Thank You 2017!
Thank you for a wonderful 2017 and for your efforts supporting Tree Farmers across the country.
We are committed to supporting and strengthening the ATFS program through on-the-ground inspections and engagement with Tree Farmers. In the New Year, we will continue with many outreach efforts related to “areas for improvement” that were identified during the 2017 third-party assessment.
The quality of the information in the national ATFS Database has long been a focal point during third-party assessments. In addition to efforts taken by the national office and state committees to reach out to Tree Farmers, the best way to ensure accuracy within the database is through the submission of 004 inspection forms. As an Inspector, please take the time when completing an inspection to ensure that all of the Tree Farm data is correct, such as the contiguous forested acres, and that the Tree Farmer contact information is correct.
During inspections, please thoroughly review the landowner’s management plan to ensure that all required elements are included in the plan (either their presence or absence) and that the plan addresses the Tree Farmer’s objectives. Using the ATFS Addendum is an easy way to ensure that a plan is up to date. Alternatively, a plan requires a full update when the conditions on the ground are not reflected in the plan or if the landowner’s objectives are not incorporated into the plan.
Inspections are also a time to educate the Tree Farmer about the ATFS Standards. The third-party assessment outlined the need for continuous education for Tree Farmers regarding forest health issues, such as slash management in beetle kill areas and fire risk awareness. The assessment also revealed that some Inspectors and Tree Farmers are still uncertain about Forests of Recognized Importance (FORI). Consider working with your state committee to develop a statewide FORI list or spatial layer based on AFF’s guidance, an effort that was undertaken by some 2017 assessment states and was highly commended by the assessors.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments. We are here to support your efforts on the ground. Thank you for all that you do and happy holidays!
Sincerely,
The ATFS Team
