WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 22, 2019) – The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced it intends to initiate the revision process for its Standards of Sustainability (Standards) for Forest Certification for the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) program. ATFS, a program of AFF, is internationally endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which connects the extensive network of small family-owned forests to markets around the world.

The Standards are specifically designed for the size, scale, and management intensity of family-owned and small woodlands in the United States, and are the result of a rigorous, multi-stakeholder process based on international guidelines for sustainable forest management and conservation. With 22 million family woodland owners, they collectively represent the largest landowner in the U.S., managing more than a third of the nation's forests.  

Undertaking the revision process every five years to conform with PEFC requirements, AFF views this as an important opportunity to engage with the broader ATFS community of landowners, partners, and stakeholders around its programming and shared effort to deliver conservation impact through the engagement of America’s family landowners.

The Standards help guide the work of a wide diversity of people and organizations that make up the ATFS network including landowners, natural resource professionals, ATFS inspectors, group managers, and third-party assessors who evaluate the sustainability of forests. Furthermore, given that the Standards are consistent with PEFC, the world’s largest forest certification system, supply chains and organizations using wood produced from forests certified to ATFS are internationally recognized for sustainable management.

“Our transparent and inclusive process, which is required by PEFC, is also an excellent way to incorporate the latest forestry science, as well as advances in landowner engagement into the Standards,” said Tom Martin, president and CEO of AFF. "This ensures the ATFS program’s continuous improvement and relevance as a critical link in the global forest supply chain.”

The revision process is led by an Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP), which is appointed by the AFF Board of Trustees. The ISRP is comprised of a representative cross-section of forestry community leaders and stakeholders, each with a stake in the ATFS Certification Program or a sincere interest in the sustainability of small forest ownerships in the U.S. Representatives of the ISRP can include:

• family and small forest owners

• forest industry/end users

• conservation and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs)

• indigenous people and communities

• science and technological communities

• foresters/forest workers

• state and federal governments

The AFF Board of Trustees seeks recommendations for candidates representing these stakeholder groups to serve on the ISRP and nominations are being accepted through September 20, 2019. Click here to recommend a candidate.

Everyone is invited to participate in the collaborative review process. Further information, a timeline of the Standards revision process and participation opportunities can be found on the AFF website here.

Contact: Elizabeth Greener, Director of Communications; egreener@forestfoundation.org; (202) 253-1096.  

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship and keep our forests healthy. America’s family forests are vital for producing clean water and air, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood supplies. AFF’s signature program, the American Tree Farm System® is the country’s largest sustainable woodland program with a network of more than 70,000 family forest owners managing 19 million acres of forestland.