A recent on-the-ground review of Tree Farms in Massachusetts has found that all meet national standards for environmental protection and sustainability.
More than 400 woodlands in Massachusetts are currently certified as Tree Farms, totaling more than 100,000 acres. Tree Farms range in size from 10 acres to 3,000 acres.
Tree Farms are woodlands managed to grow timber, provide wildlife habitat, provide sites for recreation or grow maple products or Christmas trees. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) standards require participating landowners manage their woods to protect streams, wetlands, sensitive habitats and cultural sites, to provide wildlife habitat, and meet any state or local standards for environmental protection during timber harvests or other forestry activities. The Tree Farm standards are more comprehensive than the requirements for Massachusetts Chapter 61 status.
Every year, the American Forest Foundation (AFF), which operates the American Tree Farm System, has independent assessors review Tree Farms in different states for compliance with the AFF’s Standards for Sustainability, the standards privately owned woodlands must meet to be certified as Tree Farms. Tree Farms also meet international PEFC standards.
Massachusetts Tree Farms have previously been assessed for compliance with the AFF standards in 2011, 2015 and 2020, and were found each time to meet the AFF standards.
This year, AFF contracted with NSF International to do the Tree Farm assessment in Massachusetts. NSF selected some Massachusetts Tree Farms to be reviewed during the assessment, and the state Tree Farm committee suggested others nearby to be included to meet the assessment’s criteria for property sizes, proximity and recent activity. In total 15 Tree Farms were selected for review in 2024, spread from the Berkshires to the Atlantic coast.
After NSF foresters reviewed management plans, timber harvest plans and other documents for the 15 Tree Farms, they then visited each Tree Farm in May, talking with the landowners and their foresters about their woods and seeing how each property was managed on the ground. Each of the participating Tree Farms were found to comply with all 8 ATFS Standards
“The Tree Farm assessment once again showed that Massachusetts Tree Farms meet all national standards for sustainable forest management, said Gregory Cox who administers the Massachusetts Tree Farm program. “The assessments visits showed that most Tree Farmers take exceptional care in managing their land.”