Stumped Summer 2013
Answers to Inspectors’ Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am helping a landowner prepare for a timber sale. In developing the contracts with loggers, are there any insurance considerations or other contractor requirements under the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) Standards?
A: ATFS Standard 8 covers forest product harvest and related activities. Forest owners should seek out qualified contractors that carry appropriate insurance and comply with federal, state and local safety and fair labor regulations and practices. Landowners are encouraged to discuss liability issues with insurance agents or attorneys to gain additional perspective on minimum insurance requirements for the contractors they work with. These requirements can then be stipulated in contracts with service providers. Other contract specifications to include, if relevant to the property, are the use of BMPs and the protection of water features or special sites. Landowners should retain their contracts for harvesting and other management activities, to demonstrate their fulfillment of the ATFS Standards. Many landowners also find it helpful to file this paperwork with their management plans.
