Tree Farm Certification" width="300" height="300" />
Behind this green and white sign, Tree Farm families manage their lands for wildlife and watershed protection while also growing wood for our daily use.
Landowners who enroll in the American Tree Farm System ( ATFS ) are following a management plan that meets certain standards and guidelines that demonstrate a commitment to stewardship of the land and are part of the solution to meet the global demand for sustainable fiber by growing certified wood.
Texas Forestry Association ( TFA ) administers the Tree Farm program in Texas. In addition to certification, TFA Member Tree Farmers receive information and educational materials about forest management as well as up-to-date information about issues pertaining to the forestlands of Texas. TFA sponsors an annual Tree Farm field day and other workshops and events throughout the year. Read about the many programs and legislative activities of Texas Forestry Association on the website.
National Representation: Not only will you be a Tree Farmer at the state level, but you will also be part of a national organization (the American Tree Farm System) that is a leader in representing private landowners, keeps you abreast of new developments and political trends at the national level, gives you a voice in decisions affecting land management, and provides you with an opportunity to shape the future.
Networking: Making connections with other landowners, sharing ideas, learning from each other, connecting with professional foresters, avoiding problems others have had, and becoming part of a community that works together for better land management is beneficial to everyone associated with the working forests of Texas.
Recognition: The green and white diamond shaped Tree Farm sign recognizes Tree Farmers for meeting the standards of the Tree Farm System with a written, approved management plan.
Certification: Family forests certified to the American Tree Farm System are recognized by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and qualify as certified forest content for the SFI on-product label. Thus, Tree Farm Certification meets international, third-party standards and may provide greater access to markets with more bids on your timber and preferences when mills are on quota.
Contact the TFA office, your forester, or the Area Chair (see Texas Tree Farm Leadership below) covering your county for more information.