The Inspection Process

After you apply for certification, a professional forester who is trained as a Tree Farm Inspector will meet with you to review your forest management plan and walk your woods to verify that your property meets the required sustainability standards.

The inspection is an excellent opportunity to ask questions about managing your woodlands, get recommendations on ways to improve the health of your woods and guidance on achieving your management objectives. This time with a forester is one of the many benefits of being a member of the N.C. Tree Farm Program.

Once your Inspector finishes the site visit and reviews your management plan, the Inspector will submit a written inspection report to the N.C. Tree Farm Program with a recommendation that your property be certified. The N.C. Tree Farm Program will then complete the required documentation to certify your property.

Certified Tree Farms are re-inspected every five years to confirm that management activities continue to meet the Standards of Sustainability.