Network News: Inspectors Archive

Follow the Chain!

Wood harvested from Tree Farm Certified lands is recognized as certified fiber by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification systems (PEFC). Mills across the country are interested in tracking certified fiber which includes Tree Farm wood. American Tree Farm System Certification can be a marketing point for your clients’ wood. When you are working with landowners to prepare for a harvest, be sure to follow these best practices.

Carbon Planning Tool

A new carbon planning tool is now available on the American Tree Farm System website www.treefarmsystem.org/trainings-resources-for-inspectors. The Management Guidance Supplement for Carbon Sequestration will help foresters and landowners in the planning process for managing  for increased carbon storage on their land. 

 Special thanks to the U.S. Forest Service for providing the support to develop this tool.

SAF Continuing Forester Education Credits

We are making it easier for ATFS Inspectors to claim SAF Continuing Forester Education (CFE) credits for our inspector trainings. ATFS met with SAF staff and clarified the process to claim Inspector Training credits.

Good Management Practice Spring 2011

The Standards checklist on the  new 004 form includes all of the 2010–2015 Standards. By following these Standards, Tree Farmers are the best ambassadors for well-managed private forests because they take their forest heritage seriously and are committed to keeping their forests healthy, productive, and enjoyable. Next to each Standard are check boxes labeled “yes,” “no” and “n/a” (not applicable).

Stumped Spring 2011

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What does it mean for a management plan to “address” resources elements such as forest health, soil, water, wood and fiber production, threatened and endangered species, special sites, invasive species, integrated pest management and high conservation value forests?

Q:As an inspector, what sort of evidence should I look for to see if the Tree Farmer has met the Standards’ indicators?

Q:How can I get information from Tree Farm on a more regular basis?

Q:What are high conservation value forests and how can Tree Farmers tell if they have one on their property?

Q:How can a Tree Farmer “consider” integrated pest management in their management to control pest, pathogens, and unwanted vegetation?

Stumped Winter 2010

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What does it mean for a management plan to “address” resources elements such as forest health, soil, water, wood and fiber production, threatened and endangered species, special sites, invasive species, integrated pest management and high conservation value forests?

Q:As an inspector, what sort of evidence should I look for to see if the Tree Farmer has met the Standards’ indicators?

Q:How can I get information from Tree Farm on a more regular basis?

Q:What are high conservation value forests and how can Tree Farmers tell if they have one on their property?

Q:How can a Tree Farmer “consider” integrated pest management in their management to control pest, pathogens, and unwanted vegetation?

Spotlight: Third-Party Certification Audits

As a globally endorsed certification system, the American Tree Farm System must undergo third-party certification assessments. Every year, a set of State Tree Farm Committees will participate in these third-party certification assessments to ensure conformance to the AFF Standards. As a volunteer inspector, you are a crucial link to Tree Farmers. If a landowner that you work with is selected to participate in an assessment, you may be asked to help the landowner gather the necessary documentation. If you are the landowner’s primary forester, you may be the most knowledgeable on how their management meets the AFF Standards.

Good Management Practice Winter 2010

Many Tree Farmers keep a folder of all documents related to their Tree Farm for safe keeping, making documentation collection for third-party certification audits and Tree Farm inspections easier. During your inspections and Tree Farmer interviews be sure to ask where the management plan is kept, if they have harvest plans or contracts for forest operations, and if they have any documents related to cost-share programs, pesticides, prescribed burns or special sites. 

Spotlight: Special Sites

The updated Inspector Training highlights the need for all Tree Farmers to research whether or not they have special sites on their forestland. As an inspector, you can advise landowners of their options to meet this Standards’ requirement.

What have we learned from the first two years of third-party certification assessment?

Twenty-four State Tree Farm Committees have participated in the first two years of third-party certification assessments. Through these assessments, we have learned a great deal about the good work undertaken by Tree Farmers and ATFS Inspectors. The assessments have also illustrated what improvements are needed to ensure ATFS remains a credible program that creates opportunities for family woodland owners.

Stumped Summer 2010

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:When can I inspect Tree Farms to the new Standards?

Q:What Standards do I use to inspect required sample properties this year?

Q:My state still does the five-year reinspections for each Tree Farm. What Standards do I use to inspect these Tree Farms this year?

Q:My state has not participated in a third-party certification assessment yet. Are Tree Farms in my state considered third-party certified?

Spotlight: Updating Landowners to the New Standards of Sustainability

Beginning January 1, 2011, all Tree Farm inspections (initial, required sample inspections, and optional five-year inspections) must be conducted using the 2010-2015 Standards. Below are some case studies to help you explain to landowners how to implement the new Standards on their lands now so that they are ready for 2011. 

Profile: Wayne Pfluger, 2009 Southern Region Inspector of the Year

Wayne Pfluger, our 2009 Southern Region Inspector of the Year,hails from Conroe, Texas.

Profile: Arnie Friedt, 2009 Western Region Inspector of the Year

Arnie Friedt is our 2009 Western Region Inspector of the Year.

Spotlight: Updating Management Plans

We have been asked recently by several inspectors, “How should management plans be updated to ensure that they are still eligible under the Tree Farm program?” A forest management plan is only as useful as it is current, but what does it mean to have a management plan that is “active, adaptive, and embodies the owner’s current objectives?”

Stumped Fall 2009

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:How can I get information from Tree Farm on a more regular basis?

Q:When will the new Standards be released?

Q:Will I have to be retrained when the new Standards are released?

Q:Who do I contact for information and notice of activities happening in my state?

Need a 004 Form?

Electronic copies of the 004 inspector form and the auditor verification form are always available on the ATFS website. Visit www.treefarmsystem.org/004form for this and other resources for inspectors. 

Good Management Practice Fall 2009

Encourage landowners to make informal notes in the management plan each year with updates on operations undertaken and completed and notes on the health of their forest.

Profile: Wayne Young, 2009 Inspector of the Year

We are very pleased to announce Wayne Young from NewHampshire as our 2009 Inspector of the Year!

Active and Adaptive Management Plans

Under the AFF Standards, management plans should be active,adaptive and current to the landowner objectives. As all foresters know, management plans are much more useful if they are up-to date. But what constitutes a plan update?