Stumped Spring 2014
Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: New landowners just purchased a Tree Farm that has been in the program for 50 years. The new landowners wish to remain in the program. Can they use the old owner’s management plan, implement those recommendations and keep the Tree Farm number and 50-year status? Or do they need to start from scratch?
A: It is exciting that the new owners are committed to good management and that the property will remain enrolled in the Tree Farm program. ATFS Tree Farm status applies to the ownership, not the physical property itself. If the property is transferred outside the family, a new number must be assigned. In this case, the landowners will need to undergo inspection to ensure that the property meets the standards under their ownership and a new Tree Farm number can be issued.
The landowners may choose to use the existing management plan as a reference point. However, they will need to ensure that the plan is updated to reflect their own objectives and any changes in the forest conditions on the ground, and that it identifies a strategy for achieving their goals. In addition, they will also want to ensure that that all of the details of the property, including acreage, legal description and the landowner’s contact information, are also accurate in the plan and in ATFS inspection records.
