2021-2025 Tree Farm Standards for Certification
This guide is designed to help forest landowners qualify their forest as a Certified Tree Farm through the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). The ATFS certification program is internationally endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™). This PEFC endorsement allows Certified Tree Farmers to market their harvested timber as third-party certified sustainably managed timber to primary processing mills.
Tree Farm Certification is available to landowners with all sized forest lands, from 10 to 10,000 acres. Certification is also available to landowners at all levels of activity, from businesses and investors to hobby owners.
To qualify as a Certified Tree Farmer, you must comply with eight Standards of Sustainability established by the American Forest Foundation (AFF). This assures buyers of your timber that you are an effective steward of your land. Standards are based on international metrics and have North American guidelines. Every five years AFF Standards are updated. Therefore, to stay current, you will need to compare your written plan to new Standards about every five years and update as needed.
A Standard is an overarching principle of sustainable forest management. A Performance Measure under the Standard refines its intent and describes considerations and pathways for conformance. An Indicator within a Performance Measure identifies specific actions or activities that demonstrate conformance. All Standards, Performance Measures, and Indicators apply to every property certified under the ATFS Standards.
The eight Standards, their Performance Measures, and Indicators are presented below. And following each are the ways the MS LMP helps you prove your conformance.
STANDARD 1 Commitment to Practicing Sustainable Forestry
Performance Measure 1.1 Landowner shall have and implement a written forest management plan consistent with the size of the forest and the scale and intensity of the forest activities.
Indicator 1.1.1 Management plan shall be active, adaptive and embody the landowner’s current objectives, remain appropriate for the land certified and reflect the current state of knowledge about natural resources and sustainable forest management.
Indicator 1.1.2 (a) Management plans shall describe current forest conditions, landowner’s current objectives, management activities aimed at achieving landowner’s objectives, document a feasible strategy for activity implementation and include a map accurately depicting significant forest-related resources.
Indicator 1.1.2 (b) The forest management plan shall demonstrate consideration of the following resource elements: forest health, soil, water, wood and fiber production, threatened or endangered species, special sites, invasive species, and forests of recognized importance. Where present and relevant to the property, the plan shall describe management activities related to these resource elements.
Indicator 1.1.2 (c) Where present, relevant to the property and consistent with landowner’s objectives, the plan preparer should consider, describe, and evaluate the following resource elements: fire, wetlands, desired species, recreation, forest aesthetics, biomass and carbon.
Indicator 1.1.3 The landowner should monitor for changes that could interfere with the management objectives as stated in the management plan.
How the Mississippi LMP Plan Conforms to Standard 1:
Performance Measure 1.1
Standard 1 requires Tree Farmers to retain a copy of their written forest management plan. To comply, use the Plan Template on this site to develop your plan. This template meets 2021-2025 Tree Farm Standards. The MS LMP has six parts to support the template. Some parts may not pertain to your property. Use the portions that are helpful to you.
You may keep a copy of your plan either on paper, digital, or as a link. Review it annually and make changes, as necessary. To remain current with changing AFF standards, yourplan will need to be updated every five years.
Working with a Forester and Working with Landowners establishes a working relationship between you and your forester. You need your forester to take your management objectives and mesh them with current forest conditions. Together you will develop forest management recommendations and a plan of action. Mapping your Property offers geospatial information for required elements; soils, water resources, wetlands, threatened and endangered species, forests of recognized importance, and special sites. Mapping your Property also helps you describe your forest resources and develop a Forest Stand Management Map.
Management Objectives defines the common physiographic regions and forest cover types in our state. For each forest cover type there is advice on regeneration, management, and health issues. Management Objectives also presents general guidance on prescribed fire, aesthetics, recreation, biomass, carbon, and non-native invasive species.
Plan Template is your template that puts all sections together to develop your forest management plan. This plan needs to have Stand Map, Stand Management Recommendations, and a 10-year Schedule of Forest Activities to achieve your ownership goals.
ATFS Inspectors are required to go on-site and evaluate Certified Tree Farm properties to ensure your activities on the ground match the written plan. Inspectors will review your plan along with any other notes and documents that you can provide. The Inspector will be looking for evidence of Standard 1 compliance.
STANDARD 2 Compliance with Laws
Performance Measure 2.1 Landowner shall comply with all relevant federal, state, county and municipal laws, regulations and ordinances governing forest management activities.
Indicator 2.1.1 Landowner shall comply with all relevant laws, regulations and ordinances and will correct conditions that led to adverse regulatory actions, if any.
Indicator 2.1.2 Landowner should obtain advice from appropriate qualified natural resource professionals or qualified contractors who are trained in, and familiar with, relevant laws, regulations and ordinances.
