2018 Field Assessment Kickoff
2018 Field Assessment Kickoff
Tree Farmers in Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Virginia are currently being visited by assessors from PriceWaterhouseCoopers to review management plan documentation and forest management activities on their Tree Farms to ensure conformance to the ATFS 2015-2020 Standards. Once the field visits are complete, we will share a review of any findings and corrective actions that will be taken.
Based on the initial documentation review, there is a continued need for ATFS Inspectors to thoroughly review management plans to ensure that all required elements of the ATFS Standards are addressed before approving a Tree Farm’s certification.
Standard 1 lists the required resource elements for conformance (italics added for emphasis). “Management plans shall describe current forest conditions, landowner’s objectives, management activities aimed at achieving landowner’s objectives, document a feasible strategy for activity implementation and include a map accurately depicting significant forest-related resources. The forest management plan shall demonstrate consideration of the following resource elements: forest health, soil, water, wood and fiber production, threatened or endangered species, special sites, invasive species and forests of recognized importance. Where present and relevant to the property, the plan shall describe management activities related to these resource elements.”
Please remember that whether a Tree Farm has a resource element such as a special site, T&E species on site, or a Forest of Recognized Importance, the plan must indicate the presence or absence of the element. If the plan is otherwise up to date, reflecting the landowner’s current objectives and conditions on the ground, but a resource element is missing, the ATFS Addendum is a quick and easy way to bring the plan into conformance. We have added links to the addendum within the ATFS Database. You can find a direct link to the ATFS Addendum on the blank 004 form page, assign inspections page, and print/create inspection forms page.
ATFS Welcomes Laura Bosworth
My name is Laura Bosworth, and I'm excited to be the Certification Innovation Manager! Since graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s in Forestry, I've spent my recent years down south promoting active forest management and developing rewarding relationships with some amazing folks in the field of forestry. I am honored to be a part of the ATFS team and look forward to working with such passionate people to continue the great work that is already in motion.
Please join us in welcoming Laura to the ATFS Team. Laura will be based in Georgia and can be reached at lbosworth@forestfoundation.org or 912-286-5138. Visit our website to learn more about the ATFS Staff.
