Family forest owners in the USA, who own nearly two-thirds of the country’s forest lands, have cheered the endorsement of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). This step that will open the door to new green markets for wood that is sustainably produced on their land.

PEFC made the announcement after a 14-month rigorous review designed to provide assurance to purchasers that certified wood and paper products are in fact produced from sustainably managed forests. “This is fantastic news for conservation-minded family forest owners who are struggling to survive in tough economic times,” said Laurence Wiseman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Forest Foundation, the parent group of ATFS. “PEFC approval is the key to connecting more of the good operators to the rapidly growing marketplace of green manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers.” Forest owners who voluntarily commit the extra time and expense to produce wood sustainably under the ATFS system will now qualify for access to international markets they never had before. Although many people mistakenly assume that forest land they see is owned by either the government or large paper companies, in fact 60% of all the wood harvested in the US comes from family forest lands. Many communities depend on private forests to provide benefits including water purification, clean air, recreation, wildlife habitat and education. “By joining the largest forest certification system in the world, the American Tree Farm System is creating new markets for American growers,” said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International. “The demand for sustainably-procured wood is rapidly increasing because more businesses and more consumers are stepping up to the plate on issues like climate change. PEFC endorsement means that more American growers can now serve this rapidly growing market.” The American Tree Farm System was first launched in 1941 as a private initiative to address concerns that America’s forests were being cut at unsustainable rates without reforestation. It now represents more than 90,000 family forest owners in 45 states, most of whom manage woodlots of less than 100 acres. ATFS is the largest private forest conservation and forest restoration initiative in the history of the US.