Sightline Express – The Latest Tree Farm News

1. USGBC’s LEED Program: Update

Our partners, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI Inc) have launched an online petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/leed) urging the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to recognize all credible certification systems, like ATFS, in their LEED programs. We need your help to send a message to USGBC that there is a large community of family forest owners and foresters that are not happy with the current LEED program. Please urge your fellow inspectors, friends and family to sign the petition. The more names we gather, the louder our collective voice and the harder it will be for the USGBC to ignore.

ATFS has been working with the U.S. Green Building Council for a number of years to encourage them to recognize all credible forest certification systems under their LEED program for rating green buildings. USGBC recently completed a third public comment period for the certified wood credit. ATFS staff submitted comments to USGBC about the need to recognize all credible forest certification programs. Staff comments were supported by some great contributions from state Tree Farm committee members, other volunteers, AFF Grassroots Leaders, and Tree Farmers. We will notify our partners of the results of the comment period when they are posted by USGBC.

2. Inspector Training

Trained facilitators are now available to host inspector training workshops! Please contact your state committee for more information on available workshops in your state.

Please look for more information in coming weeks on the availability of the online refresher course for current inspectors.

3. What Acreage do you count?

We have been asked recently, “What acreage do you count as certified on a given Tree Farm?” Tree Farm acreage should be the eligible forested acres. You cannot exempt a portion of a contiguous forest management unit that does not meet the AFF Standards. Forested acres may include features such as food plots, water resources (lakes, ponds, streams), and other non-forested areas as long as these are small enough that they remain a part of the forest system.

Please encourage Tree Farmers to contact the state Tree Farm committee when they have a change in their acreage

Need a 004 form?

Electronic copies of the 004 inspector form and the auditor verification form are always available on the ATFS website. Visit www.treefarmsystem.org>Tree Farm in Your State>Inspectors Corner for this and other resources for inspectors.

Or contact your state program if you are meeting with a specific landowner and you would like to have an electronic copy to print that is pre-populated with the Tree Farm and landowner information. All state contacts are listed on the Tree Farm website.

As always, check out the latest news of what’s happening at the American Forest Foundation on our website – www.forestfoundation.org.

Victoria Lockhart
Certification Manager, American Tree Farm System American Forest Foundation 1111 19th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 (T) 202 463 2738 (F) 202 463 2461

vlockhart@forestfoundation.org

The American Forest Foundation is now accepting comments on the REVISED Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification on Private Lands

Washington, D.C. - AFF is now accepting comments on its revised Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification on Private Lands (2009-2013) beginning today, Friday, May 1st through Monday, June 29, 2009 at 5:00pm (EDT).

The AFF Standards are the basis for its forest certification program, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS. The revised Standards were developed by the Independent Standards Review Panel.

All stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to comment on the revised Standards. For more information on the American Forest Foundation's standards setting procedures, please visit www.forestfoundation.org.

During the review process, it is extremely important that the Panel hear from all stakeholders - family forest landowners, Tree Farmers, volunteers, natural resource and forestry professionals, conservation organizations, PLT coordinators, educators and volunteers, and other partners.

The 60-day public comment period begins Friday, May 1, 2009 through Monday, June 29, 2009 at 5:00pm (EDT).

To submit comments on the revised AFF Standards, please visit www.forestfoundation.org or emailCertification@forestfoundation.org for more information.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) conservation and education organization that strives to ensure the sustainability of America's family forests for present and future generations. Our vision is to create a future where North American forests are sustained by the public which understands and values the social, economic, and environmental benefits they provide to our communities, our nation, and our world.

Founded in 1941, ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conservation, certification, and advocacy program in the United States. ATFS promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners. ATFS has enrolled 24 million certified acres of privately owned forestland and 910,000 family forest owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Landowners manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, and recreation with assistance from 4,680 volunteer foresters.