Design Techniques for Forest Management Planning PDF

Forest management plans are the key reference documents for monitoring and assessing forests and forestry practice in Britain. They define and communicate forest and woodland management proposals, set out how sustainable forest management is to be achieved and describe the consequences of management...

Forest management plans are the key reference documents for monitoring and assessing forests and forestry practice in Britain. They define and communicate forest and woodland management proposals, set out how sustainable forest management is to be achieved and describe the consequences of management activities over time. Forest management planning involves assembling and integrating a wide range of information about a site and its potential, and a number of established design techniques are available to assist with this process. This Practice Guide provides step-by-step guidance to the techniques that can be used at each of the seven planning stages. The guidance applies to both the creation of new forests and woodlands and the management of existing forests and woodlands. It is aimed at forest and woodland owners and managers, forestry practitioners and all those involved in forest planning and the preparation of forest management plans. The Guide will also help those evaluating and approving plans and proposals, such as regulatory staff involved in grants and licences, and others with an interest in forestry consultation. Practice Guide Design techniques for forest management planning Silvan House 231 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 7AT £14.00 www.forestry.gov.uk Practice Guide Design techniques for forest management planning Forestry Commission: Edinburgh © Crown Copyright 2014 You may re-use this information (not including logos or material identified as being the copyright of a third party) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence or write to the Information Policy Team at: The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or [email protected]. This publication is also available on our website at: www.forestry.gov.uk/publications First published by the Forestry Commission in 1998 as ‘Forest design planning: a guide to good practice’. This revised second edition published in 2014. ISBN: 978-0-85538-894-2 Forestry Commission (2014). Design techniques for forest management planning Forestry Commission Practice Guide Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. Keywords: design; forest management planning; forestry; landscape; sustainable forest management. FCPG012/FC(AH/JP/ECD)/JTCP-2K/AUG14 Enquiries relating to this publication should be addressed to: Forestry Commission Silvan House 231 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 7AT 0131 334 0303 [email protected] In Northern Ireland, to: Forest Service Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Dundonald House Upper Newtownards Road Ballymiscaw Belfast BT4 3SB 02890 524480 [email protected] The Forestry Commission will consider all requests to make the content of publications available in alternative formats. Please send any such requests to the Diversity Team at [email protected] or call 0131 314 6575. ii Contents Introduction Aim and scope 1 1 Forest planning in the UK Forest management planning 3 3 Documenting forest management plans Documentation list Format choice Use of standard colours and hatching Revising and updating 5 5 7 7 8 The process of forest management planning The seven stages of planning 1. Scoping Setting objectives Stakeholder analysis 2. Survey 3. Analysis Constraints and opportunities analysis Landscape character analysis Analysis of potential native woodland types Analysis of the historic environment 4. Synthesis Design concept Sketch designs Design of new woodlands – Design in landscapes with dominant landform – Design in landscapes with weaker landform – Design of species patterns in conifer forests – Design of native woodland species patterns – Design of internal open spaces – Presentation of the design for new woodlands Design for felling and restocking – Design in high windthrow risk areas – Design in flatter areas – Design in smaller woods – Timing of felling – Felling design using low-impact silvicultural systems – Preparing coupes in younger stands – Presentation of the felling design – Restocking design – Choice of species – Design of open ground – Correction of previous layout problems – Presentation of the restocking design Documentation Approval 9 9 10 10 11 12 14 14 14 19 20 21 21 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 32 32 33 34 36 36 36 38 38 38 38 39 39 iii 5. Implementation 6. Monitoring 7. Revision 40 40 40 Design techniques How to start Choosing viewpoints Taking photographs Using photographs Maps Aerial and satellite photographs Manual design techniques Presentation graphics Computer tools 41 41 41 43 43 45 45 46 46 47 Further reading and useful sources of information 49 Appendix 1 – Survey information: what to collect 51 Glossary 56 Acknowledgements A number of organisations and individuals have contributed to the development of this Practice Guide. In particular the Forestry Commission is grateful to Simon Bell for the original text and base illustrations, Steve