Are you trying to develop an FSC Group Certification Program? Or interested in learning more about how group certification works? Group certification is the leading tool for engaging family forest owners in forest certification.

These resources and case studies about group certfication provide examples and templates for FSC Group Certification for Forest Management. The Alliance is grateful to the organizations that have generously provided access to the materials they developed for their programs. If you make use of this information, please be sure to acknowledge the use of their materials. If you know of additional materials that could be included here, please contact us at info@dovetailinc.org.

1) Examples of Operation Manuals

These documents provide examples of the overarching guidance document that defines the standard operating procedures for a group certification program. Typically the manual includes guidance about landowner eligibility, management plan requirements, and record keeping protocols.

Southern Forests Network

A group certificate administered by a nonprofit organization on the behalf of landowners in Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

• Full Handbook
• Homepage for Program: http://www.southernsustainableforests.org/

Community Forestry Resource Center

A group certificate administered by a nonprofit organization on the behalf of landowners in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan.

• Umbrella Certification Handbook
• Summary Version for Landowners
• Homepage for Program: http://www.forestrycenter.org

Eastern Ontario Model Forest

A group certificate administered by a government organization on the behalf of landowners in Ontario, Canada.

• Forest Certification Policy and Procedures Manual
• A Guide to FSC Certification for Community Forests in Ontario
• Homepage for Program: http://www.eomf.on.ca/en/forest-certification-program/activity-areas/forest-certification/forest-certification-program

Vermont Family Forests

A group certificate administered by a landowner association on the behalf of its member landowners in Vermont.

• Landowner's Guide to Vermont Family Forests Certification
• Homepage for Program: http://www.familyforests.org

Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands

FSC Group Certification Program Documentation

• Group Certification Manual
• Harvest Plan Template (Maine Master Logger Certification Program)
• Landowner Agreement Letter
• Harvest Site Visit Monitoring Form
• Pesticide Use Policy

Documents are available upon request from rndriver@megalink.net

Aitkin County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)

A group certificate administered by a local government agency in North-Central Minnesota on the behalf of landowners in the county.

• Aitkin SWCD FSC Group Certification Handbook
• For more information about the project, click here.

2) Examples of Management Plans

These documents provide examples of management plan templates that have been designed to address certification requirements. Note: Templates may also be included in the Operations Manuals.

Southern Forests Network

• Simple Management Plan Template for properties less than 1000 hectares in size
• Detailed Management Plan Template for larger properties and interested landowners

Community Forestry Resource Center

• Umbrella Certification System - Management Plan Review Checklist

New England Forestry Foundation

• Regional Forest Management Plan for Fee Ownership in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut

3) Guidance Documents and Policies

These documents provide information about FSC's group certification requirements and the relevant policies.

• Group Certification for Forests – A Practical Guide, ProForest 2002
• Group Certification for Forests – The Model Documents, ProForest 2002
• FSC Forest Management Group Certification Guidebook, Rainforest Alliance 2005, TREES Program
• Group Certification Options: Costs and Benefits, Water Smith, Rainforest Alliance 2002
• SmartWood Summary for FSC Forest Management Group Certification, Rainforest Alliance, 2005
• FSC-STD-01-003 V1-0 EN SLIMF Eligibility Criteria
• FSC-STD-01-003a SLIMF Eligibility Criteria Addendum 2006-02-16
• FSC-POL-20-001 EN Group Certification - Guidelines for CBs (1998)
• FSC SLIMF Initiative (Small and Low Intensity Managed Forests)

4) Case Studies

These case studies provide examples of certification experiences.

• FSC's Case Studies
• Community Forestry Resource Center Promotes Responsible Management (pdf, 452 kb)
• Headwaters Forestry Cooperative Offers Benefits for Family Forest Owners (pdf, 532 kb)
• Northwoods Forestry Cooperative Offers Responsible Forest Management Opportunities (pdf, 860 kb)
• FSC in the Northern Appalachians, Constance L. McDermott, Yale Program on Forest Policy & Governance