The Group Management Manual sets out guidelines for the Management of a Group for Forest Certification purposes.

Following the completion of this pilot project, documents used for the group certification project will be available on request for those wishing to set up a forest certification group.

Disclaimer: All templates and documents developed for this project were designed for use with the Irish certification standards valid at the time of the project. The templates featured in the Group Management Manual may require updating to ensure compliance with changes that came into effect after this project was completed. No liability will be accepted by DAFM or the project partners for the supply or use of these templates and documents. Forest owners are advised to get independent advice in relation to forest certification.

The Group Management Manual consists of the following documents:

Doc.00a Glossary 
Doc.01 Group Rules - document setting out specific requirements members of the group have to comply with as defined by the forest certification standard.  
Doc.02 Consent Form - membership application form and consent form in which group members agree to comply with Group Rules and agree to pay an annual membership fee for a minimum of 5 years.
Doc.03 Group Member Register  - Record of details of group members and their forest holdings.
Doc.04 Group Corrective Action Request (CAR) Record - List of Corrective Action Requests identified for the group that have to be addressed following pre-assessment visit or audit.
Doc.05 Group Member Training - a speadsheet for recording training undergone by group members.
Doc.06 Group Personnel Training Record - Record of training certs and qualifications.
Doc.07 Forest Data - Record of details of member forests within the group.
Doc.08 Audit Checklist - checklist used by Auditor and Group Manager when inspecting member forests as part of an Audit or pre-assessment visit.
Doc.09a Audit Plan - typical letter prior to audit detailing audit date, time and place. 
Doc.09b Audit Report - List of findings (Non-Conformities (NCs) and Observations identified at Audit with CARs.
Doc.10a Membership Decision Record - Form used by Auditor to decide on acceptance of member to Group.
Doc.10b Confirmation of Membership - Copy of a typical confirmation letter when accepted to group.
Doc.11 Suspension/Withdrawal Notification - where member is in breach of group rules and certification standard.
Doc.12 Complaint Record - record of any complaints received and how they were dealt with.
Doc.13a Stakeholder List - List of National and Local stakeholders to be circulated with Stakeholder Consultation details.
Doc.13b Stakeholder Site Notice *) - Example of a typical Site Notice to be placed at forest entrances at time of Stakeholder Consultation.
Doc.13c Stakeholder Briefing Information - Short note explaining when and for what time period Stakeholder Consultation will be undertaken throughout the forest certification process. 
Doc.14 Sales Information and Trademark Use - Information on the use of Trademarks. The use of trademarks is very specific for each forest certification scheme. For more information see www.fsc.org and www.pefc.org
Doc.15 Company Structure & Roles  (see also Group Structure)
Doc.16 Annual Monitoring Report - record of activities over past 12 months, any changes to FMP, incidents, etc and planned activities for next 12 months.
Doc.17 Certification Process Flow (see also Group Certification Process)
Doc.18 Documentary Requirements for Forest Certification in Ireland 

*) Guidance on Placement of Site notices, can be found in the Forest Service Circular 15/2017 Placement of Site Notices 

Additional Resources relating to Group Certification:

For additional information on forest management certification for groups as defined by the forest certification schemes, see www.fsc.org and www.pefc.org 

In addition to the two manuals that were developed as part of the pilot project, a range of resource materials is available online.

 Forest Service Guidelines

Forest Service Guidelines should be adhered to for any forestry operation and can be found on the  Forest Service, DAFM website 

See Forest Service Environmental Information & Guidelines

Forest Service regularly updates Registered Foresters and Contractors with additional information on forestry schemes, see Forest Service Scheme Circulars

Forestry Standards Manual (2015)

Code of Best Practice, Ireland

 Forestry Act, 2014

The Forestry Act, 2014 came into force 24th May 2017, for more information, 
see Circular 08 - 2017 Commencement Forestry Act, 2014

see also 'Forestry and the Law' on the Department website

and 'Forestry Act 2014' on the Teagasc website

 Thinning and Felling Practices 

A good source of information in this regard is http://www.forestry.ie/information-links/thinning-felling-information

See also New Tree Felling Requirements Information Note, 09/06/2017

 Health & Safety Guidelines

Health & Safety Guidelines can be found on the Health & Safely Authority (HSA) Website, for example:

• Lone Workers Policy
• Guide to Safe Working with Timber and Chainsaws
• Information on the Health and Safety responsibilities of Forest Land Owners and Managers who intend to fell their trees (Information Sheet)
• Code of Practice for Managing Safety & Health in Forestry Operations
• Guidelines on First Aid at Places of Work