Conolly, Cawdor Forestry Limited, for sourcing a selection of original project work for us to use in the publication, and Clare Hewitt for the final landscape illustrations. iv Introduction Page 1 1 21/10/2011 12:35 83854 Standard_Layout needs at in a way that meets our means managing our forests meet their needs. Practising sustainable forestry of future generations to compromise the ability benefits and present but that does not offer at least the same their forests and woodlands have set They will rightly expect that expectations, the UK governments today. To sustain these is the opportunities as we enjoy At the heart of this approach Guidelines. supporting its and and the out the UK Forestry Standard and social benefits of forests the environmental, economic define importance of balancing The Guidelines publications serve a wide range of objectives. recognition that our forests areas. The UK Forestry under a series of subject UK the in how to achieve them. sustainable forest management and guidance given on have been set out in each Standard requirements The UK Forestry Standard The British Isles have a great diversity of landscapes that are the result of both natural processes and the long history of human land use. This diversity is reflected in the rich variety of forests and woodlands found across Britain today. Forests and woodlands are important, and often dominant, visual elements in the landscape, which change over time. They have great potential to enhance and enrich the environment and make a significant contribution to landscape quality. They also provide many other environmental, economic and social benefits, and sustainable forest management ensures that the production of these benefits is maintained over the long term. d The UK Forestry Standar The governments’ approa ch to sustainable forestr y www.forestry.gov.uk/ukfs 231 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 7AT The UK governments’ approach to the sustainable management of forests and woodlands is expressed in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) and its supporting series of Guidelines. The UKFS Guidelines on Forests and landscape sets out the principles that should be followed to ensure the design of both new and existing forests and woodlands is appropriate to the landscape context and meets the requirements of the UKFS. Although the landscape and visual aspects of the forest design represent just one of many site and woodland management issues to consider, in its broadest sense landscape provides the setting for the planning process. £14 www.forestry.gov.uk The requirements for sustainable forest management and the long-term nature of forestry has led to the development of formal forest management plans. These aim to define and communicate forest management proposals and describe the consequences of management activities over time. The planning process, which involves all aspects of forestry, starts with the owner’s or manager’s objectives and the opportunities and constraints offered by a site. It involves assembling and integrating a wide range of information about the site and its potential. A number of established design techniques are available to assist with this planning process. Aim and scope This Practice Guide provides a step-by-step guide to the design techniques used in the forest management planning process. The guidance applies to the creation of new forests and woodlands, whether by planting or natural regeneration, and the management of existing forests and woodlands. Although some aspects of planning are needed for small woods managed as single units or compartments, generally the guidance set out here focuses on larger forest areas, generally of plantation origin (Figure 1), where there is usually a more complex range of issues to be considered, or a longer time period for management activity to be programmed. Figure 1 The view across Glen Garry in Scotland – this is an extensive forest of plantation origin that is dominant in the landscape. 1 This may include, for example, felling and restocking over more than one phase, using more than one felling coupe or a range of silvicultural systems. This Practice Guide applies to forests and woodlands on the public and private estate across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although forestry is a devolved issue with different strategies and support mechanisms within each country, the aim of this guidance is to present a process which is flexible enough to be applied under a range of different policy as well as environmental and social conditions. So, although the documentation and presentation of a forest management plan may require specific aspects to be considered in response to, for example, an individual forestry strategy or woodland grant scheme, the process to be followed is essentially the same in each case. The guidance is aimed at forest and woodland owners and managers, forestry practitioners and, especially, all those involved in forest planning and the preparation of forest management plans. An appreciation and understanding of recommended design techniques for forest management planning will be able to help and guide owners, their managers and agents as to the level of sophistication required