Introduction to the 

2010-2015 Standards

The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS)

is the largest and oldest sustainable family 

woodland system in America. Through our forest 

certification program, we provide Tree Farmers 

with the confidence and validation that they are 

doing right by their land. Family forest owners 

that certify their woodlands through ATFS join a 

national network of woodland owners who are 

globally recognized for their good stewardship. 

ATFS certification is internationally recognized 

and meets strict third-party verification and 

audit standards. 

The 2010-2015 Standards of Sustainability are the 

tool that ATFS uses to validate the good forestry 

done by private woodland owners. 

As a Tree Farmer, the Standards can assist you in 

managing your woodlands to achieve your own 

goals while maintaining a healthy and productive 

forest. The Standards delineate best management 

practices and address four key areas: Water, 

Wildlife, Wood and Recreation. Through the 

Standards, you can document your progress on 

the ground. 

The Standards recognize new conservation 

forestry practices and evolving consumer demand 

for sustainably harvested forest products. Once 

ATFS verifies that the Standards are met and the 

Tree Farm is certified, landowners can proudly 

display the ATFS green and white sign — the 

national symbol for good forestry.

ATFS certified Tree Farmers make a commitment 

to sustainable forestry and their Tree Farm sign 

tells their community that they are protecting 

America’s forest legacy for future generations.

 Standards

 2010-2015

American Tree Farm System®

We grow stewardship from the roots. 

The American Tree Farm System is a program of the American Forest Foundation.
Standards Prologue

The American Forest Foundation’s (AFF’s) 2010-2015 Standards 

of Sustainability for Forest Certification promote the vitality of 

renewable forest resources while protecting environmental, 

economic, and social benefits and work to increase public 

understanding of all benefits of sustainable forestry. They 

are based on North American and Pan-European guidelines 

for sustainable forest management, encourage adaptive 

management, and serve as the basis for the American Tree 

Farm System® (ATFS) certification program. Forest owners

and managers who follow the AFF Standards of Sustainability 

are encouraged to promote the American Tree Farm System®

program by displaying appropriate signs and participating in 

relevant program activities. 

The AFF 2010-2015 Standards of Sustainability address aspects 

of sustainable forest management and incorporate eight 

standards with various performance measures, and indicators. 

ATFS qualified Tree Farm inspectors, group managers, 

and accredited third-party assessors will conduct field 

verification of landowner conformance to the AFF Standards 

as prescribed by ATFS policies and procedures. All AFF 

sustainability elements (standards, performance measures, 

and indicators) are important and will be considered in reviews. 

Responsibilities, task, or obligations that are phrased with 

the word “must,” are core elements that are required to be 

certified by the American Tree Farm System. Note: Bold type

throughout this document denotes words or phrases defined 

in the attached glossary. An asterisk symbol (*) indicates 

guidance provided in the appendix document. 

This document was prepared at the direction of the AFF Board 

of Trustees. It was developed by the 2008-2009 Independent 

Standards Review Panel under the process described by the 

AFF Standards Setting Procedures. Guidance documents (thirdparty auditing, internal monitoring, and landowner guidance) 

for implementation and interpretations will be used to clarify 

requirements of the Standards. 

Standard 1: Commitment to Practicing 

Sustainable Forestry 

Forest owner demonstrates commitment to forest vitality

by developing and implementing a sustainable forest 

management plan.

Performance Measure 1.1 

Forest owner must have and implement a written forest 

management plan consistent with the size of the forest and 

the scale and intensity of the forest activities.

Indicator 1.1.1

Management plan must be active, adaptive, and embody 

the landowner’s current objectives, remain appropriate for 

the land certified, and reflect the current state of knowledge 

about forestry and natural resource management.

Indicator 1.1.2 

Management plans must clearly state landowner’s

objectives, describe desired forest conditions, include 

management activities aimed at reaching the desired forest 

condition and landowner’s objectives, document a feasible 

strategy for activity implementation, and include a tract map 

accurately depicting significant forest-related resources.

Where present, and relevant to the property, the plan 

must address the following resource elements: forest 

health, soil, water, wood and fiber production, threatened 

and endangered species, special sites, invasive species, 

integrated pest management, and high conservation value 

forests. 

