
American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
Landowners, are you interested in adopting better practices in order to practice sustainable forestry? The Michigan American Tree Farm System (ATFS) provides a way for you, the landowner, to examine and improve your current management practices in order examine and improve your forest management practices. By getting your forested property certified in ATFS, you are playing a positive role in the protection and sustainable management of our natural resources. Furthermore, any wood products that are extracted from your property are considered certified as originating from a forest that is being managed using sustainable practices per the requirements of ATFS.
There are several steps involved to get your forest certified through ATFS:
1) You must own 10 to 10,000 acres of forest.
2) Get a written forest management plan that addresses the ATFS Standards of Sustainability.
3) Request a property inspection with an ATFS certified inspector. Josh Shields is a ATFS certified inspector.
4) ATFS certified inspector visits your property to match your forest management plan and activities to the ATFS Standards of Sustainability.
5) If approved, you will receive an ATFS certification sign that you can post on your property!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, go to https://www.treefarmsystem.org/