Forest certification is an emerging trend where forest landowners seek to assure the public that they are managing their forests in a sustainable way according to the standards established by a recognized accrediting organization.  There are several such organizations operating in the United States today, and Vision Forestry is working with all of them.  Landowners who wish to qualify under one of the following certification standards are encouraged to discuss the details and requirements of each with Vision Forestry staff.  The standards we work with include:

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) – As the oldest certification standard in the U.S., the ATFS has established standards and guidelines for property owners to meet to become a certified Tree Farm. Under these standards and guidelines, private forest owners must develop a management plan based on strict environmental standards and pass an inspection by an ATFS volunteer forester every five years. Several of Vision Forestry’s clients operate certified Tree Farms.  For further information, see http://www.forestfoundation.org.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI^®) – The SFI program is the largest certification system in North America, with over 96 million acres currently certified out of around 136 million total acres in the program.  The Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI) program is a comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures developed by professional foresters, conservationists and scientists, among others that combines the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the long-term protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality. The SFI^® program sets forth measures by which interested parties – customers, conservation interests, or members of the public – may monitor and evaluate the commitment of Program Participants to practice sustainable forestry.  Additional information about the SFI program, including a copy of the 2005-2009 SFI Standard, can be found at www.aboutsfb.org.

Vision Forestry’s management of the Chesapeake Forest Project was awarded SFI certification in 2003.  A copy of the general audit findings can be found by clicking here.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  FSC is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.  Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. Independent, certification organizations are accredited by FSC to carry out assessments of forest management to determine if standards have been met. These certifiers also verify that companies claiming to sell FSC certified products have tracked their supply back to FSC certified sources. This chain of custody certification assures that consumers can trust the FSC label.  More information about FSC certification can be found at www.fscus.org.

Vision Forestry’s management of the Chesapeake Forest Project was awarded FSC certification by Scientific Certification Systems in 2004.  A copy of the audit report can be found by clicking here.

The Forestland Group LLC, another client of Vision Forestry’s, is currently undergoing the process to qualify as an FSC-recognized Resource Manager.  That process, when concluded, may also recognize Vision Forestry as a part of that management system.

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Last modified: February 16, 2005