for a particular forest or woodland. The Guide will also help those evaluating and approving plans and proposals, such as staff involved in grants and licences, regulatory staff, local authorities, and other agencies with a statutory role in the consultation process. Other guidance on specific aspects of sustainable forest management to support the UKFS and the forest management planning process can be found in the series of Forestry Commission Practice Guides and Practice Notes. See Further reading and useful sources of information and www.forestry.gov.uk/publications for more details. Forest landscape design The professional practice of forest landscape design requires an understanding of landscape character and the creative application of visual design principles. For forestry, these principles are set out in the UKFS Guidelines on Forests and landscape. Detailed design guidance is also available in a number of key texts (see Further reading and useful sources of information on page 49). This Practice Guide provides good practice guidance on the design techniques used in forest management planning. However, as this also incorporates some specific aspects of the design process (namely the stages of survey, analysis and synthesis) necessary for achieving good visual design, it is complementary to the forest landscape design process. Training and professional assistance in forest landscape design may be available from the Forestry Commission. For more information, visit: forestry.gov.uk/ukfs/landscape 2 Forest planning in the UK Forest planning takes place at four main levels in the UK. The highest level is the strategic plan, which defines the broad objectives of the owner and how these can be met across the forest estate, which sometimes comprises several forest areas. Beneath this are the three levels at which the UKFS Requirements are addressed: • Forest management planning applies to a convenient management unit, called the forest • • management unit. These plans will vary with the scale of the forest and the size and nature of the holding. Operational planning is concerned with the operational detail of how proposals will be implemented at site level – usually called the operational plan or site plan. Contingency planning ensures that procedures are in place and can be enacted should unforeseen events such as forest fires, catastrophic wind damage and accidental spillages occur – usually called the contingency plan. This Guide focuses on the forest or woodland level, where forest management planning receives direction from the strategic plan and provides the elements to feed into the operational plan. Forest management planning The forest management plan is the reference document for the monitoring and assessment of forest holdings and forest practice. It should state the objectives of management and how sustainable forest management is to be achieved. It should also provide a means to communicate forest proposals and engage interested parties. The plan should be proportionate to the scale, sensitivity and complexity of the forest management unit – forest management plans may apply to a discrete forest or woodland, an estate comprising several woodlands, or to a distinct part of a larger forest (see Box 1 overleaf). At their most simple, the details required for a forest or woodland grant or felling application can provide the basis for the forest management plan. This basic plan will be appropriate for the majority of low-key and small-scale proposals, and provides an approach that is proportionate to the risks of the operations involved. For extensive or sensitive areas, a more comprehensive approach is required, and additional information will need to be collected to ensure that all the relevant issues have been addressed. The most significant proposals may come under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, and will require comprehensive analysis. In visually sensitive areas a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) may be called for as part of the EIA process. Of particular relevance are regional or local authority county/district level Landscape Character Assessments (LCAs) and Historic Land-use/Landscape Assessments (HLAs), which are available for the whole of the UK. Also relevant are the broad-scale international and national designations, such as National Parks, National Scenic Areas and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and local level designations such as Special Landscape Areas in Scotland and Local Landscape Designations in England. These help to provide a good idea of the scale and magnitude of sensitivities encountered when planning. They also provide valuable information which can directly inform the development of the forest management plan. A thorough forest planning overview is helpful to both the regulatory authorities and landowners and managers; it has the advantage of allowing UKFS Requirements and Guidelines to be considered over a larger area and a longer, more appropriate, timescale. The forest 3 management plan provides assurances of intent and therefore the potential for individual operations within it to be approved with a lighter touch. The UKFS General Forestry Practice Requirements for forest management plans