What is Third Party Certification?

Third party certification is the auditing of a forest certification system by an outside, accredited certification body. Each American Tree Farm System Region, Independently Management Group program, and individual third-party certificate holder is required to under go an audit by an ANAB accredited certification body. Audit teams from these certification bodies will be examining on the ground conformance to the AFF Standards of Sustainability.

What is PEFC?

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.

PEFC is a global umbrella organization for the assessment of and mutual recognition of forest certification systems in various countries around the world. There are 25 PEFC endorsed forest certification systems covering more than 200 million hectares of certified forests, making PEFC the world’s largest forest certification system. Forest certification systems must go through a rigorous assessment process involving public consultation and the use of independent assessors to be considered for endorsement. Final endorsement is subject to a vote taken by the PEFC general membership. ATFS received its positive vote for endorsement from the PEFC membership on August 8, 2008.