FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2005	Contact:Liz Yolin 202.463.2421 lyolin@treefarmsystem.org

Washington, D.C. – The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) announced that the largest third-party group forest certification ever achieved in North America has been issued to Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law (MFL) Program. The MFL Group Organization includes 29,000 forest owners holding 36,000 forested properties totaling 1.9 million acres, making it the largest certified group in North America.

“This is another great stride for U.S. family forest owners and our ATFS Group Certification Program,” said Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President, Forestry Programs, American Forest Foundation.  “Group certification continues to demonstrate to the forestry community that there is a way to economically, efficiently, and credibly certify groups of small family forest owners in the United States, keeping them competitive with continually increasing certified forest lands around the world.”

Paul DeLong, Wisconsin State Forester, said, “ATFS Group Certification shows the rest of the nation that Wisconsin is a leader in balancing environmental, social and economic demands on our nation’s forests. We have a great story to tell about progressive forest management here in Wisconsin. Third-party certification provides a forum for us to tell that story and for others to verify it.”

NSF-International Strategic Registrations, Ltd, (NSF-ISR)  an ATFS accredited auditing firm, judged conformance to the American Forest Foundation’s 2004-2008 Standards of Sustainability and the Standard Operating Procedures for Group Organizations, Group Managers and Group Members (SOP-01), and issued the certificate. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry will manage the group.

NSF-ISR closely reviewed the MFL program using two audit teams during two different seasons to assess a broad cross-section of forestry activities by private landowners enrolled in the program.  Mike Ferrucci, NSF-ISR lead auditor said, “Our auditors found consistent conformance with the requirements of the AFF Standard, as well as a strong commitment from landowners to long-term sustainable forestry.”

ATFS Group Certification is the process of evaluating and certifying groups of forest owners under a single certificate.  Group certification allows individual forest landowners to benefit from the “economies of scale” of being part of a larger group.  The advantages of group certification include sharing information and the mutual support offered by a group, as well as efficiencies in implementing the standard and achieving certification by an independent auditor.

Eligible groups in the ATFS Group Certification program, include forestry cooperatives, forestry associations, landowner assistance programs, as well as clients of forestry consulting firms, state forest stewardship programs and state tax abatement programs such as Wisconsin’s MFL program.  Individual landowners within the group (group members) voluntarily agree to manage their forests according to the American Forest Foundation's Standards of Sustainability, against which ATFS certifies.

Laurence Wiseman, President, American Forest Foundation said, “Group certification gives us another tool to help ATFS accomplish its mission of getting more good forestry on more acres.”  Wiseman added, “With group certification we now have a means to reach out to larger numbers of forest owners, certify their forest management, and continue to support them with timely and current information regarding sustainable forestry practices.”
 
Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law Program was enacted by the State Legislature in 1985. The forestry incentive program provides a 75 percent to 95 percent property tax reduction and has roots going back to older state laws that originated in the 1920’s.  First targeted at forest recovery from devastating fires and farming practices that favored livestock grazing, MFL now reflects the state’s concern for a much broader array of issues that affect resource sustainability. In addition to commercial forest products, MFL recognizes recreational uses, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, endangered resources and the objectives of individual property owners among other considerations. 

Participation in the Managed Forest Law program is open to all private woodland owners with ten or more acres that meet eligibility requirements and who sign a commitment with the state. They enroll land for either 25 or 50 years.

For more information about ATFS Group Certification please contact Liz Yolin, Manager, Forest Certification, American Forest Foundation 202.463.2421, Email lyolin@treefarmsystem.org or visit ATFS at www.treefarmsystem.org

ATFS promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private landowners.  Founded in 1941, ATFS covers 35 million acres of family owned forestland and has nearly 70,,000 certified Tree Farmers who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, and recreation with assistance from over 4,000 volunteer foresters.  ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education and to help people make informed decisions about our communities and our world.