are: • Forest management plans should state the objectives of management, and set out how the • • • • • • • • appropriate balance between economic, environmental and social objectives will be achieved. Forest management plans should address the forest context and the forest potential, and demonstrate how the relevant interests and issues have been considered and addressed. In designated areas, for example national parks, particular account should be taken of landscape and other sensitivities in the design of forests and forest infrastructure. At the time of felling and restocking, the design of existing forests should be re-assessed and any necessary changes made so that they meet UKFS Requirements. Consultation on forest management plans and proposals should be carried out according to forestry authority procedures and, where required, the EIA Regulations. Forests should be designed to achieve a diverse structure of habitat, and species and ages of trees, appropriate to the scale and context. Forests characterised by a lack of diversity due to extensive areas of even-aged trees should be progressively restructured to achieve a range of age classes. Management of the forest should conform to the plan, and the plan should be updated to ensure it is current and relevant. New forests and woodlands should be located and designed to maintain or enhance the visual, cultural and ecological value and character of the landscape. Box 1 The relationship between strategic plans, forest management plans and operational plans A forest management plan for an individual forest or woodland should always be considered in its wider context. Strategic plans can provide an understanding of the broader context within which a forest management plan is prepared. The precise balance of objectives for sustainable forest management – for example timber production, biodiversity and recreation provision – will vary from place to place. Forest management plans occupy an important position, translating strategic planning and management objectives into detailed site operations via the forest level assessment, analysis and design. The forest management plan brings together silvicultural prescriptions and environmental, economic and social factors into a comprehensive plan that aims to deliver long-term benefits through sustainable forest management. Operational plans implement the forest management plan through a combination of thinning, felling and restocking plans at the compartment, coupe or stand level, felling licences, timber sales and new planting plans. Besides forestry operations, they also inform the management of open ground and the development of special habitats or recreational areas. They are also used as a basis for contract specification, to ensure that contractors meet all their work obligations. 4 Documenting forest management plans Forest management plans should be clear, concise and have a logical structure to show the stages of the plan development. Excessive text should be avoided; maps, sketches and tables should be used wherever possible. The plan should be laid out so that someone unfamiliar with the area can appreciate the key messages of the plan and what it is trying to achieve. Documentation list The amount and relative sophistication of the documentation needed for a forest management plan will depend on a number of factors, including the: • size/extent of the forest management unit (the smaller the area the simpler the plan); • sensitivity of the forest or woodland (the greater the sensitivity the more complex the plan); • visibility – both external and internal views (greater visibility means more design work); • time period of the plan (the longer the period the more comprehensive the plan); • number and complexity of factors (increasing complexity leads to a larger plan). When following the forest planning process (see the next section), the following components should be prepared, which together form the actual management plan document: Management planning provides a context for engaging local people, which can help promote community involvement and environmental awareness. Public participation and consultation also means that it is important plans are clear and can be understood by non-forestry audiences. The techniques for presenting plans described here are also valuable communication tools. • Ownership and property details. • Location map showing viewpoints, ownership or plan boundary, neighbouring features, national and local environmental designations, major settlements and transport routes. • A description of the plan area and its wider landscape context and setting, including: --regional landscape character assessment; --landscape or other designations and their implications; --historic land use/landscape assessment; --nature conservation/biodiversity designations and their implications. • Statement of management objectives. • Survey map(s) and descriptions: for example physical features, soils, land use, habitat and vegetation types, windthrow risk, existing growing stock, archaeological sites, recreation sites, and roads and access paths (factors covered will depend on the specific context). • Analysis map(s), including constraints and opportunities and local landscape character analysis. • Design proposals plan showing how the design synthesis meets the management objectives and takes account of the analysis, especially the identified constraints and opportunities. • Plan of the proposed species and open ground (for a new planting project). • Plan of felling/thinning proposals colour coded by periods of felling, types of low-impact silviculture and retained areas (for a felling/silvicultural operations project). • Plan of restocking proposals (following on from the felling/thinning proposals) showing different species, open space and any changes to external and internal margins. 