Atlantic Master Logger Certification Process

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Under the auspices of the current mission and mandate of the Canadian Woodlands Forum (CWF), one of the fundamental goals of the CWF is to support contractors and operators by promoting professionalism and best management practices.

Programs offered by the CWF support such a mission and the stated goal; programs such as Contractor of the Year, Log-a-Load for Kids, Business Management, the Logging Operations Group meetings, the machine operator training advisory committee, the continuing education credits that are promoted with each of our workshops, all of which focus on fostering efficiency, quality and professionalism.

Over the last four to five years, the CWF has pondered the need to establish an industry standard for independent contractors through a logger certification program for the Atlantic Canada region. At the spring 2004 Board of Directors meeting, the Board endorsed the concept of a logger certification program and agreed to further investigate the feasibility of developing and offering professional recognition through a contractors’ certification program.

The Master Logger program developed by the Professional Logging Contractors has been chosen as the model for developing a logger certification program for the Atlantic Canada region. The Master Logger program has gained momentum across the U.S. and has been endorsed by paper buyers, such as TI Paperco, as a sustainable fibre source from non-industrial private land in Maine.

This program summary outlines a program developed in response to the CWF’s commitments, called the Atlantic Master Logger Certification Program (AMLCP). The program and its concepts described in this document have been endorsed for use by the CWF Board of Directors.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the AMLCP are summarized as follows:

1. To provide a third-party verification process for acknowledging the sustainable practices of harvesting contractors in Atlantic Canada.
2. To provide the general public a degree of assurance and confidence in the knowledge, skill, proficiency and competency of professional contractors recognize under the program.
3. To establish and provide a universally accepted regional standard for wood harvesting companies.
4. To provide a degree of confidence and accountability with the companies that a quality job is being done, thus reducing the level of supervision required.
5. To promote professionalism and foster personal development among the logging sector by improving the knowledge, skills, proficiency and competency of the professional contractor.
6. To provide the contractor with an opportunity to improve the profitability of their logging business by qualifying for potential benefits and cost savings on business expenses such as (but not limited to) workers’ compensation and equipment insurance premiums.
7. To instill a sense of pride among the logging profession through professional recognition, thus fostering greater activism with the general public.
8. To serve as a mechanism for public awareness and outreach for forest certification schemes, e.g., SFI, CSA, and FSC.
9. To contribute to the success and growth of the Canadian Woodlands Forum.

Program Organization Structure

The AMLCP is administered as a program of the CWF. The Board of Directors of the CWF has approved the program for implementation and endorsed its use as a service of the CWF.

A Program Ambassador has been appointed who will promote and administer the program. This person coordinates and facilitates the application process, including:

• public relations and marketing of the program;
• sending out information packages to interested contractors;
• organizing prequalification interviews with contractors;
• arranging field verifications;
• preparation of applications;
• facilitation of application review and certification;
• administration of certificates and program fiscal requirements;
• chair of Advisory Committee;
• preparation of and presentation of annual reports to the CWF Board of Directors
• other activities deemed necessary by the various program contributors.

In keeping with the structure of the Maine program, Certification Boards have been established in each province, made up of volunteers who are interested in and affected by the success and integrity of the AMLCP. Prince Edward Island does not have a separate board. Instead, there are PEI representatives on the Nova Scotia board (8 to 12 members). New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador have separate boards (8 members).

The primary role of the Certification Board is to objectively review certification applications and render a decision. To ensure a balanced approach, there will be representation on the board from:

• logger;
• industry representative;
• conservation organization;
• tourism / recreation;
• woodlot owner;
• academia; and,
• government.

Applications to be reviewed by the board are coded ensuring the objectivity of the board. Unlike the Maine program, however, there is no representation on the board from outside each province, so the anonymity of the application will be essential.

A secondary role of the certification board is to react to changes in regulatory requirements and acceptable industry practices in each province. These changes will need to be interpreted and considered for amendment of program requirements. Changes will be recommended but not approved at the certification board level.

Overseeing the provincial certification boards, is an Advisory Board, consisting of a representative of each provincial board and the CWF Program Ambassador. The Advisory Board is considered essential to maintaining a standardized approach to logger certification in each province. It is recognized that there may be legal requirements that dictate differences in the requirements of a logging contractor operating in each province. This will impose provincial differences in the sustainable harvest criteria (harvest responsibilities in the Maine MLCP). The role of the Advisory Board will be to review and approve proposed changes and ensure there is consistency between regions. The members are also responsible for the review and endorsement of training providers and training programs that meet the requirements of the Performance Standard.

Figure 1. Atlantic Master Logger Certification Program Organization

The final and most important party in the certification process is the logger. To be eligible for certification, a logging contractor must meet the following criteria:

• Sole proprietor or incorporated company whose primary income is from forestry activities and is involved in harvesting; and,
• Meet training requirements of the program, including approved BMP training and mandatory training required by legislation (e.g., OH&S, WHMIS, TDG, First Aid).

If an Atlantic Master Logger contracts harvesting operations to other companies or owner/operators as an extension of their own harvest operations, these operators should be considered equivalent to the company’s employees from the standpoint of meeting the requirements of the performance standard. Forest products harvested under these circumstances can be included within the definition of products harvested by an AML provided all these requirements are met. Wood procured by an AML, but not harvested by an AML, or as part of their harvest operations, is not eligible

There is no residency requirement for program eligibility. If a contractor based outside the Atlantic region wishes to become certified to the AMLCP, they will be advised that their harvesting operations in other areas may be checked as part of the field verification process. Similarly, contractors based in Atlantic Canada operating outside the region may be checked as well.

