| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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The Trevey is not officially related to the Forest Stewardship Council, its Standards and Principles, or with SmartWood. Its developers believe in the many advantages of forest certification and work to make it become a valuable system to enhance, expedite, and reduce the costs of that certification process as well as the suitability of land and its products for being certified "sustainable."
Standards for certifying forests as environmentally sound and sustainable are being developed for The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, membership-based organization. Since its inception in 1993, FSC has worked to promote responsible forest management and to ensure the credibility of third-party, independent forest certification. FSC does not perform certifications; rather it accredits certifiers, for example, SmartWood, and propounds global Principles and Criteria for Forest Management; a set of thresholds for environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable forest management.
The Forest Stewardship Council believes certification standards should be developed at the regional level due to the differences in ecological, social, and economic circumstances in each region. In the United States, Regional Working Groups use the global Principles and Criteria to develop regional standards that are appropriate to social, ecological, and economic conditions at regional levels. The FSC's Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern United States are for the areas of eastern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina and Virginia.
The global FSC Principles and Criteria coupled with indicators and verifiers are developed to measure compliance in a manner appropriate to the Southeast. A process has been started for harmonizing indicators and verifiers with those of the national standards. The indicators and verifiers were designed to work with the principles and criteria as a package.
The roles of principles, criteria, indicators, and verifiers are as follows:
The Trevey provides suggestions (ideas, leads, etc.) for how a landowner might demonstrate compliance with each of the Principles, Criteria, and "indicators." Extensive text within The Trevey presents (in color) explicit actions for restoring, maintaining, managing, and gaining profitable system performance. These are not repeated here but many links are provided for suggestions. Where certifiers seem to need paper texts as "the plan" then copies may be made of units of The Trevey to meet these needs. An extensive general natural resource Glossary is available. Herein, links are only for the FSC Supplementary Glossary related to the Principles and Criteria.
Compliance of a forest or land ownership with the Southeast Standards will be decided by FSC-accredited, third-party certifiers through voluntary assessments of forest management operations. It is expected that not every item in the standards will be applicable to every forest management operation.
FOREST CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
PRINCIPLE 1: COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND FSC PRINCIPLES
Forest management shall respect all applicable laws of the country in which they occur, and international treaties and agreements to which the country is a signatory, and comply with all FSC Principles and Criteria.
1.1 Forest management shall respect all national and local laws and administrative requirements.
A letter may suffice. A letter from a judicial body of the county or administrative unit may suffice. An inspection by an attorney or officer of the courts followed by a letter may be required.
1.1.a Forest management plans and operations comply with federal, state, county, municipal, and tribal laws, case law, and regulations.
Developers of The Trevey certify that this has been attempted throughout its development.
If a claim of non-compliance with the laws or requirements exists (e.g., as made by a third party), documentation that the claim has been addressed is provided.
Permits and/or authorization are obtained when required.
1.1.b Forestry operations meet or exceed the current state forest practice regulations, best management practices (BMPs) for forestry, and other protective measures for water quality that exist within the state(s) or other appropriate jurisdiction(s) in which the operations occur.
Links to texts on forestry BMPs for the region will be made.
Lists of site specific applications may be needed, at least examples of practices where representatives can be inspected.
1.1.c Forest management owners and managers share public information, provide open records, and conduct public participation procedures as required by law.
Show newspaper ( handouts from public meetings, etc.) notification of public access.
1.2 All applicable and legally prescribed fees, royalties, taxes and other charges shall be paid.
Produce letters from the county Treasurer and Better Business Bureau.
1.2.a Taxes on forestland and timber are paid in a timely manner and in accordance with state and local laws.
The landowner should produce letter from the local tax office verifying that taxes have been paid on property.
Present a letter from the local lands office showing that title to property is not jeopardized by delinquent taxes or loans.
1.3 The provisions of all binding international agreements such as CITES, ILO Conventions, ITTA and Convention on Biological Diversity, shall be respected.
Links to these agreements are made and the landowner presents a letter stating respect for and efforts to support them.
1 .3 Forest managers respect ratified international treaties and agreements of which the US is a signatory.
Present a letter stating that here is no evidence or substantial claim of non-compliance with any known relevant binding international agreements.
1.3 Conflicts between laws, regulations and the FSC Principles and Criteria shall be evaluated for the purposes of certification, on a case-by-case basis, by the certifiers and the involved or affected parties.
Rarely will this condition exist. It must be handled in a unique way.
1.3 Where a conflict between laws and the intent of the FSC Principles and Criteria exists, landowners comply with laws, while meeting the intent of the Principles and Criteria to the extent possible.
One of the most challenging criteria, the law "tops" the FSC standards. Certifiers can expect appeals when the landowner seeks redress from the courts or in in a suit over the goodness or legality of a law or regulation.
1.3 Where discrepancies between laws and FSC Principles and Criteria occur, they are referred to the appropriate FSC body.
Produce the letter and other documents submitting an appeal to the FSC and the name of its sub-unit to which the appeal has been sent.
1.4 Forest management areas should be protected from illegal harvesting, settlement, and other unauthorized activities.
Settlement, vandalism, and poaching notes are available and under development as are most parts of The Trevey.A special unit on developing and maintaining relations with neighbors is available.
1.5 Forest managers or landowners make a reasonable effort to prevent illegal and unauthorized activities in the forest management area.
Show posting of boundary and other signs , present a signing policy and pictures; present gating policy and show design of gates and rationale for each; make periodic inspections (state the schedule, time, a staff involved), and report suspected illegal or unauthorized activities to the proper authorities (name the contact(s) and phone numbers and usual procedures).
1.6 Forest managers shall demonstrate a long-term commitment to adhere to the FSC Principles and Criteria.
1.6.a Forest managers demonstrate a long-term commitment to adhere to the FSC-endorsed Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern United States.
The owner and/or manager has signed a commitment to comply with the Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern U.S. for the long-term, and has declared the intention to protect and maintain the integrity of the forest management area in the long-term.
Land is dedicated by owners to long-term forest management. Verifiers include enrollment in programs such as Stewardship Incentives Program, Forest Stewardship Program, American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, State Forest Agricultural Classification, American Tree Farm System, conservation easements, and enrollment or membership in organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council.
FSC requirements exceed those of the groups above, and so a letter and dedicated land should be sufficient. The work to join the others (as well as costs) need to be considered carefully.
1.6.b Forest owners or managers notify certifiers of changes in ownership and/or management planning.
The Trevey makes notices of major changes and releases which can be forwarded to certifiers. State that you will do so, then do it.
1.6.c If substantial non-compliance with the Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern U.S. has led to FSC de-certification of the forest in the past, it is likely that significant changes in ownership and/or management plans and activities will have been implemented to gain re-certification. A five-year track record of compliance to these standards is established prior to reassessment for certification.
Start building the record from the date of "de-certification."
PRINCIPLE #2:TENURE AND USE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Long-term tenure and use rights to the land and forest resources shall be clearly defined, documented and legally established.
