The American Tree Farm SystemStandards, Guidelines and Performance Measures for Member Certification |
Standards & Guidelines for Forest Landowners
Performance Measures for Certification
Ensuring Sustainable Forests
Members of the American Tree Farm System promote the growing of renewable forest resources on their forest land while protecting environmental benefits and are encouraged to strive to 'increase public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry.
Ensuring Sustainable Forests
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification all members are required to have
an written and active forest management plan. This plan must take into
consideration maintenance and/or enhancement of wood and fiber production,
wildlife habitat, water quality and recreational opportunities
Reforestation
Members must provide for prompt restocking of desired species of trees on harvested areas and idle areas where tree growing is the land use objective. This may be accomplished by natural seeding; sprouting; direct seeding; or reforestation with tree seedlings.
Reforestation
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, members must achieve
satisfactory restocking levels within five years following harvest, or
less if specified by state or local ordinance. Acreage not reforested
because of change of use shall be deducted from overall Tree Farm acreage.
Water Quality
Forestry practices must *include the application of the state's EPA-approved forestry best management practices (BMPs) or forest practices act as well as any other practices required by local, state or federal regulations.
Water Quality
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, members must be in compliance with
state Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) or forest practices act to
assure water quality standards are met.
Wildlife Habitat
Members' forest management plans must address the effects of forest practices on fish and wildlife.
Wildlife Habitat
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, members shall follow forest
practices, that to the extent practicable, protect and enhance fish and
wildlife habitat, while considering floral and faunal diversity.
Forest Aesthetics
Members shall follow forest practices that consider the aesthetic effects of forest activities.
Forest Aesthetics
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, members shall, to the extent
practicable, follow forest management practices that demonstrate concern
for visual impacts.
Protect Special Sites
Implemented forest management practices shall to the extent practicable, recognize and protect recreational, historical, biological, archaeological and geological sites of special interest.
Protect Special Sites
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, forest management practices, to the
extent practicable, shall demonstrate concern for special sites.
Biodiversity
Acceptable forest management includes the range of even and/or uneven age management practices.
Biodiversity
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification, members shall implement forest
management practices that enhance the health and productivity of the
woodland, while considering biodiversity on a landscape or watershed
scale.
Slash Disposal and Utilization
Members shall consider harvest contract wording that addresses utilization and slash hazard reduction.
Slash Disposal and Utilization
Performance Measures
To achieve and maintain certification, members shall make a good faith
effort to utilize, in an environmentally and/or economically sound manner,
all severed and/or damaged materials on a harvest site.
Prudent Use of Chemicals
Forest management practices using herbicides, pesticides and/or fertilizers and implemented by the landowner shall be of the type that maintain or enhance the health and productivity of the woodland while protecting soil, water, fish and wildlife resources.
Prudent Use of Chemicals
Performance Measures:
To achieve and maintain certification the use of herbicides,
pesticides and/or fertilizers must meet or exceed all applicable label
requirements as well as all local, state and federal laws.
Forestry Contractor Use
The Tree Farm Program provides information, education and assistance to forest landowners regarding forest management practices that will sustain or enhance forest productivity, wildlife habitat, water quality and outdoor recreation.
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Forestry Contractor Use
To achieve and maintain certification, members shall make a good faith effort to ensure that loggers and contractors working on their property are made aware of special requirements. In addition, members are encouraged to contract with loggers and other forest management contractors who have completed recommended training and education programs offered for their profession 'in their respective states and that such contractors are insured and comply with all state and federal regulations.