A logger, a consulting forester, an auditor and DNR staff discussing an active timber harvest. Photo Credit: Allen King

Each year, the MFL Certified Group participates in two audits – one internal and one external – to maintain forest certification status and continually improve as a forest management organization. The internal audit, as the name would suggest, is conducted internally by DNR staff. The external audit is when a team of third-party auditors visits Wisconsin to evaluate the MFL Certified Group to American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) requirements.

Highlights From The Internal Audit

The internal audit took place on April 29 and 30 and included site visits to 40 certified MFL properties in Ashland, Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Sawyer, Trempealeau and Washburn counties within the Northwest Tax Law Team. The internal audit showcased a lot of superb forest management and several other positive outcomes, including:

• High level of landowner satisfaction with the MFL program and local MFL staff.
• Investment in landowners, loggers and consulting foresters both through one-on-one engagement and larger efforts such as mandatory practice workshops.
• Commitment to improving understanding and consistency through peer-to-peer check-ins and consulting with subject matter experts such as the DNR forest hydrologist and silviculturists.

The internal audit team also observed three instances where post-harvest road construction best management practices were absent or not fully implemented. None of these instances, however, generated any negative on-the-ground impacts. One instance of failed regeneration was also observed. All four of these findings are being addressed locally between landowners and Tax Law staff.

The discussions and corrective actions that occur during and after these internal audits contribute to shared understanding and improved implementation of forest certification among the DNR staff, landowners and external partners that play a role in the MFL Certified Group.

Highlights From The External Audit

During the week of Aug.12, a team of three third-party forest certification auditors visited 61 sites in Crawford, Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Vernon and Waushara counties within the South Tax Law Team. Over the course of three days of site visits, the team saw the wide variety of landscapes, forest types and challenges commonly encountered in the southern third of the state.

The audit team was impressed with the forest management they witnessed and the effective operations of the MFL program. Likewise, they recommended continued forest certification for the MFL Certified Group. These three external auditors bring a wealth of experience from across the globe, so it is a testament that the MFL Certified Group stacks up with the best of them on national and international scales.

Nonetheless, there was one single finding requiring corrective action. A recently hired Tax Law Forestry Specialist had expired ATFS inspector training, which is a requirement for staff that perform monitoring duties on certified Tree Farms. After hiring but prior to the audit, new onboarding procedures were introduced that caught this training requirement when bringing on new Tax Law personnel. The Tax Law Forestry Specialist was also able to quickly obtain the necessary training.

The Tax Law section extends a huge thank you to all the landowners, foresters, loggers and buyers who participate in these audits and MFL forest certification more broadly. In particular, we are continually impressed by the landowners who choose to manage their properties to the rigorous standards of forest certification despite the additional requirements for this voluntary program.