Where present, relevant to the property, and consistent with 

landowner’s objectives, the plan preparer may consider, 

describe and evaluate the following resource elements: 

fire, wetlands, desired species (fish, wildlife, and plant), 

recreation, aesthetic quality, biomass, and carbon.

 American Forest Foundation 

2010-2015 Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification

The American Tree Farm System is a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF). 

AFF’s Board of Trustees adopted these Standards in November 2009.
Indicator 1.1.3*

Forest owner should monitor for changes that could interfere 

with the management objectives as stated in management 

plan (e.g., presence of invasive species, pest outbreaks, 

and indications of trespass). When problems are found, 

reasonable actions are taken.

Standard 2: Compliance with Laws

Forest management activities comply with all relevant federal, 

state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Performance Measure 2.1 

Forest owner must comply with all relevant federal, state, 

county, and municipal laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Indicator 2.1.1

Forest owner must comply with all relevant laws, 

regulations, and ordinances, and will correct conditions that 

led to adverse regulatory actions, if any.

Indicator 2.1.2

Forest owner should obtain advice from appropriate 

professionals or contractors who are trained in and familiar 

with relevant laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Standard 3: Reforestation and Afforestation

Forest owner completes timely restocking of desired species

of trees on harvested sites and non-stocked areas where tree 

growing is consistent with land use practices and the forest 

owner’s management objectives. 

Performance Measure 3.1 

Reforestation or afforestation must be achieved by a suitable 

process that ensures adequate stocking levels.

Indicator 3.1.1 

Harvested forest land must achieve adequate stocking of 

desired species reflecting the forest owner’s management 

objectives, within five years after harvest, or within a time 

interval as specified by applicable regulation.

Standard 4: Air, Water, and Soil Protection

Forest management practices maintain or enhance the 

environment and ecosystems, including air, water, soil, and 

site quality.

Performance Measure 4.1 

Forest owner must meet or exceed practices prescribed by 

State Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are 

applicable to the property.

Indicator 4.1.1 

Forest owner must implement specific BMPs that are 

applicable to the property. 

Indicator 4.1.2

Forest owner must minimize road construction and other 

disturbances within riparian zones and wetlands.

Performance Measure 4.2 

Forest owner must consider integrated pest management to 

control pests, pathogens, and unwanted vegetation. 

Indicator 4.2.1

Forest owner should evaluate alternatives to manage pest, 

pathogens, and unwanted vegetation to achieve specific 

management objectives. 

Indicator 4.2.2 

Pesticides used must be EPA-approved.

Indicator 4.2.3

Pesticides must be applied, stored, and disposed of in 

accordance with EPA approved labels and by persons 

appropriately trained, licensed, and supervised.

Performance Measure 4.3

When used, prescribed fire must conform with forest owner’s

objectives, the forest management plan, and pre-fire planning.

Indicator 4.3.1

Prescribed fire must conform with the management plan and 

state and local laws and regulations.

Standard 5: Fish, Wildlife, and Biodiversity

Forest management activities contribute to the conservation of 

biodiversity. 

Performance Measure 5.1

Forest management activities must maintain or enhance habitat 

for threatened or endangered communities and species.
Indicator 5.1.1

Forest owner must confer with natural resource agencies, 

state natural resource heritage programs, or review 

other sources of information to determine occurrences of 

threatened and endangered species on the property and their 

habitat requirements.

Indicator 5.1.2 

Forest management activities must incorporate measures to 

protect identified threatened and endangered species.

Performance Measure 5.2

Forest owner should address the desired species

(fish, aquatic, wildlife, and plant) and/or desired forest 

communities in the management plan and forest 

management activities.

Indicator 5.2.1

Forest owner should consult available and accessible 

information on management of the forest for desired species

(fish, aquatic, wildlife, and plant) and/or forest communities 

and integrate it into forest management.

Performance Measure 5.3

Forest owner should make practical efforts to prevent, 

eradicate, or otherwise control invasive species.

Indicator 5.3.1

Forest owner should make practical efforts to prevent, 

eradicate, or otherwise control invasive species using a 

range of integrated pest management methods.

Performance Measure 5.4

Forest management activities should maintain or enhance 

rare species and high conservation value forests.

Indicator 5.4.1

Appropriate to the scale and intensity of the situation, forest 

management activities should incorporate measures to 

protect or mitigate impacts on rare species and identified 

high conservation value forests.

