Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM) has been certified under a new group certification program developed by ATFS.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Contact:  Amanda Rudy
January 20, 2004                                                                             202.463.2442

American Tree Farm System® Awards
First Group Certification of Forestry Association

Washington, D.C. - The American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, announced that the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM) has been certified under a new group certification program developed by ATFS.  The initial group of 37 private forestland owners and their 18,000 acres were audited to AFFs Standards of Sustainability by independent third-party auditor The Plum Line and recommended for group certification.   This marks the first time in the United States that a forestry association has been granted group certification and that its group members forests are certified as well managed.  At a ceremony in Augusta, attended by Maines Governor, John Baldacci, ATFS Director, Bob Simpson, presented SWOAM with their group certificate.

Under the ATFS group certification process, both the managing organization and its members forestlands are evaluated by an independent third-party auditor to determine if they are managed in accordance to the AFF Standards of Sustainability. Among other requirements, AFF Standards call for forest owners to have forest management plans, reforest their lands after harvest, comply with state Best Management Practices (BMPs), protect special places, enhance wildlife habitat, use approved forest contractors, and otherwise be good managers of their forests. Participation in the group certification program involves a joint commitment by SWOAM to manage the group using auditable processes developed by ATFS and by the landowner to manage their forestland according to the American Forest Foundations (AFF) Standards of Sustainability.

Governor John Baldacci accepted the certificate from SWOAM President Josiah "Jo" Pierce at the ceremony. SWOAMs certification is in keeping with the Governors goal of increased certified sustainable woodlands under his Maine Woods Legacy vision. "Maines forest products industries, from the largest of our paper mills to the smallest woodworking shop, are heritage businesses in our state," said Governor Baldacci. "We must ensure that their raw material, the wood from Maines forests, is available in the abundance we have long taken for granted. Sustainable forestry practices are the answer. And, certification of those practices will open new markets for Maine pulp, paper and wood products. Congratulations to these 37 pioneering members of SWOAM for their efforts in achieving certification of their lands."

 "As the certification movement grows, ATFS is taking steps to develop credible methods for family forest owners to have economic access to certification," said Bob Simpson, ATFS Director. "For over 60 years, ATFS certification has recognized the practice of sustainable and responsible forest stewardship on private forestlands. This certification raises the visibility of the forest owners in their communities and inspires and motivates other non-managing forest landowners to practice sustainable forestry."

Groups eligible for ATFSs group certification include a wide variety of forest management organizations such as forestry cooperatives, landowner assistance programs, consulting forester clientele, state Forest Stewardship Programs and other landowner organizations that apply a consistent management program to its members. Individual landowners within the group (group members) voluntarily agree to manage their forests according to AFFs Standards of Sustainability, against which ATFS certifies. Group managers, like SWOAM, are responsible for ensuring that group members adhere to the standards.

Group certification allows individual forest landowners to benefit from the "economies of scale" of being certified as part of a larger group. The advantages of group certification include sharing information and the mutual support offered by a group, as well as efficiencies in implementing the standard and achieving certification by an independent third-party auditor.

"Group certification gives us another tool to help ATFS accomplish its mission of getting more good forestry on more acres," Simpson said. "With group certification we now have a means to outreach to larger numbers of forest owners, certify their forest management and continue to regularly provide them with timely information regarding the practice of sustainable forestry."

For more information please contact Amanda Rudy, Communications Manager, 202.463.2442, Email arudy@forestfoundation.org or visit ATFS at www.treefarmsystem.org.

The Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine was incorporated in 1975 by a group of private non-industrial woodland owners as a non-profit organization under Maine law. SWOAM remains primarily a volunteer organization of more than 2,750 active members. There are nine regional chapters, each with officers and each conducts its own local educational programs. The nine chapters conduct more than 50 workshops and events each year.

ATFS promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private landowners. Founded in 1941, ATFS covers 27 million acres of family owned forestland and has 65,000 certified Tree Farmer members who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife and recreation with assistance from over 7,000 volunteer foresters. ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education and to help people make informed decisions about our communities and our world.

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