How the MS LMP Conforms to Standard 2:
Performance Measure 2.1
Standard 2 requires that all Tree Farmers follow federal, state, and county laws and regulations. In Mississippi, your forest management activities are exempt from municipal ordinances. If a conflict with a municipality arises, contact the Mississippi Forestry Association for assistance.
Management Objectives reviews the primary federal and state laws and regulations that guide forest management. Guidelines to reduce non-point source pollution are provided by Mississippi’s Forestry Best Management Practices. For prescribed burning, the MS LMP address the federal Clean Air Act and the MS Prescribed Burning Law that reduces smoke pollution.
Mistakes by Tree Farmers should be rare, but sometimes inadvertent violations are made. In this case, you must be committed to correcting a mistake. A pattern of willful violation of relevant laws, regulations or ordinances is not acceptable and will lead to your disqualification. If there is evidence of past nonconformance, then you must show proof of a good‐ faith effort to remedy the nonconformance. If the matter is tied up in court, then you will only be disqualified when a final adverse judgment is rendered, and you refuse to comply with the ruling.
ATFS Inspectors will verify compliance with all applicable laws with a three‐tiered process:
Step 1 – Observation of conditions on your property.
Step 2 – Your verbal or written claim of legal compliance.
If Step 1 and Step 2 indicate compliance, then the ATFS Inspector stops. But if any issues are raised, then an Inspector will employ Step 3.
Step 3 – Contact the MS Forestry Commission, MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or other relevant agency for information on this matter.
Working with a Forester and Working with Landowners encourage a close working relationship between you and your forester. This relationship ensures Inspectors that you only use qualified natural resource professionals and contractors.
ATFS inspectors will check the credentials of foresters, professional loggers, and other vendors working on Certified Tree Farms to verify conformance.
STANDARD 3 Reforestation and Afforestation
Performance Measure 3.1 Reforestation or afforestation shall be achieved by a suitable process that ensures adequate stocking levels.
Indicator 3.1.1 Reforestation or afforestation shall achieve adequate stocking of desired species reflecting the landowner’s objectives, within five years after regeneration harvest, or an appropriate time frame for local conditions, or within a time interval as specified by applicable regulation.
How the MS LMP Conforms to Standard 3:
Performance Measure 3.1
Standard 3 requires all Tree Farmers to adequately stock their land with desired timber species within five years after a final timber harvest. Management Objectives provides proven strategies for each forest type to be successful in reforestation and afforestation efforts. Regeneration within five years is the rule because Mississippi does not specify a specific method of regeneration, timing of regeneration, successful stocking levels, or post-harvest activity. If you are unable to regenerate within five years, make a note and explain how you will mitigate this nonconformance.
ATFS Inspectors will compare Forest Management Recommendations in your plan to actual reforestation efforts found on-site. So, review and make necessary changes to your plan as needed. Inspectors will note your regeneration efforts within the ATFS 021 inspection form as proof of your conformance.
STANDARD 4 Air, Water, and Soil Protection
Performance Measure 4.1 Landowner shall meet or exceed practices prescribed by State Forestry BMPs that are applicable to the property.
Indicator 4.1.1 Landowner shall implement specific state forestry BMPs that are applicable to the property.
Indicator 4.1.2 Landowner shall minimize road construction and other disturbances within riparian zones and wetlands.
Performance Measure 4.2 Landowner shall consider a range of forest management activities to control pests, pathogens, and unwanted vegetation.
Indicator 4.2.1 Landowner should evaluate alternatives to pesticides for the prevention or control of pests, pathogens and unwanted vegetation to achieve specific management objectives.
Indicator 4.2.2 Pesticides used shall be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and applied, stored and disposed of in accordance with EPA-approved labels and by persons appropriately trained, licensed and supervised.
Performance Measure 4.3 When used, prescribed fire shall conform with landowner’s objectives and pre-fire planning.
Indicator 4.3.1 When used, prescribed fire shall conform with the landowner’s objectives and state and local laws and regulations.
How the MS LMP Conforms to Standard 4:
Performance Measure 4.1 Standard 4 requires all Tree Farmers and their vendors to protect watercourses by reducing soil disturbances and other sources of non-point source pollution. Mapping your Property provides detailed soil information and maps to help you plan out management activities to meet this Standard. The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) is the authority on water quality and forestry (Management Objectives). You should read and hold a copy of their Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) Handbook. All BMP practices in the Handbook are mandatory for Tree Farmers. If you build roads in Wetlands, then you must also follow federally mandated practices. When questions arise, contact MFC for guidance.
ATFS Inspectors will look for field evidence of BMP conformance where there has been recent management activity. If any water quality impairment is found, then you must show proof of a good‐ faith effort to remedy the nonconformance. Even if the impairment was not caused by you or your vendor, you will still be strongly encouraged to remediate.