2.1 Clear evidence of long-term forest use rights to the land (e.g., land title, customary rights, or lease agreements) shall be demonstrated.
2.1.a Forest owners or managers make available information on legal and customary rights associated with the forest. These rights include both those held by the party seeking certification and those held by other parties (e.g., long-term leases, timber rights, or other assured rights of ownership, management, or use).
2.1.b Land boundaries are clearly identified and maintained on the ground by the forest owner or manager.
Show signing policies and arrange a visit during field inspections.
2.2 Local communities with legal or customary tenure or use rights shall maintain control, to the extent necessary to protect their rights or resources, over forest operations unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies.
Describe unique local situations, letters, newspaper files, photographs of the site or roads, beaches, etc.)
2.2.a Customary uses of the forest by local people or the wider public that have acquired the force of law are maintained according to federal, state, and local laws.
Be sure that hunting and fishing in the past are not part of this requirement for a group of FSC certifiers. Clarify it for them and have FSC do so before any field visits are held. Most lands have such past use. Profits from most southeastern forests need to include annual hunting and fishing opportunity fees. See 2.2 below.
2.2.b Uses of the forest by local people or the wider public, which are well established but are not legal rights, are sustained at the discretion of the landowner and subject to federal, state, and local laws. Uses which are sustained are consistent with the protection of the overall forest resource and do not jeopardize the ownership of the property. Examples include: footpaths, hiking trails, bridle ways, etc.; access to areas of cultural significance (see also 4.4.a); hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation; other outdoor activities appropriate to the forest environment.
Some activities may be precluded and/or may be allowed only on a limited access or exclusive access basis (e.g., to assure the safety of the public, to preserve the forest resource, to augment income derived from the forest resource, or address landowner rights and liability).
2.2.c On ownerships where customary use rights and traditional and cultural areas/sites exist, forest owners or managers consult with concerned groups in the management planning process and take precautions in implementing management operations (e.g., site preparation, harvesting, onsite processing) to avoid negative effects on those areas.
2.3 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed to resolve disputes over tenure claims and use rights. The circumstances and status of any outstanding disputes will be explicitly considered in the certification evaluation. Disputes of substantial magnitude involving a significant number of interests will normally disqualify an operation from being certified.
2.3.a The forest owner or manager maintains relations with community stakeholders to identify disputes in their early stages. If disputes arise, the forest owner or manager initially attempts to resolve them through open communication, negotiation, and/or mediation. If negotiation fails, federal, state, local, and/or tribal laws are employed to resolve land tenure (see Glossary) claims.
2.3.b The forest owner or manager provides information regarding unresolved and ongoing disputes over tenure and use rights to the certifying body.
Prepare a written summary, note it during oral presentations, and make local presentations if necessary.
PRINCIPLE #3: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S RIGHTS
The legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to own, use and manage their lands, territories, and resources shall be recognized and respected.
Applicability Note: The terms "tribes", "tribal" or "American Indian groups" in indicators under Principle 3 include all indigenous people in the US, groups or individuals, who may be organized in recognized or unrecognized tribes, bands, nations, native corporations, rancherias, or other native groups.
3.1 Indigenous peoples shall control forest management on their lands and territories unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies.
Applicability Note: The degree of consultation or informed consent required for traditional tribal territories is related to the degree of occupation and/or use of those lands and territories.
3.1.a Forest management planning on tribal lands includes a process for input by tribal members in accordance with their laws and customs.
3.1.b Forest management on tribal lands takes place only after securing the informed consent of tribes or individuals (such as allottees; see Glossary) and authorized tribal representatives.
3.1.cForest owners or managers utilize tribal experience, knowledge, practices, and insights in forest management planning and operations on tribal lands, when requested to do so by the tribal landowner(s).
3.2 Forest management shall not threaten or diminish, either directly or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of indigenous peoples.
3.2.a Forest owners or managers identify and contact American Indian groups that have current legal or customary use-rights to the management area, and invite their input on the forestry operations that affect their resources.
3.2.b The resources of tribal people are not adversely affected by forest management operations.
3.3 Sites of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance to indigenous peoples shall be clearly identified in cooperation with such peoples, and recognized and protected by forest managers.
3.3.a Forest owners or managers request the participation of tribal representatives in culturally appropriate identification of sites of current or traditional significance within the property proposed for certification. For example:
3.3.b Forest owners or managers and tribal representatives jointly develop culturally appropriate measures to protect or enhance sites of special significance.
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3.3.c Confidentiality of disclosure is maintained in keeping with custom, laws, and the requirements of tribal representatives.
Display a signed document listing such requirements.
3.4 Indigenous peoples shall be compensated for the application of their traditional knowledge regarding the use of forest species or management systems in forest operations. This compensation is formally agreed upon with their free and informed consent before forest operations commence.
Display contracts.
3.4.a Forest owners or managers respect the confidentiality of tribal knowledge and assist in the protection of tribal intellectual property rights.
List efforts and activities.
3.4.b Traditional tribal knowledge is commercialized only with tribal consent. Indigenous people are fairly compensated for commercialization. Display consent and contractual or other evidence of payments.
3.4.c Protocols are jointly developed with local tribes to protect their intellectual property rights when traditional ecological knowledge is requested for use in forest management.
Briefly describe each intellectual property or documents of contractual relations in existence or those being developed. efforts
PRINCIPLE #4:COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS
Forest management operations shall maintain or enhance the long-term social and economic well-being of forest workers and local communities.
4.1 The communities within, or adjacent to, the forest management area should be given opportunities for employment, training, and other services.
Show local employment data from state or local offices and show the numbers employed in forestry and those by the ownership.
Show local advertising and efforts to employ local people.
4.1.a Management of the forest provides job opportunities for local communities, appropriate to the scale and intensity of the forest management operation.
4.1.b Employment conditions (e.g., remuneration, benefits, safety equipment, training, and workman's compensation) are comparable for non-local workers and local workers.
Show parallel or comparative lists.
4.1.c Local contractors and suppliers are included on the buyers and vendors list.
Show (link to) the availability of such an owner's list.
4.1.d Workers are appropriately skilled.
Display training program, and daily instruction period.
4.1.e Forest owners or managers contribute to public education about forestry practices, forest values (e.g., watershed protection, habitat), and the preservation of local heritage in conjunction with schools, community colleges, and/or other providers of training and education.
List the speeches, articles, letters, demonstrations, grants, etc.
4.1.f Employee compensation and hiring practices meet or exceed the prevailing local norms for work requiring equivalent education, skills, and experience.
Show a parallel list for comparisons.
4.1.g Forest owners or managers provide and/or support training opportunities for workers to improve their skills.
List opportunities provided (and those accepted by workers).
4.2Forest management should meet or exceed all applicable laws and/or regulations covering health and safety of employees and their families.
Gain a letter from the local health department or medical staff. List employees and have each assigned a score (0 to 10) in terms of relative health.
Display fire safety training documents.
Display general safety training documents and target audiences.
Display health documents.
