After completion of the certification process, public forest land managers should provide information to the public explaining the certification process, the role of auditors, and how the public can provide continuing input during subsequent auditing. SmartWood can assist in producing such information, and must review such documents prior to public distribution. During the assessment, auditors meet with many different parties in order to understand the management dynamics in the forest, get perspectives on management objectives, ensure understanding of the certification process, clarify avenues for channeling concerns during and after the certification assessment and explain how auditing works if an operation is certified. This stratification assists auditors in planning the field part of the assessment. Then, based on regional and international experience, the auditors select a series of variables, or strata, that typically reflect on the quality of forest management.
Auditors conduct field work on a cross-section of units, ensuring ample coverage across all strata.
Strata included vary with the region and nature of the certification. In smaller forestry operations, draft animals are often used instead of trucks or human labor. Conclusion SmartWood seeks input in relation to certification initiatives on public lands. Though SmartWood has gained valuable experience in public lands certification, new perspectives and techniques are always needed.