Field auditing of the DNR's forest management

The DNR completed a field audit of its forest management practices and polices, as required by FSC and SFI to attain a certificate, during the fall of 2005. Scientific Certification Systems (the DNR's certification auditors), stakeholders, and DNR personnel spent two weeks traveling the state conducting the field audit. Over the course of those two weeks the DNR's auditors traveled 4,500 miles, visited 128 forest management sites, met with 112 DNR field staff, reviewed stacks of DNR forest management documents, and interviewed stakeholders across the state.

The field audit is a process where the auditors compared the DNR forest management practices and policies with the FSC and SFI standards. The auditors were looking for forest management practices and polices that met the criteria outlined in the standards and for areas that did not meet the standards. For example, does the DNR follow the Minnesota Forest Resource Council's  site-level guidelines? This requirement is a criterion in both the FSC and SFI standard.

The DNR's auditors used the data, documentation, and observations gathered during the audit to determine if the DNR's forest management met the strict standards set by FSC and SFI and ultimately, whether to award the DNR forest certification.