Performance Measure 4.2 Management Objectives describes common forest health issues in each of the forest cover types. Tree Farmers should investigate root causes of health problems before determining the best remedy. Your forester may be able to give you great advice here. Management Objectives links you to on-line information on insect pests, pathogens, and weeds.
Health problems arise when desirable tree species are put under stress. A silvicultural treatment to change the environment to one that benefits your desirable species may be all that is needed to correct a problem. You are expected to document the reasons that you chose a particular remedy, like a pesticide application.
When pesticides are used, you or your vendor must follow the pesticide label and comply with federal law and EPA regulations. Plan Template includes a Pesticide Application Recordkeeping Form. Tree Farmers or their vendor are required to keep records on every pesticide application. A complete record includes which pest was controlled, location of application, chemicals, rate, and method used, and an evaluation of results. To comply with Standard 4, it is recommended that you obtain a MS State Private Applicator Certification. Vendors that make pesticide applications should be licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicators under the MS Bureau of Plant Industry.
ATFS Inspectors will review your plan and your record of pesticide applications and observe results on-site to document conformance.
Performance Measure 4.3 When prescribed burning is used, Tree Farmers, or their representative, are required by state law to obtain a permit from the MS Forestry Commission. You are also encouraged to comply with the MS Prescribed Burning Act 49-19-307 which lowers your liability from smoke and escapes. If a vendor administers prescribed fire, he/she should be a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager.
ATFS Inspectors will review records and on-site applications of prescribed burning to compile evidence of your conformance.
STANDARD 5 Fish, Wildlife, Biodiversity and Forest Health
Performance Measure 5.1 Forest management activities shall protect habitats and communities occupied by threatened or endangered species as required by law.
Indicator 5.1.1 Landowner shall confer with natural resource agencies, state natural resource heritage programs, qualified natural resource professionals or other current sources of information to determine occurrences of threatened or endangered species on the property and their habitat requirements.
Indicator 5.1.2 Forest management activities shall incorporate measures to protect identified threatened or endangered species on the property.
Performance Measure 5.2 Landowner should address the desired species and/or desired forest communities when conducting forest management activities, if consistent with landowner’s objectives.
Indicator 5.2.1 Landowner should consult available and accessible information on management of the forest for desired species and/or forest communities and integrate it into forest management.
Performance Measure 5.3 Landowner should make practical efforts to promote forest health.
Indicator 5.3.1 Landowner should make practical efforts to promote forest health, including prevention, control or response to disturbances such as wildland fire, invasive species and other pests, pathogens, or unwanted vegetation to achieve specific management objectives.
Performance Measure 5.4 Where present, forest management activities should maintain or enhance forests of recognized importance (FORI).
Indicator 5.4.1 Appropriate to the scale and intensity of the situation, forest management activities should incorporate measures to contribute to the conservation of identified FORI.
How the Mississippi LMP Plan Conforms to Standard 5:
Performance Measure 5.1 Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Species. Standard 5 requires Tree Farmers to protect T&E species when occupied habitat is found on their property. Protection may require changes in the timing and/or technique of your management activities.
Mapping your Property provides a geospatial tool to investigate and generate a listing of observed, possible, and candidate T&E species for your property. During periodic monitoring, you and your forester should look for these T&E Species and their critical habitats. When T&E species are suspected, contact a qualified professional for an inspection. T&E wildlife experts may be found at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science or Mississippi field office of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Record who conducted the T&E investigation, when it took place, and the outcome.
ATFS Inspectors will look in your plan for documented research on T&E species information and the date. They will also note when your property was monitored for T&E species. Providing inspectors with this information is evidence of your conformity.
Performance Measure 5.2 Desired Species. Tree Farmers are not required to name or manage their property for a Desired Species. But you are free to choose a Desired Species of animal or plant that you would like to benefit from your management activities. Desired Species will not refer to any timber species.
If you choose a Desired Species, then document how you will benefit the species. Recent examples include creating food plots for deer, building houses for bats, and planting milkweed for butterflies. You should note the efforts you undertake and attach them to your forest management plan.
Performance Measure 5.3 Forest Health Management Objectives provides general information on diseases, insect pests and invasive weed species commonly found in MS forests. Tree Farmers should review this information and regularly monitor their property for health issues. When you discover a disease, invasive species, or pest outbreak on your property, you should discuss treatment options with natural resource professionals.
Integrated pest management (IPM) as the best long-term approach to controlling, suppressing, or preventing pests and can take many forms. Approaches may include forest health improvement, sanitation and other preventative measures, and protection of property from injury. Pesticide applications may be used when other control measures are ineffective or impractical. If you use pesticides, then you are required to follow the label and keep a record of each application.
