments, landowners, and foresters.

The Standards recognize new conservation forestry practices and evolving consumer demand for sustainably harvested forest products. Once ATFS verifies that the Standards are met and the Tree Farm is certified, landowners will be added to the ATFS Verification Database.

The integrated Standards Guidance document includes examples and information on how the AFF Standards can be implemented on the ground. The guidance statements are intended to inform landowners, ATFS-trained inspectors and the third-party auditors as to the intent of the AFF Standards.  Guidance statements are not the Standard.


Management Plan Addendum

ATFS has developed a management plan addendum for Tree Farmers whose management plans meet the 2010-2015 Standards but are looking to update their plans to be in conformance with the newly released 2015-2020 AFF Standards. 


The 2021 ATFS Addendum is a tool for our Certified Tree Farmers, designed to help you review your management plans, reflect on your stewardship objectives, assess the current condition and health of your woods and ensure that your management plan meets the 2015-2020 Standards of Sustainability. 

2021 ATFS Management Plan Addendum [PDF]

Standards Notable Themes and Changes

  • Clarity regarding threatened and endangered species: The Standards language was refined to make clear obligations for protection of occupied habitats and communities. The accompanying Guidance further clarifies distinctions between protected animal and plant species for different ownership types (public and private) and in accordance with federal and state frameworks.
  • Emphasis on landowner’s objectives and on-the-ground stewardship: For example, language related to management plans was modified to allow for additional flexibility in implementation and support of landowners and foresters utilizing adaptive, innovative approaches to meet landowner’s objectives.
  • Approach to Forests of Recognized Importance (FORI):  To address confusion related to conservation of ecosystems of recognized importance at the landscape scale (formerly high conservation value forests or HCVF), the revisions more purposely define these resources, establish a process for identifying them in the context of ATFS certification specifically and provide additional guidance regarding how a landowner may contribute to these unique values.
  • Holistic, integrated approaches to forest health: The previous 2015-2020 Standards address forest health largely through integrated pest management (IPM) as an alternative to chemical use. However, IPM is not uniformly understood or adopted nationally, as such the current Standards focus on forest health overall. In addition, there is widespread consensus around the need to also promote understanding of forest health issues and integrate resilience to multiple stressors and disturbances into forest management broadly.
  • Continuity with the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and other sustainability frameworks: For example, the word “must” used to denote Standard requirements was universally replaced with “shall” which is used in PEFC requirements for endorsed programs, as it is by the  International Standards Organization (ISO) and other systems. This allows Certified Tree Farmers greater recognition and access to markets globally.
  • Expansion of Best Management Practices (BMPs) beyond water quality: The Standards and Guidance were enhanced to encompass BMPs that relate to air, water, soil and site quality elements recognizing opportunities for additional conservation contributions.


Strengthening the AFF Standards is an important step in gaining and expanding woodland owner’s access to markets through American Tree Farm System certification.