5 Most areas, except the smallest, simplest, least visible or least sensitive will also need annotated panoramic photographs and sketches/visualisations showing analysis, planting design or felling and restocking design for each major viewpoint. This may be specifically requested by the forestry grants and regulatory staff or consultees. The most sensitive or main views may also benefit from being shown as a sequence of sketches or visualisations demonstrating how the forest will change in appearance over time. This applies both to new planting projects – to show how the new forest or woodland will grow and develop – as well as felling/low-impact silvicultural projects. For such restructuring operations, it is useful to illustrate how the appearance of the existing forest or woodland will change at defined periods into the future. A detailed programme of planting, thinning, felling, low-impact silvicultural operations, restocking and thinning – including information covering activities qualifying for grant-aid in the first operational period – will also be required. To facilitate brevity of the actual plan, appendices can be used to hold background survey information, visualisation materials, cost analysis and tables or graphs of species proportions, timber volume production or any other information deemed useful or necessary for the full understanding of the forest management plan. All maps and sketches should be dated and a record of amendments kept up to date. This is essential because plans usually change during their development as a result of consultee comments and they are also likely to be revised during the period they have approval for. A clear system of annotating different versions of text, illustrations and maps with version numbers and dates should be developed. All electronic materials should be safely archived or backed up where they can easily be found in case of data losses. Figure 2 shows some examples of the documentation of a typical forest management plan included in the documentation list outlined above. Figure 2 A sample of the types of documents that may be included in a typical forest management plan. Map 1: Location, Key Strategic Designations & Viewpoints Current   species   Area  (ha )   %   68.03   26.51   1.58   L   MC   8%   3%   0%   19%   172.07   153.59   MIXED   NBL   Map 2a: Landscape Opportunities & Constraints SS   Total   L   8%   MC   3%   0%   MIXED   NBL   19%   OG   53%   SS   17%   Poor growth of trees on these upper slopes - should be felled to avoid out of scale fragments on hill top, but may be important forest margin habitat. Extensive windblow across this face, where access is a key issue, will result in out of scale felling associated with removal of fallen timber. Opportunity to restock with much more varied species in smaller coupes. Cruach Tarbeirt Boundary SAC Viewpoints Id 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The new road (subject to EIA) will form a new linear feature, emphasised by the shadow of the wayleave. On the south face, it also fragments existing access routes.   hase   Area  (ha )   %   11%   9%   15.13   45.82   CON  LTR   LISS   MB  LTR   169.7   153.59   10%   2%   5%   6 8%   15%   11%   19%   2 3 5 1 Opportunity to establish generous riparian woodland at restock. Opportunity to create better shaped wind firm boundaries between coupes at restocking. 4 Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Opportunity to expand native broadleaved woodland on this face. 8 018)   (2014  -­‐  2 Phase  1   023)   (2019  -­‐  2 Phase  2   028)   (2024  -­‐  2 Phase  3   033)   (2029  -­‐  2   4 se   Pha 038)   (2034  -­‐  2 Phase  5   043)   -­‐ 9   (203  2 Phase  6   National Park Boundary Scale: 1:50,000 @A3 February 2014 CON  LTR   LISS   9%   5%   2%   10%   4%   MB  LTR   OG     Scale: 1:15,000 @A3 February 2014 6 7 19%   Total   17%   YCoord 703561 708844 704971 702868 704081 709822 709826 700842 Glen Loin SSSI Loch Lomond SAC Features: Upland mixed ash woodland (Favourable/maintained 2011) Upland oak woodland (Unfavourable/no change 2001) Existing species range is limited - opportunity to restock with a more varied species pattern that reflects the landscape and makes the most of the varied terrain. 4%   17%   100%   895.39   OG   XCoord 227933 233678 228143 236699 230983 231443 232298 233825 The need to minimise the length of the new road may limit felling/silvicultural options - extraction options may be constrained, especially on lower slopes & steep hillsides. 15%   38.14   92.43   Name Loch Long Inversnaid Pier The Cobbler Ben Lomond South of Tarbert (Three Lochs Way) Little Hills Inveruglas Firkin Point The fairly uniform crop in terms of age and species, and the lack of well designed wind firm edges, limits felling coupe options. 