 Site Safety Guides

Information on Site Safety Guides can be found on the FISA Website

A comprehensive list is also appended to Doc.05 Group Member Training

Health and Safety Authority - Irish Forestry Safety Guides (IFSG)  A suite of Safety Guides modified for Irish use by kind permission of FISA, including:

• IFSG 301 - Using Petrol Driven Chainsaws
• IFSG 302 - Basic Chainsaw Fellling and Manual Takedown
• IFSG 303 - Chainsaw Snedding
• IFSG 304 - Chainsaw Cross Cutting and Manual Stacking
• IFSG 306 - Chainsaw Clearance and Windblow
• IFSG 307 - Chainsaw Felling of Large Trees
• IFSG 503 - Extraction by Forwarder
• IFSG 603 - Mechanical Harvesting
• IFSG 804 - Electricity at Work: Forestry
• IFSG FC1 - Health & Safety Guidance for Forestry Work Manager in Selecting & Monitoring Contractors

 Plant Health, Habitats & Biodiversity

A good source of information in this regard is www.forestry.ie

See http://www.forestry.ie/information-links/pests-diseases
and http://www.forestry.ie/information-links/invasive-species

See also invasivespeciesireland.com 
and the National Biodiversity Data Centre  (www.biodiversityireland.ie) 

For Habitat classification, see A Guide to Habitats in Ireland - by Julie A. Fossitt

 High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF)

Sources to assist in the identification of HCVF:

• High Conservation Value Forest Toolkit
• Part 1 The High Conservation Value Forest Toolkit, 2003
• Part 2: Defining High Conservation Values at a national level: a practical guide
• Part 3: Identifying and managing High Conservation Values Forests: a guide for forest managers

Protected sites in Ireland:

• National Parks & Wildlife Service - The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the designation of conservation sites in Ireland

Chemical Control

• For List of 'highly hazardous' pesticides, see www.fsc.org
• Integrated Pest Management Stategy (Tem. 6.6a)
• 7 STEPS: GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS
• Guidance Notes on Integrated Pest Management For Use On Irish Farms
• Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD) 
• Information for Pesticide Users/Sprayers
• Plant Protection Products Book (2018)
• National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (February 2019)
• Farm Hazardous Waste Collection Centres - October/November 2017
• All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Roading

• COFORD Forest Road Manual (2004)
• DAFM - Forest Road Scheme (2014-2020)

Timber Transport

• Round Timber Transport - Guidelines for Hauliers and Drivers (Forest Industry Transport Group, July 2017)
• Safe Load Securing of Round Timber (HSA)
• Managing Timber Transport Good Practice Guide (2014)
• Loading Timber from Roadside Forests - Good Practice 2016 (Timber Transport Forum)
• Road Haulage of Round Timber Code of Practice (Irish Forest Industry Chain) 

Other Useful Information Links:

• www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice - Forest Service
• www.archaeology.ie - Archaeological Survey of Ireland
• www.coford.ie - the Programme of Competitive Forestry Research for Development
• www.coford.ie/publications/cofordconnects - Practical Research Information Notes with an emphasis on practical recommendations
• www.deeralliance.ie - Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP)
• www.epa.ie - Environmental Protection Agency
• Fire Weather Index - Met Eireann Fire Weather Forecasts
• www.gov.uk/topic/environmental-management/forestry - Tree Pests & Diseases (UK)
• www.forestryengland.uk - Managing Public Safety on Harvesting Sites
• www.forestryengland.uk - Management of Goalposts
• www.forestry.ie - Forestry portal for the Irish forest industry
• www.forestry.ie/forest-industry-links - A range of links to various industry bodies and publications
• www.forestry.ie/directory - Online Directory of forestry and timber services in Ireland
• www.fsc.org
• www.hsa.ie - Health & Safety Authority
• www.itga.ie - Irish Timber Growers Association providing information and representation services to forest owners for over 40 years
• www.met.ie - Met Eireann weather forecasts for Ireland
• www.npws.ie - National Parks & Wildlife Service
• www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie- Pesticides Registration & Control Division, DAFM
• www.pefc.ie 
• www.pefc.org 
• www.teagasc.ie - Forestry Development Department providing advice, training and research on farm forestry
• www.ukfisa.com - Forest Industry Safety Accord - Safety Library
• www.ukfisa.com - Forest Industry Safety Accord - Safety Library - Forestry Safety Signs