4.2.a The forest owner or manager and their contractors develop and implement safety programs and procedures that include:
Display
4.3 The rights of workers to organize and voluntarily negotiate with their employers shall be guaranteed as outlined in Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
State that this is the case and have three or more employees sign and date it.
4.3.a Forest owners or managers and their contractors develop effective and culturally sensitive mechanisms to resolve disputes between workers and management.
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4.4 Management planning and operations shall incorporate the results of evaluations of social impact. Consultations shall be maintained with people and groups directly affected by management operations.
Applicability Note: People and groups directly affected by management operations may include: employees and contractors of the landowner, neighbors, fishers and hunters, recreationists, local water users, and forest products processors.
4.4.a All sites and features of special cultural significance are identified and protected, such as:
Use GIS maps and local signs.
4.4.b Prior to the commencement of significant operations, forest managers describe proposed forestry activities to potentially affected adjacent landowners or communities (e.g., downstream water users, municipalities).
Show news releases, radio notes, posted notices, on-site bulletin board.
Arrange interviews with adjacent landowners to verify notification of relevant management activities
4.4.c The social impact of planned management operations is evaluated and the management plan addresses the results of the evaluation (see 8.2.d for monitoring of social impacts). Impacts include:
4.5 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed for resolving grievances and for providing fair compensation in the case of loss or damage affecting the legal or customary rights property, resources, or livelihood of local peoples. Measures shall be undertaken to avoid such loss or damage.
Applicability Note: Provisions of Criterion 4.5 do not evoke protections or liabilities beyond those provided by U.S., state, and local laws.
4.5.a The forest owner or manager attempts to resolve grievances and mitigate damage resulting from forest management activities through open communication and negotiation prior to legal action.
4.5.b Forest owners or managers and their contractors have adequate protection or liability insurance.
Display or link to such contracts or agreements.
PRINCIPLE #5: BENEFITS FROM THE FOREST
Forest management operations shall encourage the efficient use of the forest's multiple products and services to ensure economic viability and a wide range of environmental and social benefits.
5.1 Forest management should strive toward economic viability, while taking into account the full environmental, social, and operational costs of production, and ensuring the investments necessary to maintain the ecological productivity of the forest.
The concepts are described in Lasting Forests, Forest Faunal Systems, and concepts of the Total system.
5.1.a The forest owner or manager is financially able to support long-term (i.e., decades rather than quarter-years or years) forest management (e.g., planning, inventory, resource protection, post-harvest management activities).
A budget shows that projected revenues and/or investments are sufficient to cover itemized activities and long term management objectives with detail appropriate to scale. Such records can be considered proprietary.
Revenues from timber sales are reserved for budgeted expenditures.
5.1.b Responses (for example, increases in harvests or debt load) to short-term financial factors, such as fluctuations in the market, requirements for cash flow, need for sawmill equipment and log supplies, are limited to levels that enable fulfillment of the management plan.
5.1.c Investment and reinvestment in forest management are sufficient to fulfill management objectives and maintain and/or restore forest health and productivity.
5.1.d The forest owner or manager reinvests in the local economy and the community through both active civic engagement and ongoing capital investment.
Display news releases, membership, awards.
Facilities and equipment are regularly maintained and updated.
Out-of-area owners maintain a local office.
The owner or manager supports local business development by working with organizations such as a chamber of commerce.
5.1.e Forest management produces an economic return as described in the primary objectives of the management plan.
5.1.f Marketing strategies are designed to maintain the economic efficiency of the forest operations.
Wood produced from timber sales is sorted and sold for its highest value and use.
A competitive bidding process is used.
5.2 Forest management and marketing operations should encourage the optimal use and local processing of the forest's diversity of products.
5.2.a Forest managers seek the optimum or "highest and best" use for forest products.
5.2.b Local value-added processing is encouraged as a means of achieving optimum product utilization and strengthening and diversifying the local economy.
5.2.c New markets are explored and developed for common but less-used species, grades of lumber, or an expanded diversity of forest products.
Discuss Lasting Forests and its applications.
5.2.d When non-timber products are harvested, the management and use of those products are incorporated into the management strategy.
5.2.e High grading is not practiced.
5.3 Forest management should minimize waste associated with harvesting and on-site processing operations and avoid damage to other forest resources.
5.3.a Harvesting operations are carried out in a way that maximizes utilization of forest resources, while minimizing merchantable log loss and waste in the forest and the log yard.
Merchantable wood is not left in the forest or the log yard.
Care is demonstrated in tree felling so as not to have broken tops or logs.
5.3.b Precautions are taken in management operations (e.g., site preparation, harvesting, on-site processing) to minimize negative effects on wildlife populations, fisheries, ground cover, and services such as watershed protection.
Precautions are noted in the management plan.
Field inspections verify precautionary measures are being implemented.
5.3.c Management operations are implemented in a way that protects the integrity of the residual stand. Provisions concerning acceptable levels of residual damage are included in operational contracts.
"Bumper trees" are utilized and equipment is selected and used in a way that minimizes unintentional damage to crop trees.
Residual damage is minimal.
Soil compaction and erosion are minimal.
5.4 Forest management should strive to strengthen and diversify the local economy, avoiding dependence on a single forest product.
See Rural System concept.
5.4.a Forest managers encourage the long-term production of a mix of forest products and services (e.g., timber and non-timber forest product harvesting, ecotourism, hunting leases, watershed protection).
The forest manager provides a list of products and benefits being managed for in the forest.
5.5 Forest management operations shall recognize, maintain, and, where appropriate, enhance the value of forest services and resources such as watersheds and fisheries (see also 6.5.h.and i).
5.6 The rate of harvest of forest products shall not exceed levels that can be permanently sustained.
5.6.a Allowable harvest rate (which could be annual or periodic) does not exceed levels that can be permanently sustained and are described in the management plan. The description includes management objectives, growth and yields estimates, and/or harvest records and planned harvest levels.
5.6.b Once the age-class (see Glossary) distribution is commensurate with long-term sustainability, harvest levels do not exceed growth levels over a ten-year period. Exceptions to this constraint may be granted to forest owners or managers whose periodic re-entry cycle is longer than 10 years. In such cases, allowable harvest is determined by examining the volume of re-growth and harvest since the previous harvest and the owner or manager's commitment to allow an equivalent amount of re-growth before additional harvests.
PRINCIPLE #6: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Forest management shall conserve biological diversity and its associated values, water resources, soils and unique and fragile ecosystems and landscapes, and, by so doing, maintain the ecological functions and the integrity of the forest.
Applicability Note: Small landowners that practice low intensity forestry may meet this requirement with brief, in formal assessments. More extensive and detailed assessments (e.g., formal assessments by scientists) are expected by large landowners and/or those who practice more intensive forest management.
6.1 Assessment of environmental impacts shall be completed - appropriate to the scale, intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources - and adequately integrated into management systems. Assessments shall include landscape level considerations as well as the impacts of on-site processing facilities. Environmental impacts shall be assessed prior to commencement of site-disturbing operations.
