Standards of Sustainability For Forest Certification

Measuring Sustainable Forestry: The New Standard for Tree Farm Certification

Beginning July 1, 2004, forested properties entering the American Tree Farm System or existing Tree Farms due for their five year reinspections will be measured against the American Forest Foundation’s revised set of Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (Standards).  The American Forest Foundation (AFF), sponsor of ATFS, approved the 2004-2008 Standards in December 2002 and directed national staff to revise the inspection process, provide refresher training for inspecting foresters, and inform Tree Farmers about the new Standards. 

AFF has sole ownership of it’s Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification.  There can be no alteration of the Standards without express consent from AFF. On a five-year interval (or sooner if agreed upon by the AFF Board of Trustees) an independent standards review panel will be seated and charged with reviewing and recommending modifications to the Standards.

Between the Standards’ five-year revisions, it will be the charge of the National Interpretations Committee (NIC) to review questions and disputes and deliver interpretations of the Standards and how they will be audited in the field.

National Interpretations Committee

The following interpretations of the AFF Standards are used by certified ATFS Volunteer Inspectors.

Interpretations, July 13, 2004