Certification Process

The process for certification of logger contractors will proceed as follows.

Step 1 - Prequalification

An interested harvesting company will contact the CWF expressing interest in the program. The Program Ambassador will prepare an information package and forward it to the contractor for consideration. Part of the package will be a company profile sheet that the contractor will be asked to complete and return to the CWF. This sheet will be an initial screening to determine if the contractor is eligible for the program.

The prequalification process continues with the scheduling of an interview with the contractor. The Program Ambassador, or his/her designate, will conduct an on-site interview with the contractor. The interview will include the completion of a more detailed company profile, a review of performance standards and program expectations, the identification of at least ten harvest sites and professional references. The interviewer documents the interview as the Section One of the program application. The interviewer will then follow up by documenting the reference checks, including checks on regulatory compliance. The application will be assigned a code to establish anonymity by the Program Ambassador.

Step 2 - Field Verification

Two qualified field verifiers will be assigned to the application file. Working independently, they will contact the contractor to arrange for site visits to a sample of the harvest sites identified in Step 1. The contractor will be responsible to arrange for access to the site with the land owner or manager. Each field verifier will complete a site checklist for each site visited and summarizing report. The reports and supporting checklists will be forwarded to the Program Ambassador who will include them as the Section Two of the application.

Step 3 - Application Submission

The Program Ambassador will forward a copy of Sections One and Two of the application to the contractor for review. If the contractor disagrees with any part of the application, their comments will be required to be documented for inclusion with the application. The contractor will sign a Code of Ethics and a release form that indicates their desire to submit the application to the Certification Board. Section Three of the application will include comments and corrections from the contractor and the signed forms.

Step 4 - Application Review

The contractor’s application is copied and sent to each member of the Certification Board representing the province of residence of the contractor. Each application is identified only by code number, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the application. The Program Ambassador will then schedule a meeting of the board to review the applications ready for consideration within that timeframe. It is anticipated that applications will be reviewed two or three times per year, depending on volume. The Certification Board meeting, facilitated by the Program Ambassador, will systematically review and render a decision on each application. Field verifiers will be present at the meeting to provide clarification if asked, but not to contribute to decision making.

Three outcomes are possible:

• the application is accepted;
• the application is rejected; or,
• a decision cannot be made and a request for more information is made.

When an application is accepted, there may be some weaknesses in the applicant’s performance identified. There will be an expectation that corrective action will be taken by the applicant within a specified timeframe, which may be verified depending on the nature of the weakness and / or corrective action.

To reject an application, there must be evidence that the fundamental goals of the program are not being maintained. This may be the failure to meet a harvest responsibility, deliberate legal non-compliance, or other significant weaknesses in the applicant’s performance.

Depending on the outcome, an additional field verifier may be requested to conduct more harvest site inspections, or the contractor may be asked to clarify questions or provide more information.

The board decision will be based on a consensus process.

The contractor is notified by the Program Ambassador of the decision of the Certification Board. If weaknesses in the application were identified by the Board, the contractor is made aware of the requirement to address these weaknesses.

Step 5 - Certification

Depending on the outcome of the application review by the Certification Board, the contractor may be granted certification. This certification will be for a period of three years. After notification by the Program Ambassador, a certification package will be sent to the contractor. This package will include instructions for operating as a Certified Atlantic Master Logger, administrative documents, and promotional material for use by the contractor. A document describing the conditions for use the AMLCP logo will be included.

A random site visit will be scheduled during the three-year certification period. A field verifier will be appointed who will contact the contractor and request a visit to the harvest operation underway at that particular time. If problems are found during the site visit, the contractor will be notified in writing and requested to address the nonconformities. A follow-up site visit will then be scheduled.

Step 6 - Re-certification

Three months before the certification expiry date, the contractor will be contacted by the Program Ambassador, who will initiate the re-certification process. This process will involve a short on-site interview and several harvest site visits by one field verifier. A re-certification application will be prepared for review and approval by the Certification Board. Outcomes of this review will be addressed in accordance with Step 4 and 5.
Program Documentation

The following documentation describes the AMLCP and establishes such requirements as harvest standards, program administration and roles and responsibilities. They include:

Vision and Principles
Certified Atlantic Master Loggers are expected to implement and achieve this vision and supporting principles for responsible and sustainable harvesting practices.

Performance Standard
In order to provide logging companies with a definitive, measurable means of achieving certification, AMLCP has established nine goals, the end to which all efforts of harvesting are directed. The goals are further defined by harvest responsibilities, each with their own set of performance indicators. These indicators, when met, enable a company to achieve the eight goals and earn AML certification.

Harvest Integrity System
Certified Atlantic Master Loggers are expected to document the activities associated with harvest contracts. This documentation shall include:

• Harvest Plan (used where landowner does not have a forest management plan)
• Timber Harvesting Agreement (written agreement between contractor and landowner)
• Harvest Check Sheet (a pre- and post-harvest check sheet that ensures requirements of performance standard were considered)
• Harvest Summary (final summary of harvest results – shared with landowner)

Field Verifier Documentation
A key role in the certification of Atlantic Master Loggers is the field verifier. These individuals must have the necessary training and experience to assess contractor performance in the field and contribute to the decision regarding certification. Documentation to support the qualification of field verifiers include:

• Qualification Procedure
• Application Form
• Performance Assessment