Standard 6: Forest Aesthetics

Forest management plans and management activities 

recognize the value of forest aesthetics.

Performance Measure 6.1

Forest owner should manage the visual impacts of forest 

management activities consistent with the size of the forest, 

the scale and intensity of forest management activities, and 

the location of the property. 

Indicator 6.1.1

Forest management activities should apply visual quality 

measures compatible with appropriate silvicultural practices. 

Standard 7: Protect Special Sites

Special sites are managed in ways that recognize their unique 

historical, archeological, cultural, geological, biological, or 

ecological characteristics.

Performance Measure 7.1 

Forest management activities must maintain special sites.

Indicator 7.1.1 

Forest owner must make a reasonable effort to locate and 

protect special sites appropriate for the size of the forest and 

the scale and intensity of forest management activities. 

Standard 8: Forest Product Harvests and Other 

Activities

Forest product harvests and other management activities 

are conducted in accordance with the management plan and 

consider other forest values.

Performance Measure 8.1

Forest owner should use qualified natural resource professionals

and qualified contractors when contracting for services.

Indicator 8.1.1

Forest owner should seek qualified natural resource 

professionals and qualified contractors.

Indicator 8.1.2*

Forest owner should engage contractors that carry appropriate 

insurance and comply with appropriate federal, state, and local 

safety and fair labor rules, regulations, and standard practices1

.

Indicator 8.1.3

Forest owner should retain appropriate contracts for forest 

product harvests and other management activities to 

demonstrate conformance to the AFF Standards.

Performance Measure 8.2 

Forest owner must monitor forest product harvests and 

other management activities to ensure they conform to the 

management plan objectives.

Indicator 8.2.1

Harvest, utilization, removal, and other management 

activities must be conducted in compliance with the 

management plan and maintain the potential of the property 

to produce forest products and other benefits sustainably.

1 Auditors shall consider any complaints alleging violation of fair labor rules filed by workers or organized labor since the previous third-party certification audit. The auditor 

shall not take action on any labor issues pending in a formal grievance process or before Federal, State or local agencies or the courts, however, until those processes are 

completed. Absent a record of documented complaints or non-compliances, contractors and managers are assumed to be in compliance with this indicator. 
accredited third-party assessors – A natural resource 

professional who has completed ATFS required training 

for third party assessors and is contracted or employed 

by an International Accreditation Forum (IAF) accredited 

certification body. 

adaptive management – A dynamic approach to forest 

management in which the effects of treatments and 

decisions are continually monitored and used to modify 

management on a continuing basis to ensure that 

objectives are being met (Helms et al, The Dictionary of 

Forestry, Society of American Foresters, 1998).

adverse regulatory actions – Written warning, citations, or 

fines issued by law enforcement or regulatory bodies. 

biodiversity – The variety and abundance of life forms, 

processes, functions and structures of plants, animals, and 

other living organisms, including the relative complexity 

of species, communities, gene pools, and ecosystems at 

spatial scales that range from local through regional to 

global (Helms et al, The Dictionary of Forestry, Society of 

American Foresters, 1998).

complaint – Labor complaints are those with formal 

documentation filed through the state’s fair labor practices 

board or similar body. 

desired species – Those species of flora and fauna 

designated in the landowner’s management plan and 

not known to cause negative impacts on the local 

environment. 

fair labor rules – Include federal, state, and local labor 

legislation and international labor standards cited in 

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification 

systems (PEFC) Annex 3, Chapter 3.3.

forest owner – Landowner or designated representative 

such as, but not limited to, professional resource manager, 

family member, trustee, etc. 

forest product – [Forest Produce] Any raw material yielded 

by a forest. Generally defined in Forest Acts or Ordinances, 

and subdivided conventionally into major forest products, 

i.e., timber and fuelwood, and minor forest products, i.e., 

all other products including leaves, fruit, grass, fungi, 

resins, gums, animal parts, water, soil, gravel, stone, 

and other minerals on forest land (F. C. Ford Robertson, 

Terminology of Forest Science Technology, Practice, and 

Products, Society of American Foresters, 1971). 

forest vitality – The health and sustainability of a forest. 

group manager – The individual(s) designated by the 

Independently Managed Group organization to manage 

the administrative affairs of implementing and achieving 

the AFF Standards and Standard Operating Procedures 

for group programs (SOP-01) for an ATFS certified, 

independently managed group program. Please refer to 

the ATFS Group Certification Process documentation.

