American Forest Foundation's Standards of Sustainability Review Process
One of the unique and most valuable aspects of the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) program is that it is internationally endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). This endorsement allows forest products mills and manufacturers to make claims tied to sustainable forest management on an extensive network of small family-owned forests in the U.S.
Designed for the size, scale, and management intensity of family-owned and small woodlands in the U.S., the American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (Standards) are the basis for enrollment in ATFS, a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF).
Why does AFF need to review the Standards?
PEFC requires that endorsed certification systems, like ATFS, undergo a review at least every five years to ensure conformance with its international requirements. Furthermore, AFF views the revision of the Standards as an opportunity to engage with the broader ATFS community of landowners, partners, and stakeholders around our programming and shared work delivering conservation impacts through the engagement of America's family landowners. The process is a convenient means to take stock of the latest scientific developments in the field of forestry, as well as recent developments in landowner engagement and forestry-related technologies.
How are Standards and Guidance created, reviewed, and revised?
An open, transparent process will ensure appropriate incorporation of stakeholder input, new technologies, and developments in the fields of family woodland owner engagement and forestry, as well as mechanisms to promote continuous improvement of the ATFS program. This process is guided the ATFS Standard Setting Requirements.
How can I participate?
The engagement of the ATFS community of landowners, partners, and stakeholders is critical to the success of the ATFS program and certification system.
Stakeholder mapping and consultation is included in the Standard Setting Requirements and we encourage interested parties to stay up to date on upcoming or on-going stakeholder engagement opportunities by checking this website frequently. You may also send a note of inquiry to operations@forestfoundation.org stating your interest in being considered a stakeholder under the ATFS system.
What is does the a Standards review timeline look like?
Page 5 of the Standard Setting Requirements shows a timeline for a standards review process. The next ATFS Standards review process should commence in late 2024 or early 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
For how long are the current Standards be in effect?
Assuming no significant changes to the anticipated timeline the Standards will run through 2025.
How will I know about opportunities to participate?
Information regarding listening sessions, commenting opportunities, and the Standards process will be transmitted through email communication to AFF/ATFS network lists, key individual stakeholders, and partnering organizations and via other means. In addition, AFF will issue press releases, hold webinars and other events, as well as publish updates on the ATFS and AFF websites.
I am an ATFS Inspecting Forester; what do revisions mean for my training status?
ATFS inspector credentials are valid for the entire course of a Standards endorsement cycle. When new Standards are introduced, credentials must be renewed.
Will all inspectors have to be retrained to the new standards?
Yes.
When will my State Program be assessed to revised Standards?
Following the approval of a new set of Standards, there is typically a one-year transition period. That means that states scheduled to be assessed in a transition year will be evaluated on the basis of the previous Standards. For example, the 2021 Standards were formally approved by AFF's board in December of 2020, which means that 2021 was a transition year and the states audited in that year were audited to the 2015-2020 Standards.
Who should I get in touch with if I have questions?
Steve Lloyd, ATFS Certification Manager, is coordinating this effort and can be reached at SLloyd@ForestFoundation.org.
