Third party certification

Becoming third-party certified

All Tree Farms are verified to comply with the AFF Standards of Sustainability and Eligibility. However, mills and manufacturers in the forest products sector may only make verified claims of sustainability on lands included under an organization's certificate issued by an accredited certification body.

Committee Development

Third-party certificates of sustainable forest management are issued via the following pathways:

  • Through an Independently Managed Group (IMG) where an organization enrolls multiple ownerships under their certificate.
  • As an independent third-party certificate holder (ICH) where all properties enrolled are under a single ownership.
  • A certificate issued to AFF, listing ATFS state programs that undergo third-party audits.
  • Participation in an SFI Small Lands Module (SLM) where a mill holds a certificate to certify lands to the SFI SLM which is based on the AFF Standards of Sustainability.