Network News: Inspectors Archive

Spotlight: Forest Management Plans

As we move into the summer, and inspections pick up, we want to highlight the importance of forest management plans and clarify any confusion around the ATFS requirements. All landowners enrolled in the Tree Farm program must have a written management plan. Inspectors are asked to review this plan as part of an initial or reinspection visit and ensure the plan components meet ATFS management plan requirements as outlined in the AFF Standards (Standard 3: Commitment to Practicing Sustainable Forestry).

Stumped Summer 2009

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What type of land is eligible to be certified as a Tree Farm?

Q:Does ATFS have a system through which mills can verify a load of logs from ATFS certified lands?

Q: If I talk to a landowner about their property but do not visit it, can our conversation count as a reinspection?

Introducing our 2007 Tree Farm Inspectors of the Year!

National Winner: Mike Older, Alabama.

Mike has been an active member of the Alabama Tree Farm Committee since the early 1990’s

Regional Winners:

Mike Kay, Maryland- Northeastern Region

Ryan Dawson, Missouri- North Central Region

EverettYoung, Montana- Western Region

 

2008 Required Sample Reinspections Overview

2008 Required Sample Reinspections Overview

In 2006 ATFS transitioned from a five year reinspection cycle to a statistically valid sample. The sample was initiated to reduce the workload in the states and still meet our internal monitoring needs. The sample measures conformance to the AFF Standard.

New Tree Farm Sign Available!

New Tree Farm Sign Available! 

By now you may have seen or heard about the new ‘Certified Family Forest’ sign that has been made available for distribution. 

Special thanks to our Regional Tree Farmer of the Year Volunteer Inspecting Judges!

Special thanks to our Regional Tree Farmer of the Year Volunteer Inspecting Judges!

Now Available- ATFS Online Verification Database

Sign up for the ATFS Online Verification Database Today

The certification verification system is designed so that users may log in with an ATFS issued password, enter specific data about the tract in question, and then receive a real-time reply regarding its certification status (i.e., Certified, Not Certified, Not In System). This is a fee-based system; subscriber fees are based on wood volume and divided into production facility categories.

2008 National Tree Farm Leadership Conference Met in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

2008 National Tree Farm Leadership Conference Met in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

The annual two and a half day meeting of ATFS volunteers provides the opportunity for volunteers, leaders, and staff to discuss issues, trends, and new policies that may impact the program at the state and local level in upcoming years.

American Forest Foundation (AFF) Standards to Undergo Review in 2008

In 2008, the 2004-2008 AFF Standards for Sustainability for Forest Certification will undergo review. The AFF Board of Trustees will convene an Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP), representing a cross-section of forestry community leaders with a stake in the American Tree Farm System and sincere interest in forest sustainability on small private forest ownerships in the United States. The Board of Trustees will publicly announce the convening of the ISRP and the names of ISRP members.

Stumped Spring 2008

Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q:With the implementation of the required sample, I’ve been assigned an inspection for a property I have recently inspected. Is an over-the-phone recertification acceptable?

Q:I know somebody who'd like to become a Tree Farm inspector. Who do I refer them to?

Q:As a member of ATFS, is a landowner required to cut trees?

Statistical Sampling – Important Update

Thanks to all of our Inspecting Foresters who made the 2006 sampling implementation year possible! As you know, ATFS is moving to a system of statistical sampling to ease the burden on State Tree Farm Committees and make Tree Farm a more credible and efficient certification system. Don’t forget, your state still has the option to complete all of the 5 year reinspections after completing the required sample inspections.

ATFS Named Terry Truttmann 2005 Inspector of the Year

Terry Truttman of Missouri earned the 2005 Wesley R. Meier Outstanding Inspecting Forester of the Year Award. He accepted this award at the 2005 National Tree Farmer Convention.

George Frame, of Concord, NH, Honored with the 2006 National Field Leadership Award

George Frame, of Concord, NH, Honored with the 2006 National Field Leadership Award

George Frame has been an active part of the New Hampshire Tree Farm Committee for eight years,serving in this year as the committee co-sponsor. In previous years he has served as chair and vice chair. Referred to by his colleagues as “trainer extraordinaire”, he is proactive in motivating inspectors to accomplish reinspections, and makes every effort to train inspectors who are interested in being a part of the Tree Farm program.

New Guidelines for Tree Farm Eligibility

New Guidelines for Tree Farm Eligibility

In 2002, a moratorium was in place that limited the acreage size of new Tree Farms entering ATFS to less than 10,000 contiguous acres. At their December 2005 meeting,the AFF Board of Trustees approved new guidelines for determining eligibility for ATFS certification.

PEFC Endorsement Process Begins

Five years ago ATFS began an initiative to re-engineer its certification program to fit emerging criteria for international certification systems,specifically the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems (PEFC).

Statistical Sampling For Reinspections

In 2002, ATFS contracted with Virginia Tech’s College of Forestry to explore the concept of stratified random sampling as a means of reducing the number of annual reinspections necessary for program policy conformance.

Nominate an ATFS Volunteer Inspector

Nominate an ATFS Volunteer Inspector Tree Farm Inspector of the Year Contest

The American Forest Foundation sponsors this annual award to recognize top performers among the thousands of Tree Farm inspecting foresters. Any inspecting forester can be nominated with approval from the state committee chair. The nominee does not necessarily have to be the state’s inspector of the year.

Jim Hull, Texas State Forester, Wins Sustained Excellence Award

Jim Hull was presented with the 2005 Sustained Excellence Award at the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) annual meeting in September. The Sustained Excellence award honors Jim for his long standing support for ATFS.

Voluntary Third-Party Certification

Voluntary Third-Party Certification of Individual Tree Farms

Increased interest in forest certification by the global forest products industry, customers, and non-governmental organizations has renewed interest in Tree Farm Certification.

Stumped Spring 2006

Stumped? Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I know if I need to take a refresher course?

Question: I’ve been assigned to inspect a property I’ve inspected less than 5 years ago. Why is that?