high conservation value forests – Forests of outstanding 

and critical importance due to their environmental, social, 

biodiversity, or landscape values. Due to the small scale 

and low-intensity of family forest operations, informal 

assessment of HCVF occurrence through consultation with 

experts or review of available and accessible information is 

appropriate. 

integrated pest management – The maintenance of 

destructive agents, including insects, at tolerable levels 

by planned use of a variety of preventative, suppressive, 

or regulatory tactics and strategies that are ecologically 

and economically efficient and socially acceptable (Helms 

et al, The Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American 

Foresters, 1998). A pest control strategy that uses a 

variety of complementary strategies including mechanical 

devices, physical devices, genetic, biological or cultural 

management and chemical management (U.S. EPA). 

invasive species – Non-native species whose introduction 

does or is likely to, cause economic or environmental harm 

or harm to human health (Executive Order 13112 Feb. 3, 

1999). 

landowner – Entity that holds title to the property to be 

certified.

management plan – Documents that guide actions 

and that change in response to feedback and changed 

conditions, goals, objectives, and policies. Management 

plans may incorporate several documents including, but 

not limited to, harvest plans, activity implementation 

schedules, permits, research, etc. For the purposes of 

the American Tree Farm System® eligible management 

plans, plan amendments may include letters, notes, and 

other forms of informal updates in addition to formal plan 

revisions. 

pesticide – Pesticides include chemicals commonly known 

as herbicides and insecticides. 

prescribed fire – A fire ignited by management to meet 

specific objectives (Helms et al, The Dictionary of Forestry, 

Society of American Foresters, 1998). 

qualified contractor – Forest contractors who have 

completed certification, licensing, recommended training, 

and education programs offered in their respective states. 

qualified natural resource professional – A person who 

by training and experience can make forest management 

recommendations. Examples include foresters, soil 

scientists, hydrologists, forest engineers, forest ecologists, 

fishery and wildlife biologists, or technically trained 

specialists in such fields. 

Glossary of Terms
qualified Tree Farm inspector – A natural resource 

professional who has completed ATFS required training 

for certifying forested properties and is eligible to inspect 

properties on behalf of ATFS. ATFS requires all trained 

inspectors meet approved eligibility requirements. 

rare species – A plant, animal, or community that is 

vulnerable to extinction or elimination.

scale – The extent of forest operations on the landscape/

certified property.

special sites – Those areas offering unique historical, 

archeological, cultural, geological, biological, or ecological 

value. Special Sites include:

A. Historical, archaeological, cultural, and ceremonial 

sites or features of importance to the forest owner

B. Sites of importance to wildlife such as rookeries, 

refuges, fish spawning grounds, vernal ponds, and 

shelters of hibernating animals

C. Unique ecological communities like relic old-growth, 

springs, glades, savannas, fens, and bogs 

D. Geological features such as terminal moraines, cliffs, 

and caves

state forestry best management practice(s) (BMPs) – 

Forestry BMPs are generally accepted forest management 

guidelines that have been developed by state forestry 

agencies with broad public stakeholder input. 

sustainability – The capacity of forests, ranging from 

stands to ecoregions, to maintain their health, productivity, 

diversity, and overall integrity, in the long run, in the 

context of human activity (Helms et al, The Dictionary of 

Forestry, Society of American Foresters, 1998). 

sustainable forest management – The practice of meeting 

the forest resource needs and values of the present 

without compromising the similar capability of future 

generations (Helms et al, The Dictionary of Forestry, 

Society of American Foresters, 1998). Note – AFF’s 

Standards of Sustainability reflect criteria of sustainability 

based on the Montreal Process, 1993, and the PanEuropean Operational-Level Guidelines (PEOLGs).

visual quality measures – Modifications of forestry 

practices in consideration of public view, including timber 

sale layout, road and log landing locations, intersections 

with public roadways, distributing logging residue, tree 

retention, timing of operations, and other factors relevant 

to the scale and location of the project.

Glossary of Terms (cont.)

Third-Party Certification Assessments

Tree Farmers play a critical role in third-party certification for the American Tree Farm System®. For almost 70 years, ATFS 

landowners have shown the country what commitment and stewardship means on private forestlands in the United States.

