American Tree Farm System

An Independently Managed Group (IMG) is a collection of family-owned or privately managed forest properties under multiple ownerships certified to the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) Standards whose certification is overseen by a group manager.

An IMG is facilitated by a group manager who oversees landowner entry and exit into the IMG and coordinates certification audits.

Each landowner maintains management control of their own property, while the group provides shared support for sustainable forest management, certification, and resources to help protect water, wildlife, and forest health.