Does your Forest Qualify?

If you own at least 10 acres of forestland and no more than 10,000 acres, your forestland may qualify for certification now. You and your property must meet the American Forest Foundation Standards of Sustainability which include:

Your forest management complies with federal, state, and local laws.

You have a written forest management plan.

You reforest harvested areas.

Your forestry practices maintain or enhance Managing a Tree Farm can be a family affair. the environment (including air, water, soil, and site quality).

Your forest management contributes to the conservation of fish, wildlife, and biodiversity. You consider and minimize the visual You can become a impact of forestry practices. Mississippi Tree Farmer Your management activities recognize historical, biological, archeological, cultural, or geological sites.

Your timber harvests and forest operations are conducted according to your Tree Farmers manage hardwood forests, management plan and in consideration of as well as pines. other forest values (water quality, wildlife, regeneration, special sites, etc.). Sponsored by

The lack of a qualified written management plan is one of the main reasons forest owners Mississippi Forestry Mississippi Forestry Association do not qualify for certification. If you do not Association have a written management plan, or otherwise 620 North State Street do not meet the standards for certification, you 620 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi 39202 can enter the program as a Pioneer Tree Farm. Jackson, Mississippi 39202 Pho ne: 6 0 1.3 5 4 . 4 9 3 6 As a Pioneer Tree Farm, you have until the next Pho ne: 6 0 1.3 5 4 . 4 9 3 6 Fax: 601.354.4937 scheduled reinspection to meet the standard. Fax: 601.354.4937 Website: www.msforestry.net Website: www.msforestry.net

American Tree Farm System Benefits of being a Tree Farmer Tree Farm Application

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a Tree Farmers receive a Tree Farm program sponsored nationally by the American certificate and sign. If you would like to become a Certified Tree Farmer, Forest Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organiza- please complete the following application and mail it to tion promoting the sustainable management of Tree Farmers receive a complimentary the address of the back of this application. forests through education and outreach to issue to Tree Farmer M agazine. private forest landowners. Founded in 1941, Date of this application ______, 20 ___ ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conserva- Tree Farmers are eligible to compete in Your Name ______tion, certification and advocacy program in the local, state, regional and national Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year United States. For more information, check the contests. Your M ailing Address ______ATFS website, www.treefarmsystem.org. Tree Farmers are invited to the annual City ______State ____ Zip ______The program operates through State Tree Farm National Tree Farmer Convention, and Committees in 46 states in partnership w ith over local conferences, field days, workshops, and seminars that w ill help them become Phone______four thousand volunteer professional foresters- even better forest stew ards. from industry, government, and consulting firms. Email______How to become certified? State Committees make arrangements for Tree Farmers earn the right to display the foresters to inspect and certify Tree Farms and diamond-shaped green and white Tree Location of the forestland you want inspected: then reinspect the land periodically. These Farm sign on their property. Section ______Township ______Range______on-the-ground inspections determine whether Complete the attached application form. the property meets the standards and guidelines Forest products companies that partici- Phy si cal Lo cat i o n (# or name of road, highway) Mail it to the Mississippi Forestry established by the American Forest Foundation. pate in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Association. recognize Tree Farms as a source of ______certified wood, positioning America’s Tree Farmers as preferred suppliers to We will notify Tree Farm Inspectors in The Mississippi Tree Farm Program forest industry. your area (county where property is located). Please attach a copy of the legal description of your property, if possible. In Mississippi, the program is sponsored by the We will send you a list, including contact Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA). MFA’s information, of Tree Farm Inspectors in Acres of forestland in tract to be inspected ______your area. Tree Farm Committee includes a statewide team of more than 200 trained inspectors. They are all You and a local Tree Farm Inspector will Do you have a written management plan? volunteers. These volunteer inspectors are pro- schedule a visit to your property. Yes No fessional foresters representing forest industries, If your forest qualifies, the Tree Farm the Mississippi Forestry Commission, consulting Inspector will submit a inspection report If you are an absentee owner (you live out-of-state) forestry firms, Mississippi State University and to the State Tree Farm committee. A copy and cannot meet with a Tree Farm Inspector on the other agencies and organizations. is also sent to the national office of ATFS. property, please provide the following information for a person who can show the property to an inspector. You will receive a Tree Farm Certificate and be offered an opportunity to display Tree Farmers a Tree Farm sign. Name______Mailing Address______Tree Farmers manage their forestland for pride, If your forest does not qualify, the inspecting forester will advise you on the profit, and pleasure. They are committed to st ep s n ecessar y f o r y o u t o m eet t h e T r ee City ______State ______Zip ______excellence in forest stew ardship. They help meet Farm Standard. our nation’s growing need for wood and paper Phone______products while doing their part to sustain our Email______environment. The Tree Farm Sign is the sign of su st ai n ab l e f o r est r y . Your Signature______