ATFS Group Certification
The ATFS Group Certification Program
has successfully moved from
its pilot phase and is now up and
running. Activities are underway to
market the program to potential forest
landowner groups and to train professional
foresters to become lead auditors
for the program.
ATFS Group Certification is expected to complement state Tree Farm programs as it allows many individual forest owners to become certified under a single certificate issued to an umbrella organization, and whose members manage their land consistent with AFF Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (AFF Standards).
Almost any organized group of forest owners with a managing body is eligible to participate in this form of forest certification, including state forest stewardship programs, industry landowner assistance programs, forestry cooperatives, state forest owner tax abatement programs, consulting forester clientele, and forestry associations. The organization’s group manager follows ATFS policies, procedures, and submits the group to a third-party audit to verify compliance to AFF Standards.
Unlike individual Tree Farm certification, group certification comes with a cost. Group organizations must purchase a manual and undergo a third-party audit in order to receive their initial certificate. Interested group organizations should purchase the Manual for Group Organizations, Group Managers, and Group Members (Manual for Group Organizations). This manual outlines the required policies and procedures a group needs to follow in order to achieve ATFS Group Certification. When the group organization is ready to proceed with certification, ATFS will provide a list of accredited auditors from which they may solicit bids.
Additionally, subsequent periodic audits are also necessary to maintain the group certificate. All audits must be conducted by a trained ATFS Group Certification Lead Auditor, who will charge an appropriate fee for this service. Group organizations may or may not elect to pass these costs on to individual group members.
State Tree Farm Committees will receive pass-through funding for all group members, to cover the costs of education and outreach materials. However, state committees will not be responsible for conducting reinspections on group certificate member properties. If a landowner was formerly an individual Tree Farmer, but is now a group certificate member, the inspection becomes the responsibility of the group manager. Group members have the same rights and benefits as Tree Farmers.
Foresters who meet ATFS qualifications and wish to serve as lead auditors need to complete special training. All ATFS Group Certification Lead Auditors must take the ATFS Group Certification Lead Auditor Training course, have a Bachelor of Science or higher in forestry from a Society of American Foresters (SAF) accredited program; have five years field experience; AND one of the following:
- SAF specialized credential, Certified Forester
- State licensed or registered forester
- Successfully completed an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Lead Auditor training course
- ACF Member
