ATFS Combines the North Central and Western Regions
After successful completion of our first, full 3-year assessment cycle for third-party certification, the ATFS Certification program will be recertified in 2012. The assessment process is valuable in many ways. First, it represents the third-party verification that is a hallmark of a globally recognized and competitive certification program. In addition, the assessment also provides a critical opportunity to engage with Tree Farmers and highlight their excellent on-the-ground stewardship. In addition, through the assessment process, we also learn about opportunities to strengthen and enhance the ATFS certification program into the future.
Reflecting on the lessons gained during our first assessment cycle, ATFS is changing the composition of its regions. Each year, three State Tree Farm Programs are selected to represent their region in the third-party assessments. The State Tree Farm Programs were originally organized into four assessment regions: Northeastern, Southern, North Central, and Western. In an effort to further promote efficiency in the assessment process, support cost savings, and lengthen the time between assessments for the respective State Programs, ATFS has combined the North Central and Western regions for assessment purposes. This strategy will not only decrease the number of states involved in the assessment process each year but also reduce the overall assessment costs.
The states representing the North Central and Western region in 2012 are Montana, Wyoming, and Illinois. Representing the Southern region are Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. representing the Northeastern region are New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. ATFS looks forward to another successful assessment year!