6.1.a Using available science and local expertise, an assessment of current conditions is completed that includes:
Appropriate inventories and literature are on file.
Field inspection verifies inventory information.
6.1.b Using available science and local expertise, the current ecological conditions are compared to the historical conditions within the landscape context, using the baseline factors identified in 6.1 a.
6.1.c Anticipated short-term environmental impacts of site-disturbing activities are considered in the management plan and in the development of specific forest management prescriptions. For post-activity impact assessments see 8.2.d. Resources to be considered include:
6.1.d Using assessments derived from the above information, options are developed and implemented to maintain and/or restore the long-term ecological functions of the forest (see also 7.1.c).
6.2 Safeguards shall exist which protect rare threatened and endangered species and their habitats (e.g., nesting and feeding areas). Conservation zones and protection areas shall be established, appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources. Inappropriate hunting, fishing, trapping and collecting shall be controlled.
Applicability Note: This criterion only applies to management areas where state or federally listed species are potentially present.
Note: The Working Group for the Southeastern United Stated suggests the following lists be consulted to identify threatened, rare, locally endemic or endangered plant and animal species and their habitat, federal state, and county,local lists produced by government agencies, Natural Heritage Programs, state Natural Areas Inventories, and/or the World Wildlife Fund's classification of forest communities
6.2.a If state or federal listings and species databases indicate the likely presence of a sensitive, rare, threatened, or endangered species, either a survey is conducted prior to management activities being carried out (to verify the species' presence or absence) or the forest owner or manager manages as though the species were present. Any such species are described in the management plan and noted on a map of the forest management area. The activities planned for the management of these species and their habitat are described in the forest management plan. Management activities are compatible with the maintenance, improvement, or restoration (see Glossary) of the species and its habitat.
The management plan provides descriptions of activities for maintaining such species' habitat(s) as available.
The execution of the activities described in the management plan is verified in the field.
Reference to relevant literature (e.g., endangered species lists, recovery plans, habitat conservation methods, state and local laws) is noted in the management plan.
Qualified individuals (listed with resumes), conduct scouting for such species.
6.2.b Protected areas are established, appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources, to protect rare, threatened, locally endemic, or endangered species and their habitat.
Landowner or forest manager implements management practices necessary to protect the species and their habitat.
Landowner or forest manager consults outside expertise on planned activities.
6.3 Ecological functions and values are maintained intact, enhanced, or restored, including:
Note: See Appendix B for a summary of the Southeast Working Group's development of indicators 6.3.a.6, 7, and 8.
6.3.a Forest regeneration and succession.
6.3.a.1 Forest owners or managers use the following information to make management decisions: landscape patterns (e.g., land use,land cover, non-forest uses, habitat types); ecological characteristics of adjacent forested stands (e.g., age, productivity, health); species' requirements.
Ecological connections and/or corridors to adjacent properties are maintained or improved.
Cooperation with adjacent landowners is in place where possible.
6.3.a.2 Forest owners or managers maintain or restore portions of the forest to the range and distribution of age classes of trees that result from processes that would naturally occur on the site. The retention or development of old large trees is encouraged.
6.3.a.3 Silvicultural practices provide disturbances and generate stand conditions that result in a successional phase that might be expected to occur naturally on the site.
6.3.a.4 In primary, natural, and semi-natural forest stands, natural regeneration is sufficient to sustain, enhance or restore forest cover consistent with management objectives. If justified, natural regeneration is supplemented by planting to contribute to species or genetic diversity of the forest or restore ecosystem structure and function. If planting occurs, local seed sources are used.
6.3.a.5 Well-distributed quality seed trees are retained and a desirable seedbed created for all affected species for which natural regeneration is desired.
6.3.a.6 When uneven-aged management (see Glossary) is employed, canopy-opening sizes created are appropriate and justified for the tree species being managed. Canopy opening sizes created using single-tree or group selection are within the range of non-catastrophic, natural openings common for each particular forest type and sufficiently large to regenerate desirable tree species.
Justification is provided, based on professional literature or experience, for the size of canopy openings used in each forest cover type.
6.3.a.7 When even-aged management (see Glossary) is employed, live trees and native vegetation are retained within the harvest unit in a proportion and configuration that is consistent with the characteristic natural disturbance regime in each community type (see Glossary), unless retention at a lower level is necessary for restoration or rehabilitation purposes. The level of retention increases proportionally to the size of the harvest unit.
6.3.a.8 Primary and uneven-aged natural and semi-natural stands (see Glossary for definitions of forest types) are not converted to even-aged stands. Degraded semi-natural stands (see Glossary) may be converted to even-aged stands for the purpose of restoration.
6.3.b Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
6.3.b.1 Forest management activities maintain or enhance productive capacity, and genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
A diversity of ground cover, mid-story, and canopy species appropriate to the ecosystem are present.
6.3.b.2 A diversity of habitats for native species is protected, maintained, and/or enhanced, such as:
6.3.b.3 Locally threatened ecosystems or communities (e.g., pitcher plant bogs, savannas, prairies, and isolated wetlands) and fragile or unique areas (e.g., isolated ephemeral wetlands, sinkholes, endangered endemic populations, and other rare and threatened habitats) are identified, mapped, and maintained for their ecological functions.
Landowner or forest manager has a copy of or has access to relevant Natural Heritage Inventory, Natural Areas Inventory, or other inventories.
No evidence of significant alterations of these areas exists.
6.3.b.4 The maintenance of non-forested land that serves as exceptional wildlife habitat is encouraged.
Display GIS map(s).
6.3.c Natural cycles that affect the productivity of the forest ecosystem
6.3.c.1 Coarse woody debris, in the form of large fallen trees, large logs, and snags of various sizes, is maintained.
Present down-log analyses.
6.3.c.2 Management strives to maintain natural nutrient cycles and soil fertility and structure by leaving residues in the forest and minimizing soil disturbance. Show evidence of slash left distributed or redistributed into the forest and in streams.
6.3.c.3 If soil quality degradation occurs, as indicated by declining fertility or forest health, forest owners or managers modify soil management techniques.
6.3.c.4 Managers maintain at a minimum the existing hydrology, and are encouraged to restore the natural hydrology (e.g., no drainage of wetlands, minimize the use of roads in sensitive areas).
6.3.c.5 Prescriptions for salvage harvests balance ecological and economic considerations.
6.3.c.6 Where applicable, prescribed burning is used to mimic the effects of the area's apparent historical, natural fire regime, including consideration of periodicity, variability, seasonality, and timing. Prescribed burning is documented and implemented by qualified personnel according to a bum prescription. A fire management plan is included in the forest management plan.
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6.4 Representative samples of existing ecosystems within the landscape are protected in their natural state and recorded on maps, appropriate to the scale and intensity of operations and the uniqueness of the affected resources.
Applicability Note: When forest management activities (including timber harvest) create and maintain conditions that emulate an intact, mature forest or other successional phases that are under-represented in the landscape, the management system that created those conditions is used to maintain them, and the area is considered as a representative sample for the purposes of meeting this criterion.
