The Group Management Manual (GMM) sets out guidelines for the Management of a Group for Forest Certification purposes.
The Group Management Manual is designed to adhere to the requirements for managing a certification group as set out in International Group Certification Standards:
The below documents, which form the Group Management Manual, were successfully used as part of the group certification pilot project. These documents are available on request for those wishing to set up a forest certification group.
Disclaimer: All templates and documents developed for the group certification pilot project were designed for use with the Irish certification standards and group certification standards valid at the time of the project. Since the completion of the project both National Standards as well as the Group certification standards have undergone revision. (See the Forest Certification section of this website.) The templates featured in the Group Management Manual may therefore 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 management and forest certification.
A review and revision of templates and documents featured on this website is currently being undertaken with funding support from DAFM under the Woodland Support Projects 2021/2022 and under the Forestry Promotions Projects 2023/2024. Any new or revised documentation will be uploaded as soon as this becomes available and will contain a revision date in the document-footer. The above disclaimer includes any new or revised templates or documents developed under the Woodland Support Projects 2021/2022 and under the Forestry Promotions Projects 2023/2024.
The Group Management Manual consists of the following documents:
(Where an equivalent Template is mentioned in the Forest Management Manual (FMM), either the FMM Template or GMM Document version can be used)
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 standards and groupcertification standards.
Doc.02 Consent Form - membership application form and consent form in which group members agree to comply with Group Rules, and thereby agree to adhering to the forest certification standards, 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. [This can include full Forest Data as per Doc.07]
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, internal or external audit. Note that a new Member can only be accepted into the Group, if there are no outstanding Major Non-Conformities.
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. (Note that Doc.03 can also be used to collect Forest Data)
Doc.08 Pre-assessment Checklist - checklist used by the Group Manager when inspecting member forests as part of an Internal Audit or Pre-assessment visit.
Doc.09a Sample Audit Plan - typical letter prior to audit detailing audit date, time and place. [The Auditor generally supplies the Certificate Holder with an Audit Plan prior to an Audit.]
Doc.09b Sample Audit Report - List of findings (Non-Conformities (NCs) and Observations identified at Audit with CARs. [An Audit Report is supplied by the Auditor or Certification Body after each Audit.]
Doc.10a Membership Decision Record - Form used by Group Manager 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. (See Tem.4.1 in the FMM)
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. (See Tem.8.1 in the FMM)
Doc.17 Certification Process Flow (see also Group Certification Process)
Doc.18 Documentary Requirements for Forest Certification in Ireland
Doc.19 GDPR Statement (general)
*) Guidance on Placement of Site notices, can be found in the Forest Service Circular 15/2017 Placement of Site Notices 
and can also be found attached to the site notices, as included in Circular 17 of 2020. Amendment to Guidance on Site Notices for Afforestation and Forest Roads was published October 2023, see Circular 23 of 2023 ; a further amendment was published in September 2024, see Circular 12 of 2024
For a full list of DAFM Circulars, see Forestry Circulars on the Department Website.
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
