Tree Farmer
The American Tree Farm System is a nonprofit forest certification program run by the American Forest Foundation, certifying sustainable management of small private and community forests (10-10,000 acres) across all 50 U.S. states under PEFC endorsement. It serves family forest landowners through state volunteer programs and forest products companies via a subscription Verification Database.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1941
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Tree Farmer does
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a nonprofit forest certification and recognition program established in 1941, currently operated as a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a 501(c)-style entity headquartered at 2000 M Street NW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. ATFS certifies sustainable management of small private and community forests with eligible holdings between 10 and 10,000 acres, maintaining a presence across all 50 states under uniform national standards. Its core technical infrastructure consists of the ATFS Database (used for inspector credentialing, virtual training, landowner enrollment, and certificate generation) and the ATFS Verification Database (a subscription-based system used by mills, manufacturers, log buyers, and consulting firms to verify certification status of sourcing properties), supplemented by the Landscape Management Plans service that uses large-scale geodata sets for regional conformance, the My Land Plan landowner planning platform, the WoodsCamp services platform with partner CRM, and The Family Forest online community.
ATFS serves two primary customer segments. The first is the long tail of family and individual forest landowners, who enroll free of charge through state Tree Farm programs, receive written management plans, gain access to forester consultations, and earn stewardship recognition through state, regional, and national awards. The second is the forest products industry supply chain — mills, manufacturers, log buyers, and consulting firms — that subscribe to the Verification Database at tiered annual rates of $500 (consulting firms and log buyers), $600 (single mill/facility), $1,100 (two facilities), and $1,750 (three or more facilities) to support third-party verified sustainability claims. Distribution is overwhelmingly community-led through 40 volunteer-based state Tree Farm programs supported by state forestry agencies and conservation partners, with a grassroots event-driven engagement model anchored by the National Leadership Conference and the Outstanding Tree Farmer / Inspector / National Leadership Award programs. PEFC international endorsement, received in 2008, provides globally recognized certification credibility and unlocks international market access for certified forest products, while AFF donations and grants remain the primary funding base for program operations, which are staffed by approximately three national ATFS personnel.
Tree Farmer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tree Farmer
- Legal name
- American Forest Foundation
- Website
- https://treefarmsystem.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1941
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The American Tree Farm System is a nonprofit forest certification program run by the American Forest Foundation, certifying sustainable management of small private and community forests (10-10,000 acres) across all 50 U.S. states under PEFC endorsement. It serves family forest landowners through state volunteer programs and forest products companies via a subscription Verification Database.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tree Farmer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Certification and Stewardship
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forest Management Unit (FMU) Certification (FSC/PEFC/SFI) (AFAMALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Controlled Wood / Due Diligence / Risk Assessment Services (AFAMALAC)
Keywords
Where Tree Farmer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tree Farmer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Verification Database Subscriptions: Subscription-based revenue from mills, manufacturers, and consulting firms accessing the ATFS Verification Database to verify certification status of sourcing properties. Annual subscriptions with automatic renewal.
- Donations and Foundation Support: ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation (nonprofit). Primary funding comes from AFF's mission-driven donations and grants. Gifts support family forest conservation programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Consulting firms and log buyers |
| Subscription | Annual | Single mill or manufacturing facility |
| Subscription | Annual | Two mills or manufacturing facilities |
| Subscription | Annual | Multiple facilities (3 or more) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tree Farmer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tree Farmer (American Tree Farm System) operates a third-party forest management certification and recognition program for family and community forest owners holding 10 to 10,000 forested acres, delivering internationally PEFC-endorsed certificates, the green-and-white Certified Tree Farmer sign, and access to state-program support. It also sells subscription access to the ATFS Verification Database for mills, manufacturers, log buyers, and consulting firms to verify certification status of sourcing properties, and supports affiliated online tools (My Land Plan, WoodsCamp, The Family Forest) for landowner planning, services matching, and community engagement.
Product overview
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a certification and recognition program operated by the American Forest Foundation. The core offering is the ATFS certification program for family and community forest owners with 10 to 10,000 forested acres. Supporting platforms include My Land Plan (landowner planning tool), WoodsCamp (landowner services platform with CRM), and The Family Forest (online community). The ATFS Verification Database enables supply chain verification, while the Small Lands Module and Landscape Management Plans provide innovative certification pathways. The ecosystem also includes inspector training and sign ordering services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- American Tree Farm System (ATFS) Certification
Quantifiable outcome
- Third-party certification of sustainable forest management for supply chain claims
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tree Farmer
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tree Farmer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Tree Farmer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)corePEFC international endorsement in 2008 validated ATFS as meeting global sustainability standards. ATFS certification is recognized internationally through this partnership, enabling certified forest products to access global markets.
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)coreSFI and American Forest Foundation work in partnership to offer the Small Lands Module, allowing companies certified to SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard to form groups to certify small lands to ATFS in the U.S. and to SFI in Canada.