Note: Ecologically viable representative samples are designated to serve one or more of three purposes:
Areas serving the purposes of (1) and (2) may move across the landscape as under-represented conditions change, or may be fixed in area and manipulated to maintain the desired conditions. Areas serving the purposes of (3) are fixed in location.
Forests of all sizes may be conducive to protection of fixed features, such as rock outcrops and bogs. Medium sized and large forests may be more conducive to the maintenance of successional phases and disturbance patterns than small forests.
Representative samples may be protected solely by the conditions of the certificate and/or through using conservation easements or other instruments of long-term protection.
6.4.a Any fragile or unique ecosystems present on the forest management area are identified and described in the forest management plan. The location of such ecosystems is noted on a map of the forest management area.
Reference to relevant literature is noted in the management plan.
Display GIS maps of such sites.
6.4.b Forest owners or managers assess the adequacy of representation of their forest types in protected areas across the landscape. This assessment will entail collaboration with state natural heritage programs; public agencies; regional, landscape, and watershed planning efforts; universities; and/or local conservationists and can include gap analysis.
6.4.c Based on the evaluation in 6.4.b, forest managers and landowners will designate and/or establish protected areas as appropriate. The size and arrangement of representative, protected areas within the landscape are designated, documented, and justified.
6.4.d In the certification of public lands, large, contiguous public forests (see Glossary) create and maintain representative protected areas sufficient in size to allow natural disturbances to occur at their natural rate.
6.5 Written guidelines are prepared and implemented to: control erosion; minimize forest damage during harvesting, road construction, and all other mechanical disturbances; and protect water resources.
6.5.a Construction of roads and skid trails is done only during periods of weather when soil is least susceptible to compaction, surface erosion, or sediment transport into streams and other bodies of water. There are provisions in sales contracts to interrupt harvest operations under adverse environmental conditions.
Display USLE map. Display road plan with streams and waterways.
Display standard road crossings
Display road construction details.
There is no evidence of significant soil or water quality degradation.
6.5.b Implementation of harvesting, road construction, and other mechanical operations follow the management plan and meet or exceed state Best Management Practices (BMPs Ps) and applicable water quality regulations. Silvicultural techniques and logging equipment vary with slope, erosion hazard rating, and/or soil instability with the goal of minimizing soil disturbance. Areas that exhibit an extreme risk of landslide are excluded from logging.
Note: "Extreme risk" is a legally binding term in some states.
A logging contract contains requirements to conform to state BMPs and a damage liability clause.
6.5.c Logging operations avoid damage to residual trees, regeneration, ground cover, soils, waterways, and wetlands.
Post-harvest inspection of the site indicates no significant damage to residual trees, ground cover, and soils (including erosion, rutting, and compaction).
6.5.d Plans for site preparation specify the following mitigations to minimize impacts to the forest resources.
6.5.e The transportation system is designed, constructed, maintained, and/or reconstructed to minimize the extent of the road network and its potential cumulative adverse effects.
6.5.f Access to temporary and permanent roads is controlled to minimize impacts to soil, biota and public roads while allowing legitimate access as addressed by Principles 3 and 4 and identified in the management plan.
Roads without a weather resistant surface (e.g., soil, dirt, or native-surfaced roads) are used only during periods of weather when conditions are favorable to minimize road damage, surface erosion, and sediment transport.
Access to roads not immediately necessary for management purposes is restricted.
6.5.g Failed drainage structures or other areas of active erosion caused by roads and skid trails are identified, and measures are taken to correct the drainage problems and stabilize erosion.
6.5.h Stream-side or special management zones (SMZs) are specifically described or referenced in the management plan, included in a map of the forest management area, and designed to meet or exceed relevant state BMPs. The primary objective of management in SMZs is aquatic and riparian protection.
6.5.i Wetlands in the forest management area are described, mapped, and their hydrology and water quality is maintained or improved.
All wetlands, including isolated wetlands, are protected from adverse changes in hydrology caused by ditching, dyking, draining, and filling.
6.5.j Stream crossings are located and constructed to minimize fragmentation of aquatic habitat and maintain water quality.
6.6 Management systems shall promote the development and adoption of environmentally friendly non-chemical methods of pest management and strive to avoid the use of chemical pesticides. World Health Organization Type IA and lB and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides; pesticides that are persistent, toxic or whose derivatives remain biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond their intended use; as well as any pesticides banned by international agreement, shall be prohibited. If chemicals are used, proper equipment and training shall be provided to minimize health and environmental risks.
6.6.a To maintain or improve forest health and function, forest owners or managers employ silvicultural systems, integrated pest management, and vegetation control strategies that result in the least adverse environmental impact. Techniques other than chemical applications are preferred in the implementation of these strategies.
Components of silvicultural systems, integrated pest management, and vegetation control strategies include several or all of the following:
6.6.b Forest owners or managers develop written pest control strategies as a component of the management plan (criterion 7.1), to be informed by Radosevich et al. (2000). *
*Radosevich, S., M. Lappe', and B. Addlestone. 2000. Use of Chemical Pesticides in Certified Forests: clarification of FSC criteria 6.8, 6.7, and 10.7. Unpublished Forest Stewardship Council Report. Corvallis, OR. 23 pp.
6.6.c When chemicals are being used, a written prescription is prepared that fully describes the risks and benefits of their use, methods to reduce chemical amounts, and the precautions that workers employ. Records are kept of pest occurrences and control measures taken.
Pest control methods are applied by trained personnel, following a written prescription.
6.6.d The use of pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, fumigants, rodenticides, and algaecides) does not harm employees, neighbors, the public, and sensitive areas. All applicable laws and label requirements for chemical use are followed.
6.6.e Application of pesticides is confined to the target area and species.
6.7 Chemicals, containers, liquid and solid non-organic wastes including fuel and oil are disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner at oft-site locations.
6.7.a Operational procedures for the proper management of all waste oil, filters, containers, litter, and other forms of waste created during harvest and other management operations are established and followed.
Written procedures are in or attached to the management plan, meet or exceed legal requirements, and are followed.
6.7.b In the event of a spill of hazardous material, forest owners or managers immediately contain the material, report the spill as required by applicable regulations, and engage qualified personnel to perform the appropriate removal and remediation.
6.7.c Waste materials are disposed of in a timely manner.
Broken and leaking equipment and pans are repaired or removed from the forest; discarded parts are taken to a designated disposal facility.
There is no evidence of waste materials on past operational sites.
6.7.d Fuel tanks and dumps are located, and equipment is parked outside of riparian management zones and away from sinkholes.
There is no evidence of ground or surface water contamination.
6.7.e Employees and contractors are trained in proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals, and protective equipment is available and used correctly.
Training records for employees exist and contracts contain clauses that require such training, as required by the Federal Workers Protection Standards Law.
Personal protective equipment and spill containment materials are available on all operations sites.
6.7.f Waste from on-site processing plants (e.g., portable sawmills, chippers) is disposed of properly.