Third-party certification assesses the Tree Farm program’s ability to ensure landowner conformance to the American Forest 

Foundation’s Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification, elevating Tree Farm to an internationally-recognized forest 

certification system. This recognition also creates access to new market opportunities for certified Tree Farms.

ATFS offers affordable and accessible third-party certification to Tree Farmers through State Tree Farm Committees and through 

Independently Managed Group (IMG) programs. 

State Tree Farm Committees are certified in one of four regions: South, West, Northeast, and North Central. Every year a few states 

are selected to represent their region and are visited as part of ATFS’s third-party certification assessment. 

Within a state, a sample of Tree Farms is selected for a visit by certification assessors who review how the Standards are 

implemented on these properties. Under Independently Managed Group (IMG) programs, a sample of Tree Farms is also visited as 

part of the group’s third-party assessment. 

If your property is selected for participation in the certification assessment, your State Tree Farm Committee will contact you 

to check your availability for a field visit. During this visit, and in preparation of the visit, the auditors will be assessing your 

conformance to AFF Standards in much the same way an inspector would during a Tree Farm inspection. It is a great opportunity 

to showcase how your forest management practices meet AFF Standards and we hope you will be a proud representative of all the 

Tree Farms in your state. All participation in these assessments is strictly confidential. 

Your management plan is a key document for the assessment. There are a number of resources available on the Tree Farm 

website to ensure your management plan meets the requirements of AFF Standards. If you have any questions, contact your 

State Tree Farm Committee, Inspecting Forester, or ATFS staff. The Woodland Owner Resource <www.treefarmsystem.org/

woodlandresources> is available as a guide to the resources available in your state. 
American Tree Farm System®

Commitments to Tree Farmers

The privacy of Tree Farmers and the integrity of the program are of the utmost 

importance to the American Tree Farm System®. In order to protect your privacy, 

we are committed to the following:

The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program 

of the American Forest Foundation, maintains a secure 

database for Tree Farmer contact information, allowing 

state Tree Farm programs secure access.

ATFS and its state leadership use the database for the 

following programmatic communication purposes:

• ATFS programmatic newsletters.

• Tree Farmer Magazine and state partner magazines.

• Invitations to ATFS related events including 

Tree Farm field days, tours, workshops, conventions, 

and meetings.

• Important information on the program including 

the landowner responsibilities for the 2010-2015 

Standards of Sustainability, third-party certification 

assessments and other program requirements. 

• Tree Farm related fundraising initiatives.

• Advocacy outreach.

• Surveys and research to benefit ATFS and improve the 

tools provided to landowners to help them do right by 

their land.

Certified Tree Farmers have the following responsibilities 

to help maintain a clean and accurate database to ensure 

the credibility of the program:

• Tree Farmers receive programmatic communications, 

as described above, which include important ATFS 

updates that directly affect Tree Farmers.

• Tree Farmers may opt out of receiving 

communications that are outside of ATFS 

programmatic mailings and sent by nonprofit 

or for-profit partners.

The complete policy is available on our website 

<www.treefarmsystem.org/membersandvolunteers>

A Tree Farmer’s 

Commitments to the 

American Tree Farm 

System®

The responsibilities of a Certified 

Tree Farmer are:

1) Maintain and keep an updated management 

plan that meets the 2010-2015 Standards of 

Sustainability.

2) Cooperate with inspectors and certification 

assessors, all of whom are professional foresters.

3) Notify the ATFS national office or your state program 

(www. treefarmsystem.org/stateleaders) about 

changes to your contact and ownership information.

4) Proudly display the Tree Farm sign of sustainability on 

your certified forestlands. You can order the Tree Farm 

sign online at <www.treefarmsystem.org/atfssigns>.

Managing forests and sustaining them for the future is both 

an honor and a responsibility. The American Tree Farm 

System® asks that the responsibility be taken seriously.

ATFS Certification is entirely voluntary. There are no 

penalties for choosing to not maintain your status as a 

Certified Tree Farmer. However, the American Tree Farm 

System offers options that suit a range of stewardship 

goals. To learn more, contact your state program to see 

if ATFS Pioneer fits your needs.
American Tree Farm System® is a program of the American Forest Foundation

1111 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite 780

Washington, D.C. 20036

www.forestfoundation.org • www.treefarmsystem.org

September 2011