Promote Sustainable Stewardship Being A Tree Farmer

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Virginia Tree Farmer!


How to Get the ATFS certification

For your property to become a certified Tree Farm, it must meet the 2015-2020 Standards of Sustainability.

Please visit https://www.treefarmsystem.org/standards-review for more information about the Standards.

Tree Farmers must develop and implement a written forest management plan for their property. 

Once a management plan is developed, an initial inspection of your property and plan must be performed and submitted for certification approval. 

If you are currently working with a forester who is a Certified Tree Farm Inspector, he or she will likely perform this inspection. 

If you are not currently working with a forester, we'll locate a Certified Tree Farm Inspector in your area to do so.

Welcome Packet From ATFS

Once the property is certified, you will receive a welcome packet from ATFS, a certificate, and other information from the Virginia Tree Farm Committee, and you will be able to request a nationally recognized green and white Tree Farm sign to display on your property. Your Tree Farm Inspector may visit your Tree Farm on occasion or at your request to complete an optional inspection.

Inspection & Sampling

ATFS selects a random sample of Tree Farms each year that require an inspection and a different random sample every four years that require a third-party Assessment.  If your Tree Farm is selected for either of these, you must be willing to work with the inspector/assessor to allow completion.

Given the information above, if you are interested in moving forward with ATFS certification, please complete this questionnaire.

Still On The Fence?

Click here to get answers to the question: Why Should I get certified?