Disposal follows legal and/or label requirements.
6.8 Use of biological control agents is documented, minimized, monitored and strictly controlled in accordance with national and state laws and internationally accepted scientific protocols. Use of genetically modified organisms is prohibited.
Applicability Note for the Southeastern US: Genetically improved organisms (e.g., Mendelian crossed) are not considered to be genetically modified organisms (i.e., results of genetic engineering), and may be used. The products of traditional free breeding methodologies are not included in the definition of genetically modified organisms.
Note: For the Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern U.S., the definition of genetically modified organisms is further defined to exclude the products of traditional free breeding methodology; see Glossary.
6.8.a Biological controls are only used for pest problems, as part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, when the biological control agents, methods, and effects have been subjected to scientific testing demonstrating no significant negative impacts on native flora and fauna.
6.9 The use of exotic species is carefully controlled and actively monitored to avoid adverse ecological impacts.
Note: For the Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern United States, terrestrial exotic species are further defined as "Species not native or endemic to the Southeastern United States."
6.9.a Exotic species are not planted.
No planting of exotic species is currently taking place or planned.
6.9.b Previously planted exotic species are monitored to ensure they do not spread beyond their originally planted site (see 8.2.c). If spread does occur, appropriate control or eradication measures are taken.
6.10 Forest conversion to plantations or non-forest land uses does not occur, except in circumstances where conversion:
6.10.a High conservation value forests are not converted to plantations.
6.10.b Primary, natural, and semi-natural stands are not converted to plantations. Degraded semi-natural stands can be converted to plantations for the purpose of restoration (see definition of Restoration plantation in Glossary).
6.11 Invasive exotic species of plants should be eradicated from the property if biologically possible and economically feasible. Otherwise, invasive exotic species should be controlled to limit their expansion and ecological damage.
Note: Criterion 6.11 was added by the Working Group for the Southeastern U.S. Note on "biologically possible": Sometimes it is not biologically possible to eradicate an organism. For example, multi-million dollar efforts to eradicate hydrilla, melaleuca, kudzu, water hyacinth, and Brazilian pepper have proven that sometimes it is not possible to eradicate well-established invasive exotic species. Thus, in some cases efforts can only reduce the species to an economically and ecologically acceptable threshold.
6.11.a Periodic assessments of invasive exotic species are done, including searches for new infestations of additional invasive species, and eradication and/or control measures are taken.
The management plan specifies effective control or eradication measures of invasive exotic species.
Locations of invasive exotic species are described in the management plan and mapped.
Measures to control invasive exotic species are evident on site.
PRINCIPLE #7: MANAGEMENT PLAN
A management plan-appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management-shall be written, implemented, and kept to date. The long-term objectives of management, and the means of achieving them, shall be clearly stated.
7.1 The management plan and supporting documents shall provide:
7.1.a Management objectives
7.1.a.1 A written management plan is prepared that includes the landowner's short-term and long-term vision, goals, and objectives (ecological, silvicultural, social, and economic). The objectives are specific, achievable, and measurable. Appropriate to the scale, intensity, and context of management, the plan includes description and rationale for:
7.1.b Description of forest resources to be managed, environmental limitations, land use and ownership status, socioeconomic conditions, and profile of adjacent lands
7.1.b.1 Descriptions of the following forest resources at the stand level and summarized at the total forest level are included in the forest management plan:
7.1.b.2 A general description of the history, including ownership and use, of the forest management area is included in the forest management plan.
7.1.b.3 A general description of landowner and the forest management area includes:
7.1.b.4 The management plan identifies relevant cultural and socioeconomic issues (e.g., traditional and customary rights of use, access issues, recreational uses, and employment issues), conditions (e.g., composition of the workforce, stability of employment, and changes in forest ownership and tenure), and areas of special significance (e.g., ceremonial and archeological sites).
7.1.b.5 The management plan incorporates landscape-level considerations within the ownership and among adjacent and nearby lands, including major water bodies, critical habitats, and riparian corridors shared with adjacent ownerships.
7.1.c Description of silvicultural and/or other management system
7.1.c.1 The silvicultural system(s) and prescriptions are based on the integration of ecological and economic characteristics (e.g., successional processes, soil characteristics, existing species composition and structures, desired future conditions, and market conditions). (see also 6.3.a)
7.1.c.2 Prescriptions are prepared prior to harvesting, site preparation, pest control, burning, and planting and are made available to people who carry out the prescriptions.
7. .d Rationale for the rate of annual harvest and species selection.
7. .d.1 The management plan includes reliable data on growth, yield, stocking, and regeneration (see also 5.6.b).
7.1.d.2 Species selection meets the economic goals and objectives of the forest owner or manager, while maintaining or improving the ecological composition and structure and functions of the forest.
7.1.d.3 A time line that includes a schedule for all forest management activities to be implemented over a five-year planning horizon is included in the forest management plan. Items to be addressed in the schedule include silvicultural and monitoring and assessment activities.
7.1.e Provisions for monitoring forest growth and dynamics (see also Principle 8).
7.1.e.1 Monitoring goals and objectives are stated in the management plan.
7.1.f Environmental safeguards based on environmental assessments.
7.1.f.1 Safeguards are based on the results of environmental assessments (see 5.3, 6.1 and 2, and 8.2.d). 7.1 .g Plans for the identification and protection of rare, threatened, and endangered species. (see also Criterion 6.3)
7.1.h Maps describing the forest resource base including protected areas, planned management activities, and land ownership.
7.1.h.1 The management plan includes maps of the forest's characteristics, such as:
7.1.i Description and justification of harvesting techniques and equipment to be used (see also Criterion 6.5).
7.2 The management plan shall be periodically revised to incorporate the results of monitoring or new scientific and technical information, as well as to respond to changing environmental, social and economic circumstances.
7.2.a Management plan is current and reviewed and revised as necessary (at least every five years to coincide with certification re-assessments) to accommodate new research findings and the observed effects of previous practices, as well as changes in the resource base.
7.3 Forest workers shall receive adequate training and supervision to ensure proper implementation of the management plans.
7.4 While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest managers shall make publicly available a summary' of the primary' elements of the management plan, including those listed in Criterion 7.1.
Applicability Note: Forest owners or managers of private forests may withhold proprietary information (e.g., the nature and extent of their forest resource base, marketing strategies, and other financial information) (see also Criterion 8.5).
PRINCIPLE #8: MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
Monitoring shall be conducted - appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management - to assess the condition of the forest, yields of forest products, chain of custody, management activities and their social and environmental impacts.
Applicability Note: On small and medium-sized forests, an informal qualitative assessment could be appropriate. On large forests and intensively managed forests, formal quantitative monitoring is probably required.
8.1. The frequency and intensity of monitoring should be determined by the scale and intensity of forest management operations as well as the relative complexity and fragility of the affected environment. Monitoring procedures should be consistent and replicable over time to allow comparison of results and assessment of change.