- American Forest FoundationcoreAFF is the national governing body and nonprofit arm of ATFS, chartered in 1981 to perform educational, scientific, and charitable activities. AFF runs North America's largest forest certification program for small private and community lands.
- State Forestry AgenciesmajorPublic sector partners supporting state Tree Farm programs with staffing, resources, and technical expertise for landowner enrollment and forest management assistance.
- Conservation OrganizationsmajorPartners working with state Tree Farm programs to support landowner enrollment, conservation education, and forest stewardship programs.
- Voss SignsminorPreferred vendor for Tree Farm and Family Forest sign production. State programs work directly with Voss to purchase bulk orders at negotiated pricing with AFF approval.
- Raise the Bar DesignsminorPreferred provider of promotional items managed by a Tree Farm family in Washington. State programs can use Tree Farm and Family Forest logos to purchase supplies from this vendor in compliance with logo use policy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tree Farmer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land is a conservation nonprofit working on land conservation and public access. While its focus on conservation easements and land acquisition differs from ATFS's certification model, it engages with private forest landowners on stewardship decisions and competes for the same donor/grant funding pool.
- Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a large environmental nonprofit that engages in forest conservation, stewardship programs, and landowner partnerships. While it doesn't run a competing certification standard, it operates in adjacent conservation space and partners with state forestry agencies in ways that overlap with ATFS's state-program ecosystem.
- SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is an accredited third-party certification body that performs audits and verification for multiple sustainability standards including forestry, carbon, and ESG claims. As a certification body rather than a standard-setter, it serves as enabling infrastructure for ATFS and competing standards like FSC and SFI.
- American Forests: American Forests is a conservation nonprofit focused on urban and rural forest restoration. It engages with family forest owners and corporate partners in adjacent space to ATFS, particularly around reforestation, carbon, and climate resilience, though it does not run a competing certification standard.
- National Association of State Foresters (NASF): NASF represents state forestry agencies that partner with and support ATFS state programs. While not a direct competitor, it shapes the institutional landscape and policy environment for forest certification, with overlapping membership and shared goals in sustainable forest management.
- Bureau Veritas Certification: Bureau Veritas is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company that audits forest management certifications and supply chain claims. It competes for the same enterprise verification and auditing spend that underpins the ATFS Verification Database, though as a multi-standard accredited body rather than a forest-specific program.
Broad incumbents
- Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance certifies forest, agricultural, and tourism operations under sustainability standards. While not exclusively forestry-focused, it competes in the broader certification market and offers forest-related certifications that overlap with ATFS for landowners seeking sustainability recognition.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): PEFC is the umbrella global alliance that endorses national certification systems including ATFS, SFI, and 40+ others. PEFC provides international credibility and mutual recognition but does not itself certify forests — it operates one level above ATFS in the certification value chain.
Direct peers
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): SFI is the leading North American forest certification standard with deep enterprise adoption. ATFS and SFI are both PEFC-endorsed and formally partner via the Small Lands Module — SFI serves large industrial forestlands while ATFS serves small private lands, making them complementary but competing for the same corporate sustainability procurement dollars.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): FSC is the most prominent global forest certification program, offering third-party certification for sustainable forest management. Like ATFS, FSC certifies forest lands through accredited bodies, but operates globally across all scales (not just small private lands) and commands stronger consumer-brand recognition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tree Farmer social profiles
Digital presenceTree Farmer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Tree Farmer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tree Farmer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Tree Farmer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tree Farmer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tree Farmer
What does Tree Farmer do?
Tree Farmer (American Tree Farm System) operates a third-party forest management certification and recognition program for family and community forest owners holding 10 to 10,000 forested acres, delivering internationally PEFC-endorsed certificates, the green-and-white Certified Tree Farmer sign, and access to state-program support. It also sells subscription access to the ATFS Verification Database for mills, manufacturers, log buyers, and consulting firms to verify certification status of sourcing properties, and supports affiliated online tools (My Land Plan, WoodsCamp, The Family Forest) for landowner planning, services matching, and community engagement.
Is Tree Farmer a public or private company?
Tree Farmer is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tree Farmer founded?
Tree Farmer was founded in 1941. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tree Farmer based?
Tree Farmer is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tree Farmer make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Verification Database Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are donations and Foundation Support.
Who are Tree Farmer's main competitors?
Others on record are Trust for Public Land, Nature Conservancy, SCS Global Services, American Forests, National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and Bureau Veritas Certification. Broad incumbents are Rainforest Alliance and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Direct peers are Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Does Tree Farmer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tree Farmer.
What industry is Tree Farmer in?
Tree Farmer's product category is Forest Certification and Stewardship. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMALAA, Forest Management Unit (FMU) Certification (FSC/PEFC/SFI), with a secondary code of AFAMALAC, Controlled Wood / Due Diligence / Risk Assessment Services. Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.