NCT FSC Group Scheme Renewal

The NCT FSC Forest Management Group entered a new five-year certificate cycle this year. This required a re-assessment audit to be completed by the certification body (CB). NCT has, in the past, used one CB for the FSC Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Certificate and another for the Forest Management Group Scheme certificate. For various reasons this aligned to the same CB for both certificates in recent years. For this and various other reasons, it was decided to use the opportunity of the start of the new cycle to separate the forest management and CoC certificates between CBs again.

The audit was conducted during the week of 26-30 August 2024 with the two auditors visiting ten members of the NCT FSC group. One auditor was based in Pietermaritzburg and audited farms in the area, while the other auditor started in Paulpietersburg and then travelled from Vryheid to Melmoth. Both auditors spent the last two days at NCT head office auditing the group procedures and records.

NCT FSC Group management also took the opportunity to re-organise the group slightly, with the NCT Tree Farming farms organised into two Regional Management Units (RMU), i.e. RMU North and RMU South. This was possible because of the uniformity of management across Tree Farming. The move of these farms to RMUs, changes the audit intensity slightly as the formula for calculating the audit sample size changes.

As a re-assessment audit, the application of all ten FSC principles were re-evaluated across the group. The group fared well during the audit with two minor corrective action requests (CARs) noted. The first CAR relates to the control of chemical usage where a discrepancy between stock and issue records at a member was noted. With the focus that FSC places on the control of chemical usage, this issue was deemed to rate a CAR. This means that members will have to ensure that their chemical store records are accurate at all times.

The second CAR was raised against the requirement that workers are supervised to ensure they implement their tasks safely and effectively. Evidence of unsafe felling techniques (from felling cuts) was found at two members. Both members demonstrated appropriate training records. As no satisfactory explanation could be found why the prescribed procedures were not followed, this led to the conclusion that the cause was a lack of supervision. To close this CAR, members will have to demonstrate that workers are adequately supervised, e.g. by documenting completed checklists. Essentially, members will have to show infield that felling cuts on stumps are correct.

On the positive side, the auditors noted several strengths across the group. These included members being very much “hands on” managers with strong management, excellent weed control and documentation. The chocking of wheels of heavy stationary vehicles was noted as well.

The commitment of the members to the NCT FSC Group and the FSC principle is a strength for which group management is grateful. This makes the audit run more smoothly and is the main reason for the high level of compliance of the group, as shown by these audit results.

By: Colin Summersgill – Certification Manager 

Source: NCT

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