8.1.a Implementation and effectiveness of the management plan is periodically monitored to assess:
8.1.b Sampling designs and procedures are clearly defined, and where needed, sampling procedures provide results with appropriate levels of confidence.
8.2 Forest management should include the research and data collection needed to monitor, at a minimum, the following indicators:
8.2.a. Yield of all forest products harvested
8.2.a.1 The forest owner or manager maintains records of standing timber and timber harvest volumes by species, volume, and product class (e.g., saw timber, chip and saw, and pulp wood).
8.2.a.2 The forest owner or manager maintains records of the yield of harvested non-timber forest products.
8.2.a.3 Significant unanticipated removal (e.g., theft and poaching) of forest products is monitored and recorded.
8.2.b Growth rates, regeneration, and condition of the forest
8.2.b.1 Species composition, regeneration, growth rates, stocking, stand structure, and age-class distribution is monitored and recorded at appropriate predetermined intervals by a suitable forest inventory system.
8.2.c Composition and observed changes in the flora and fauna
8.2.c.1 Periodic assessments include appropriate information on flora and fauna.
Increases or decreases of rare or notable species are documented. Spread or reduction of invasive exotic species is documented. 8.2.d.Environmental and social impacts of harvesting and other operations
8.2.d.1 (SE-N-m) The environmental impacts of site-disturbing activities are assessed after their completion. Examples include impacts on:
8.2.d.2 A monitoring program is in place to assess the condition and environmental impacts of the forest roads system.
8.2.d.3 Employment generation, creation or maintenance of local jobs, and public responses to management activities are monitored.
Link to concepts of Lasting Forest.
8.2.d.4 On tribal lands, management of sites of special significance (see indicators 3.2 and 3.3) is jointly monitored with tribal representatives to determine adequacy of the management prescriptions.
8.2.e Cost, productivity, and efficiency of forest management
8.3 Documentation shall be provided by the forest manager to enable monitoring and certifying organizations to trace each forest product from its origin, a process known as the "chain-of-custody."
Note: For management requirements for chain-of-custody, see Section 3.6 of Chain of Custody Standards. FSC Accreditation Manual
8.3.a While certified forest products are in the landowner's or manager's possession, they are clearly identified through marks or labels and/or stored separately from non-certified products.
8.4 The results of monitoring shall be incorporated into the implementation and revision of the management plan.
8.4.a Information is collected through long-term monitoring to enable appropriate adjustment of management plans and strategies. Deficiencies in information are identified and appropriate procedures initiated to remedy such deficiencies.
8.4.b Discrepancies between outcomes (i.e., yields, growth, ecological changes) and expectations (i.e., plans, projections, anticipated impacts) are appraised and taken into account in the subsequent management plan.
8.5 While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest managers shall make publicly available a summary of the results of monitoring indicators, including those listed in Criterion 8.2.
Applicability Note: Forest owners or managers of private forests may withhold proprietary information (e.g., the nature and extent of their forest resource base, marketing strategies, and other financial information).
8.5.a A summary of monitoring information is maintained up to date and is available upon request either at no cost or at a reasonable price.
PRINCIPLE #9: MAINTENANCE OF HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FORESTS High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) are those that possess one or more of the following attributes:
9.1 Assessment to determine the presence of the attributes consistent with HCVFs will be completed, appropriate to scale and intensity of forest management.
9.1 .a Attributes and locations of HCVFs are determined by:
9.2The consultative portion of the certification process must place emphasis on the identified conservation attributes, and options for the maintenance thereof (see 9.1 a and Note for 6.2).
9.2.a The certifier, when gathering comments from other individuals or groups familiar with the HCVFs on the forest management area being assessed (e.g., workers for the operation being assessed, neighboring landowners, environmental and/or community groups), requests input on their perceptions of the conservation attributes of these forests and the effective ness of management efforts to maintain these attributes. The certifier discusses the input received with the landowner and/or manager.
9.3 The management plan shall include and implement specific measures that ensure the maintenance and/or enhancement of the applicable conservation attributes consistent with the precautionary approach. These measures shall be specifically included in the publicly available management plan summary.
Applicability Note: The applicability of the precautionary principle and the consequent flexibility of forest management vary with the size, configuration and tenure of the HCVF.
9.3.a The management of HCVFs maintains or enhances their defining characteristics and is implemented according to the management plan. A summary of the management activities planned for these forests is included in the publicly available summary of the management plan (see 7.4.1 ?).
9.3.b Forest owners and managers of HCVFs (forests and/or stands) coordinate conservation efforts with owners and managers of other HCVFs in their landscape.
9.3.c Protected areas are established to protect and/or maintain all remaining primary forests (see Glossary). The management of the protected areas is described in the management plan and locations of protected areas are mapped.
9.3.d In forests that take on the characteristics of a primary forest (see Glossary) as a result of management practices, harvesting is permitted at low levels provided these characteristics are maintained.
9.4 Annual monitoring shall be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the measures employed to maintain and enhance the applicable conservation attributes.
PRINCIPLE #10: PLANTATIONS Note: See Appendices 3 and 4 or summary and clarification of the Southeast Working group's concerns about and positions on plantation management (Appendix 3) and the conversion of natural forests to plantations (Appendix 4 ?).
10.1The management objectives of the plantation, including natural forest conservation and restoration objectives, shall be explicitly stated in the management plan, and clearly demonstrated in the implementation of the plan.
10.1.a The forest management plan contains sections specific to the objectives and management of each plantation.
10.1.b Scheduled management practices are appropriate for objectives and implemented on schedule.
10.2 The design and layout of plantations promotes the protection, restoration, and conservation of natural forests, and does not increase pressures on natural forests. Wildlife corridors, stream-side zones, and a mosaic of stands of different ages and rotation periods, are used in the layout of the plantation, consistent with the scale of the operation. The scale and layout of plantation blocks is consistent with the patterns of forest stands found within the natural landscape.
10.2.a Plantation establishment does not replace, endanger, or otherwise diminish the ecological integrity of any existing primary, natural, or semi-natural forests on the property. Commercial plantations (as opposed to those for restoration; see Glossary) can be established on the following sites: former plantations, abandoned agricultural lands, non-forested lands that were historically forested, and extremely degraded forest sites lacking most of the native forest ecosystem components, such as native ground cover (see 6.10 and 10.9).
10.2.b Plantations are designed to be compatible with landscape features and functions, consistent with the scale of the operation.
Plantation boundaries follow land contours and wherever possible avoid intersecting stream channels and hillsides with straight lines.
10.2.c The design and layout of restoration plantations are adequate to achieve restoration objectives and move the stand to a more natural condition.
Restoration plantations are established on degraded sites having some characteristics of natural or semi-natural areas.
10.2.d On areas already converted to plantations, even-aged harvests lacking within-stand retention are limited to forty acres or less in size unless a larger opening can be justified by scientifically credible analyses.
Applicability Note: The FSC-U.S. Board has delegated to the FSC-U.S. Standards Committee the task of determining "scientific credible analyses."
