Group certification
The concept of FSC group certification was developed to provide easy, low-cost and equitable access to certification for owners of small forest holdings.
The group certification process does not certify each forest holding individually, but establishes a group of certifiable forest operations. Members of such a group share certification logistics and costs.
Less costly and less work
For forest owners participating in such a group scheme, certification is far less costly and less work intensive than individual certification.
Any voluntary group of forest owners, a forest owners' association, a forestry organisation or a forest management co-operative can serve as a suitable structure for group certification.
Existing certification groups also use the group successfully for joint marketing of their FSC certified forest products.
Useful information:
- Group Certification for Forests: A Practical Guide (2002; PDF format)
A practical guide aimed at anyone wishing to set up a group certification scheme compatible with the requirements of the FSC.
Portuguese version - Group Certification for Forests: The Model Documents (2002)
Templates for procedures and other documents needed to develop a group certification scheme available as Word documents
- Group Certification information from FSC British Columbia
Guidelines for Certification Bodies.
- Effectiveness of FSC Group Certification (PDF format)
A Study of the Accessibility of the Forest Stewardship Council Group Certification Scheme to small forest holdings in Western Europe. Karin Beland Lindahl and Michael Garforth 2000.
After a good year's time, we can say that FSC certification has been worthwhile for forest owners from an economic point of view alone. In fact, marketing opportunities for owners of certified forests have improved. On average, forest operations in Rhineland-Palatinate make five to fifteen percent better profits with FSC wood. This more than covers certification costs. 
Dr Thomas Ratz
