WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 5, 2019) – The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), today launched 60-day public comment period on AFF’s current Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (Standards) and announces the 13 members of a new Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP). The ISRP is a body of forest stakeholders that is charged with reviewing the Standards and recommending revisions to the AFF Board of Trustees based on public review. The Standards are the benchmark for all ATFS forest certification, which are third party audited. The ISRP will also be responding to evolving international requirements while ensuring the standards a good match for the constraints, abilities and resources of family forest ownerships in America.

During this first of 2 public comment periods in 2020, interested members of the public are invited to participate in the public comment period January 2, 2020 through March 2, 2020, by submitting comments and suggestions here: http://www.tfaforms.com/330231

ISRP members were identified through public consult and stakeholder categories including consideration of PEFC standard setting requirements (1001:2017), Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Setting Social and Environmental Standards: ISEAL Code of Good Practice Version 6.0, stakeholder mapping, and assessment of AFF’s ongoing programming reach and stakeholder engagement efforts.

The following list of candidates will serve on the ISRP in 2020:

The 13 members of the panel announced today represent a broad spectrum of family and small forest owners, forest industry, conservation and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs), science and technological communities, foresters, and state and federal governments. They also represent consideration of the social, environmental, and economic sectors associated with family forest ownership in the United States.

The ISRP will continue to review public comments and work collaboratively with stakeholders throughout 2020 for presentation of revised Standards to the AFF Board of Trustees in November of 2020. Upon adoption, the ATFS community and certificate holders will have a year to transition to any revisions to the Standards. Those interested in learning more about the ISRP process and its work should visit https://www.treefarmsystem.org/standards-process-overview or contact Leigh Peters at lpeters@forestfoundation.org

About the American Forest Foundation and American Tree Farm System

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.