Version:09-02-2008
Forest Management
Special Certification Models
Contents
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Group Certification
2
SLIMF Certification
3
NTFP Certification
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Group Certification
Multi-landowner/manager
certificate
• One certificate is issued to
group entity
• Sub certificates assigned to
group members
Greater Access to
certification
• Lower cost per member
• Expandable certificate
4
Key Terms
Group Manager:
Applies for certification, holds certificate, responsible for FSC standards
being followed by the group
Group Members:
Forest owners or clients whose FMU(s) are certified under the group
certificate
Certificate Scope:
Defined Set of Certified Land covered by the group certificate
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Some Key Assumptions…
All group members shall
conform to the FSC
certification standards
The Group Manager is
responsible for
ensuring compliance
by all members
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Group Certification Models
CERTIFIED GROUP ENTITY
Consulting Forester
Forest Management Company
Forest Products Company
GROUP MEMBER
GROUP MEMBER
GROUP MEMBER
Individual private
landowner
(working with Group
Entity forester)
Timberland
investment company
(working with Group
Entity forester)
Local government
agency or board
(working with Group
Entity forester)
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Group Certification Models
CERTIFIED GROUP ENTITY
Community Forest Association
Cooperative
Non-profit
GROUP MEMBER
GROUP MEMBER
GROUP MEMBER
Municipality
Government owned
land
Uses own forestry staff
Community forest
Government-owned
land
Uses group entity
forestry staff
Private landowner
Uses group entity
forestry staff or
consulting forester
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Key management differnces
Landowners’ or producers’ association
or cooperative
• All members use same management
system
• Membership maintains operational
control
• Membership ensures standards are
followed
Forest manager is certified
• Manages properties under different
ownerships
• Must maintain management control of
operations and ensure standards met
Warning:
If certifiable perfomance on ONE FMU fails, then
ALL certified forests in the group could lose their certified status.
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Group Certification Requirements
10
Additional Standards for Group Manager
Group manager is “legal
entity”
Group manager has
sufficient legal and
management authority
Qualified Staff
Forest Management
System
Administrative Oversight
Contact Person
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Additional Standards for Group Certification
Defined Pool of member FMUs
Signed consent forms from
participating members
Disclosure of forests not included
in the pool (partial certification
policy)
Documented Member
Requirements
Documented Member & Manager
responsibilities
Group Monitoring Procedures
Record keeping of group
management documents and
activities
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Group Assessment Process
An addition to FM Certification Process
• Scope (certified pool)
•
•
•
Sample size
Sample stratification
Performance levels within
group
• Internal monitoring by
RM/Group
• Assessing group function
and stability
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Assessment Sampling
Less than 100 Members:
1/3 of properties must be
visited by an auditor
More than 100 Members:
No Fixed percentage
Assessment team must
determine (and justify) the
# of sites visited in report
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Assessment and Audit Stratification
Sampling levels must be based on a justified stratification:
Geographic homogeneity
(e.g. forest type)
Management
homogeneity (e.g. silvicultural
systems, management systems,
personnel involved in management)
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Audit & Reassessment Sampling
During annual surveillance audits & reassessments the
number of FMUs visited must be at least half the number
visited during the initial assessment.
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SLIMF
S mall...(or)
L ow
I ntensity
M anaged
F orests
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SLIMF - KEY FEATURES
Certification is more
accessible & affordable
for smaller operations
Streamlined Procedures
Reduced Audit Intensity
Less Cost
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SLIMF classification
SLIMF classification
International maximum
threshold
Small Forest Management
Units
Area < 1000ha
Low Intensity Forest
Management Units
Rate of harvesting:
• less than 20% of the mean
annual increment
• less than 5000 cubic meters
(or less than 5000 m3 / year )
Groups of SLIMF
All group members are either
‘small forests’ or ‘low intensity
forest management units'.
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NTFP
Non Timber Forest Products
All forest products except timber, including other
materials obtained from trees such as resin and
leaves, as well as any other plant or animal
products.
FSC-STD-01-002, FSC Glossary of terms, July 2004
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NTFP - Evaluation
When does management of NTFP need to be evaluated?
ALWAYS
Auditors must take into account the potential
impacts of the harvesting or collection of NTFPs as
part of the normal evaluation for compliance of FME
with the applicable Forest Stewardship Standard…….
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THANK YOU!
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