10.2.e Harvest units are arranged to allow contiguous populations of native species. For hardwood ecosystems, regeneration in previously harvested areas reaches a mean height of at least ten feet or achieves canopy closure before adjacent areas are harvested. For southern pine ecosystems, (e.g. upland pine forests, pine flatwoods forests, sand pine scrub), harvest areas are located, if possible, adjacent to the next youngest stand to enable early succession or groundcover- adapted species to migrate across the early successional continuum.
10.3 Diversity in the composition of plantations is preferred, so as to enhance economic, ecological, and social stability. Such diversity may include the size and spatial distribution of management units within the landscape, number and genetic composition of species, age classes, and structures.
10.3.aForests containing plantations are managed to create and maintain structural and species diversity that results in viable wildlife habitat and long-term soil maintenance and replenishment.
10.3.b Prescribed burning is used in plantations of fire-tolerant species (e.g., loblolly, slash, shortleaf, and longleaf pines) to promote forest health and species diversity.
Prescribed burning is carried out periodically.
10.3.c Plantation management activities are planned so as to generate and maintain long-term employment.
10.4 The selection of species for planting is based on their overall suitability for the site and their appropriateness to the management objectives. In order to enhance the conservation of biological diversity, native species are preferred over exotic species in the establishment of plantations and the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Exotic species, used only when their performance is greater than that of native species, are to be carefully monitored to detect unusual mortality, disease, or insect outbreaks and adverse ecological impacts.
10.4.a Species, planting stock and seed sources are appropriate for the site.
The selection of hardwood and/or conifer species is based on ecological and economic criteria compatible with the landowner's management objectives and published guidelines for species selection. 10.4.b Exotic species are not used to establish or re-establish tree plantations.
10.5 A proportion of the overall forest management area, appropriate to the scale of the plantation and to be determined in regional standards, is managed so as to restore the site to a natural forest cover.
Applicability Note: For the Forest Certification Standards for the Southeastern U.S., the overall forest management area is defined as the portion of total property being assessed for certification (e.g., agricultural land is not included). The sites to be managed for restoration are to be selected by the landowner and/or forest manager.
Protected forest areas can be included as part of the natural forest cover required to be maintained or restored. If a forest management area has more than these minimum designated percentages in natural or semi-natural forests, these forests may not be converted to plantations (see 6.3. a. 8).
10.5.a A percentage of the total forest management area is maintained as and/or restored to natural and semi-natural forest cover. The minimum required percentage is:
The following is an example of how to verify compliance with the indicator:
An ownership with more than 10,000 acres maintains or restores at least 25 percent of the forest management area to natural or semi-natural forest cover including when the area is part of a federally, state, or locally designated habitat conservation area or when the forest management area contains large areas of rare, threatened, or endangered species or habitat. 10.5.bAreas of forest and/or plantation to be restored to natural conditions are chosen through a landscape analysis that focuses on enhancing ecological integrity and habitat connectivity.
The manager designates, according to 10.5.a, the appropriate site(s) for natural forest maintenance and restoration. 10.5.c Natural forest cover maintenance or restoration areas are identified on the forest ownership map.
10.6. Measures shall be taken to maintain or improve soil structure, fertility, and biological activity. The techniques and rate of harvesting, road and trail construction and maintenance, and the choice of species shall not result in long-term soil degradation or adverse impacts on water quality, quantity, or substantial deviation from stream course drainage patterns (see Criterion 6.5 and its indicators).
10.6.a. Site preparation on commercial plantations is conducted according to the management plan while balancing economic and environmental concerns (see 6.5). Methods that encourage survival of regeneration and improve yields while protecting to the extent possible the environmental integrity (e.g., ground cover, hydrology, nutrient cycles) of the site are used.
10.6.b Tree planting methods avoid soil damage while providing for seedling survival.
10.6.c Thinning is implemented according to the management plan and state or regional BMPs and published guidelines in a fashion that avoids site disturbance and damage to the residual stand.
10.6.d Fertilizer is applied only when justified by soil type, soil or foliar analysis, indicator plant species from the plantation, and/or scientific literature; when it improves the general nutrient balance of the site; when it is economically justified; and when adverse on- or off-site environmental impacts are minimal. If used, a prescription for fertilizer application is followed.
10.7. Measures are taken to prevent and minimize outbreaks of pests, diseases, fire. and invasive plant introductions. Integrated pest management forms an essential part of the management plan, with primary reliance on prevention and biological control methods rather than chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Plantation management makes every effort to move away from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, including their use in nurseries. The use of chemicals is also covered in Criteria 6.6 and 6.7.
10.7.a Plantation vigor and growth is maintained and monitored to prevent outbreaks of pests and diseases.
10.7.b A strategy is in place to prevent and control wildfire.
10.7.c Invasive exotic plant species are kept out of plantations and treated as described in 6.11. Otherwise, invasive exotic species are controlled to limit their expansion and ecological damage.
Populations of invasive exotic plants in plantations are controlled, minimized, or eliminated. Records of efforts to control invasive exotic species are on file.
10.8 Appropriate to the scale and diversity of the operation, monitoring of plantations include regular assessments of potential on-site and off-site ecological and social impacts (e.g., natural regeneration, effects on water resources and soil fertility, and impacts on local welfare and social well-being), in addition to those elements addressed in principles 4, 8, and 6. No species are to be planted on a large scale until local trials and/or experience have shown that they are ecologically well-adapted to the site, are not invasive, and do not have significant negative ecological impacts on other ecosystems. Special attention is paid to social issues of land acquisition for plantations, especially the protection of local rights of ownership, use or access.
10.8.aMonitoring of the impacts of plantations, both on and off-site, is conducted in the same manner as the monitoring of natural forests, in accordance with Principles 4, 6, and 8.
10.9 Plantations established in areas converted from natural forests after November 1994 normally shall not qualify for certification. Certification may be allowed in circumstances where sufficient evidence is submitted to the certification body that the manager/owner is not responsible directly or indirectly for such conversion.
Applicability Note: Exceptions to the provision that prohibits conversion after 1994 may be granted for stands converted through 2001 if a restoration plan covering all such stands is being implemented. Examples of activities that are carried out in restoration plantations may include:
Note: See Appendix C for further information on the Southeast Working Group's position on plantations and plantation management.
·
Known populations of rare, threatened, endangered species and their habitat are periodically monitored.
Management activities in high conservation value forests shall maintain or enhance the attributes that define such forests. Decisions regarding high conservation value forests shall always be considered in the context of a precautionary approach.
Plantations are to be planned and managed in accordance with Principles and Criteria 1 -9, and the Criteria of this Principle (10). While plantations can provide an array of social and economic benefits and can contribute to satisfying the world's needs for forest products, they should complement the management of, reduce pressures on, and promote the restoration and conservation of natural forests.
The frequency, seasonality, and intensity of burning are such that native fauna and flora are promoted and the dominant tree species are protected.
Appropriate planting stock is selected based on the best information available relative to genetics and seed source.
The management plan includes a prescription for restoring and maintaining these sites.
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