The American Tree Farm System works to sustain forests, watershed and healthy wildlife habitats through the power of private stewardship by offering affordable forest certification for family forest landowners in the United States.

American Tree Farm System Certification

ATFS offers third party certification to lands meeting the ATFS Eligibility Requirements. Landowners have three options to ATFS certification. Also see below for additional information on ATFS certification.

Individual Third Party Certification

Group Certification through Independently Managed Group (IMG) Organizations

Group Certification through State Tree Farm Committee programs

Additional information:

Standards and Guidelines

Certification in American Tree Farm System is voluntary. The certification process incorporates established standards and guidelines. All properties certified under the three certification options must conform to the AFF Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (AFF Standards). The American Forest Foundation, a 501c.3, not-for-profit, organization located in Washington, D.C. has sole responsibility for setting the AFF Standards.

AFF Standards and Glossary of Terms
Information on the Standards Setting Process

Eligibility Requirements for ATFS Certification

Logo and Sign Use Rules

American Tree Farm System Online Verification Database

Carbon & Other Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem service markets have become hot new topic and many landowners are excited to get involved with new markets, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange. Here you will find information on the different categories of ecosystem service market opportunities and links to educational resources on this important topic. The American Forest Foundation is working hard to increase the awareness of the benefits of active forest management and ensure that family forest landowners are able to participate in and benefit from these increasingly expanding markets. For more information, please visit the American Forest Foundation's Center for Conservation Solutions' Website. Ecosystem markets are not a silver bullet for Tree Farmers, but they do represent a powerful tool that, if used appropriately with other available options, can go a long way toward ensuring that forests remain forests.

Carbon

Water

Biodiversity

Resources

Third Party Certification (PEFC)

The American Tree Farm System is now endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). PEFC requires the American Tree Farm System follow internationally accepted third-party certification auditing procedures. Maintaining these procedures and our endorsement by PEFC, helps ensure that new and existing markets will be open to Tree Farmers.

What is third party certification?

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC)Certificate of Endorsement

What is PEFC?

American Tree Farm System Auditing Procedures

Resources

Global Certification

American Tree Farm System now endorsed by PEFC!

Press Release

PEFC Explanation

American Tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Working Together

The American Tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI, Inc.) partner to bring new sources of certified fiber to the paper and wood products marketplace.

Manufacturers holding SFI or PEFC chain of custody certificates are able to include wood harvested from American Tree Farm System certified lands in their certified wood basket. This adds over 24 million acres to the certified total in the U.S.

What does this mean for Tree Farmers?As everyday consumers and large corporations become more concerned with their environmental footprint, paper and wood products manufacturing companies are increasingly interested in selling certified products. As wood from American Tree Farm System certified lands can now be counted in SFI and PEFC chain-of-custody system, manufactures are viewing Tree Farmers as a more attractive source of wood.

Chain of Custody

Chain of custody systems track certified wood fiber from the forest to the store shelf. Manufactures, printers, distributors, and other entities may wish to obtain a chain-of-custody certificate from either SFI or PEFC (or both) to document the amount of certified fiber in their products. A chain of custody certificate is required to allow on-product labeling for certified content.

Chain of Custody Slide
Chain of Custody Handout

Please visit the Sustainable Forestry Initiative's website, and PEFC'swebsite to learn more about their chain of custody and fiber sourcing certificates.

Landowner Tools

Sample Management Plan

Tree Farm Store

Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions