Foundation adopts new Tree Farm rules By Ray Newbold The American Forest Foundation (AFF) has announced that its Board of Trustees adopted new, revised standards for the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), its woodland certification program. Bob Simpson, AFF Senior Vice President for Forestry Programs, said "The changes do two important things: they go further in protecting woodlands of high conservation value, and they streamline the process for woodland owners participating in USDA conservation incentive programs." The new standards were developed by an independent panel of experts, representing academia, conservation organizations, Federal and State governments, landowners, and foresters. Designed especially for small woodland owners, who provide nearly two-thirds of the wood fiber used for paper products in the U.S., ATFS requires adoption of a woodland management plan that will ensure conservation of multiple resources-water, wildlife, timber, scenic views, and recreation. The new standards will require certified woodland owners to consider and minimize adverse impact of timber or other activities on places of unique historical, cultural, or wildlife value. Another practical impact of the changes will be in equalizing the woodland management plans required under ATFS and under various USDA conservation incentive programs. In the past, a woodland owner may have been required to produce and follow two parallel plans with very similar goals but differing in the details. The new standards take effect January 1, 2010, and landowners will have one year to make sure their woodlands meet the new standards. The American Forest Foundation will use the transition year to educate landowners and train the over 4,000 volunteer inspectors who administer the ATFS certification program. AFF's Simpson said "Although our ATFS certification program is the oldest in America, operating since 1941, we are constantly working to improve our standards to make them fit new conservation forestry practices and consumer expectations. Consumers want to be able to rely on green brands, and the ATFS brand continues to grow in stature and acceptance." AFF President and CEO Tom Martin said, "I am very proud of our volunteers who work so hard to make forest certification understandable and accessible to small woodland owners." Most of the ATFS members own only 100 acres or less. Martin sees the strengthening of the ATFS certification as an important step in gaining and expanding woodland owners' access to the green marketplace. "As the focus for many woodland owners shifts from primarily timber production to other uses including wildlife, nature appreciation, safe drinking water, and climate change, the certification program is an important tool to demonstrate their commitment to conservation forestry." The American Tree Farm System has certified over 90,000 woodland owners covering 24 million acres. There are approximately 17,300 participating nonindustrial forest landowners in the South Region made up of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. |