Given the rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the American Forest Foundation and the American Tree Farm System would like to inform you of the steps we are taking to minimize risk to our staff, partners and network members and how these steps may affect our operations in the coming weeks. We are also taking steps to help our network stay engaged during this difficult period by making available tools for virtual work. I am happy to report that we have received no reports of anyone with the virus being present at the National Leadership Conference.

ATFS Certification, Third-Party Assessments, Internal Sampling Protocol, and Independently Managed Group Certification

On March 10, 2020, the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems (PEFC) released guidance in consideration of the COVID-19 event to its certificate holders intended to address the impact travel restrictions and health concerns may have on certification audits.  The main methods to ease the consequences of travel restrictions are the implementation of remote audits, and where this is not sufficient, the extension of time periods affecting the certificate. At this time, ATFS has fully adopted the recommendations set forth by PEFC concerning certification activities and the COVID-19 event and any connected delays in our audits and sampling should not endanger our certification status. See PEFC guidance document here. This guidance was developed in consideration of the unique risk factors presented during planning and conducting certification activities, including travel restrictions and health concerns. These guidelines apply to certification activities affected by COVID-19 event. They do not apply in any other case. 

Impacts to ATFS Operations

At this time, the American Forest Foundation has issued the following guidance to all AFF staff, including the American Tree Farm System team. All non-essential staff travel is postponed until after the Easter Holiday (April 13), with dates subject to change based on the evolving situation. If travel is deemed to be essential during this time, AFF staff will seek supervisory approval before making travel commitments. AFF has also advised staff to postpone any partner or large group events scheduled to take place during this time period, and to move in-person meetings to a tele-conference or video-conference format. Finally, AFF is extending flexibility for all staff in the DC or Nova Scotia offices to telework if they feel at risk traveling to the office.  In this same spirit, we recommend that state committees suspend in-person meetings during this time.

Support for and Recommendations to our Partners

We care deeply about the health and well-being of our partners and the landowners that we all interact with on a daily basis. We know that many of you work for organizations that have their own policies to deal with this difficult period and we urge you to respect those. While we understand that AFF staff restrictions on travel and suspending in-person meetings has impacts to the services we provide, we are making every effort to minimize the extent of these impacts. In addition to the steps we are taking to ensure our certification system remains in good standing, we have also approved protocols to ensure that invoices and payments continue to be processed during this time period.

We also recognize and appreciate that many of you are already taking steps to reduce risk to yourselves and your members even as you stay engaged in our work. In service of that goal, we are making teleconference and video conference services available to our state partners on an as-requested basis. Please email operations@forestfoundation.org for more details. This situation is evolving daily, and AFF will continue to re-evaluate our policies and guidance in consideration of the latest recommendations and the safety of all. We will update you as we make adjustments based upon the most current information. 

Thank you for the work you do with family forest owners. Please be safe. Tom Martin