About
What is ATFS?
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is the nation's largest and longest running recognition program for forest stewardship on private forest lands. Established in Washington State in 1941 on industrial timberlands owned by Weyerhaeuser with the goals of telling the story that private lands could be managed sustainably and advocating for the rights of private forest owners, ATFS evolved into a national program and soon included family and individual forest landowners in addition to industrial lands. These days, there are 42 state "Tree Farm" programs who focus on recognizing and supporting good stewardship for many benefits on forest lands owned by families and individuals, under a uniform set of standards and processes set by ATFS's national governing body, the American Forest Foundation.
Why Tree Farm?
Before the term "sustainability" became commonplace, people most commonly associated the idea of producing nature-based commodities year after year with farming. Thus, the term "tree farming" came refer to the notion that conscientious forest managers could ensure the production of timber, create wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat in perpetuity. Although Tree Farm may conjure an image of a monoculture plantation with trees lined up neatly in rows, the majority of certified Tree Farms are managed natural forests or semi-natural planted forests. Tree Farmers take pride in the diversity found in their woods and management objectives.
Why Should I Become a Tree Farmer?
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How Do I Get Involved
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