Severe storm damage, drought, and outbreaks of pests like Southern Pine Beetle can cause drastic changes to your forest resource and leave you with few options. In this case, you should make note of drastic changes and document how this changed your objectives and/or forest management.
ATFS inspectors will be looking for documentation that you or your forester regularly monitor your forest for health and have mitigated issues when found.
Performance Measure 5.4 Forests of Recognized Importance The MS Tree Farm Committee determined FORIs in MS and documented them at Mississippi_FORI_Designation.pdf. The FORI designation does not compel you to take any action, rather it acts as a reminder that your management practices will impact the environment beyond your property boundaries. You agree to note the presence of a FORI on or next to your property and consider it when planning activities.
ATFS inspectors will note the date when you or your forester reviewed Mississippi FORI designations and the outcome of that review.
STANDARD 6 Forest Aesthetics
Performance Measure 6.1 Landowner should manage the visual impacts of forest management activities consistent with landowner objectives, the size of the forest, the scale and intensity of forest management activities and the location of the property.
Indicator 6.1.1 Forest management activities should apply visual quality measures compatible with appropriate silvicultural practices.
How the Mississippi LMP Plan Conforms to Standard 6:
Performance Measure 6.1 Management Objectives addresses aesthetic issues relevant to the forest types in Mississippi. Forest aesthetics considerations may require more planning on your part. A beautiful property gives you and your guests a visually appealing experience with every visit and increases your property value.
ATFS Inspectors will review your plan for aesthetics considerations.
STANDARD 7 Protect Special Sites
Performance Measure 7.1 Forest management activities shall consider and maintain any special sites relevant on the property.
Indicator 7.1.1 Landowner shall make a reasonable effort to locate and protect special sites appropriate for the size of the forest and the scale and intensity of forest management activities.
How the Mississippi LMP Plan Conforms to Standard 7:
Performance Measure 7.1 Standard 7 requires Tree Farmers to protect special sites. Mapping your Property helps you identify special sites of historical significance and cemeteries on or near your property. If you suspect other special historical, biological, or geological sites on your property contact the MS Department of Archives and History for advice. Make a note of who inspected your property, when the inspection was done, and the result. In addition to the above special sites, you may designate sites of personal significance that need protection, such as your grandparents’ old homesite.
Identify all your special sites on management plan maps and on the ground. To protect these sites during forest management activities, you should create a vegetation buffer, fence the area, or otherwise distinguish it from surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, sites of Civil War battles and Native American mounds need to be held in strict confidence to protect them from vandals and relics seekers. If you suspect your property has one of these sites, contact the Mississippi Forestry Commission for help protecting them.
ATFS Inspectors will review your plan and/or request documents that show you investigated special sites and the result. If you have special sites, then the inspector will review your special sites map and protection plan.
STANDARD 8 Forest Product Harvest and Other Activities
Performance Measure 8.1 Landowner should use qualified natural resource professionals and qualified contractors when contracting for services.
Indicator 8.1.1 Landowner should seek qualified natural resource professionals and qualified contractors.
Indicator 8.1.2 Landowner should engage qualified contractors who carry appropriate insurance and comply with appropriate federal, state, and local safety and fair labor rules, regulations, and standard practices.
Indicator 8.1.3 Landowners should retain appropriate contracts or records for forest product harvests and other management activities to demonstrate conformance to the Standards.
Performance Measure 8.2 Landowner or designated representative shall monitor forest product harvests and other management activities to ensure they conform to their objectives.
Indicator 8.2.1 Harvest, utilization, removal, and other management activities shall be conducted in compliance with the landowner’s objectives and to maintain the potential of the property to produce forest products and other benefits sustainably.
How the Mississippi LMP Plan Conforms to Standard 8:
Performance Measure 8.1 Use of Qualified Professionals. Working with a Forester and Working with Landowners help you establish a relationship with your forester and other qualified natural resource professionals. These professionals will help you meet ATFS standards and safeguard you from liability risks and help you protect your assets,
Foresters should be currently licensed, MS Board of Registration for Foresters. Professional Loggers should be current in their training. MS Professional Logging Manager Program. Commercial Pesticide Applicator credentials may be checked at MS Bureau of Plant Industry.
ATFS standards require you to keep records for at least 3 years. But for normal tax purposes, you should keep records of income and expenses for at least 6 years.
ATFS inspectors will review your records and confirm the credentials of your qualified professionals as proof of conformance.
Performance Measure 8.2 Monitor Activities. You must periodically monitor your Tree Farm management activities and actions. Plan Template will help you adjust your plan as needed. You are responsible for ensuring activities on the ground match up with your plan and comply with ATFS Standards.
ATFS inspectors will review your activities for Standard 8 compliance. These include harvest operations, site preparation and reforestation, forest road construction and maintenance, hunting and fishing, and invasive species or other pest control measures.