8%   71.89   130.17   94.4   84.12   Some of the mature tree cover may need to be felled & the restocking drawn back from the railway to reduce the risk of fallen trees on the track. Opportunities to open up views of any significant length along the railway are limited by the dense broadleaved woodland. SSSI Cruach Tarbeirt Forest Cover 018)   (2014  -­‐  2 Phase  1   023)   (2019  -­‐  2 Phase  2   028)   (2024  -­‐  2 Phase  3   033)   -­‐ (2029    2 Phase  4   038)   -­‐ (2034    2 Phase  5   043)   -­‐ (2039    2 Phase  6   Cruach Tairbeirt Forest Design Plan Cruach Tarbeirt Windblown Areas Felling  p Cowal & Trossachs District NSA Areas of more stable crop on lower slopes with potential for LISS. 53%   473.61   100%   895.39   OG   Areas of windblow to the North includes areas of sporadically Main Viewpoints blown larch which has some potential as LISS areas this Viewpoints forinAnalysis rotation. Legend 17%   Cowal & Trossachs District Cruach Tairbeirt Forest Design Plan Legend ± ± Format choice Consider the format of plan documentation that will best serve the situation. As almost everything can be made and stored in a digital format, the need for paper copies and standard formats is less important than it used to be; documentation can be digitally formatted to suit a range of end uses (for example, larger paper sizes can be printed for a public meeting or display). For office-based records of forest management plans, consider using the following format: • Text sections at A4 • Photographs, sketches and smaller maps in A3 or A2 landscape format • Larger maps at A1 or A0 depending on the necessary scale and the proportions of the area. Creating the plan components usually involves working directly in a geographic information system (GIS), which facilitates the production of digital files ready for printing. If hand-drawn maps and sketches are also prepared these should be scanned and added into the report. Keep documents in their original file format or convert to Adobe Acrobat® pdf (portable document format) files. Compressed pdfs with a smaller file size, which can be sent by email or by using file transfer or sharing programmes, are useful additional options. If the documents do need to be printed for use in meetings or at presentations, the package can be assembled into a single convenient folder, such as an A3 landscape format ring binder, with larger maps folded into a pocket at the back. Use of standard colours and hatching It is helpful to use standard colours on maps and plans as well as in sketches or visualisations. Where appropriate, bright contrasting colours should be used for maps and plans so that they look clear on the computer screen and print and photocopy well. Though not universal, a spectrum system has been commonly promoted throughout the UK to show phased felling periods, planting and restocking schemes by species and tree types, and different silvicultural treatments (Figure 3). Figure 3 Colours and swatches recommended for use in forest management plans and their CMYK values. Swatches for silvicultural treatments can be combined with phase/species colours as appropriate. Felling operations Tree species Silvicultural treatments Phase 1 Spruce Uniform shelterwood C95 M0 Y25 K35 Open cross-hatch Phase 2 Pine Group shelterwood C100 M0 Y90 K30 Diagonal line Phase 3 Fir Irregular shelterwood C100 M0 Y90 K10 Diagonal cross-hatch Phase 4 Larch (summer, winter) C60 M0 Y100 K0 | C0 M25 Y70 K0 Single tree selection C100 M0 Y100 K0 Phase 5 Broadleaves (summer, winter) Group tree selection C15 M0 Y75 K20 | C30 M70 Y100 K30 Open dots Phase 6 Open space Long-term retention C0 M100 Y100 K0 C0 M50 Y100 K0 C0 M10 Y100 K0 C100 M50 Y0 K0 C60 M70 Y0 K0 C0 M0 Y0 K0 Fine dots Black/C60 M70 Y0 K0 hatch 7 Felling phases or silvicultural operations of different time periods can be shown by using solid colours. Hatching should be used to indicate the use of different silvicultural systems at the same time phase. For phased felling periods, use red for the first phase followed by orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. For planting schemes, use colours typical of autumn foliage on species maps, as it is easier to differentiate between them: for example a blue-green for spruce, orange for larch and brown for broadleaves, as shown in Figure 3. Revising and updating Because forest management plans are designed to be long term, they will invariably need to be revised upon completion of each review period (usually every 5 years). Unforeseen circumstances, such as damage to the forest by high winds or a pest or disease outbreak (Figure 4), will force the reconsideration of the management strategy for the affected area and require a revision to the plan. It is therefore advisable for all plans to be prepared with eventual alterations, updating and amendments in mind. Amendments are easiest when all data recording, especially the mapping, is carried out digitally, for example using a geographic information system (GIS). However, careful records should be kept to ensure that all changes made can be tracked over the period of the plan. It is also advisable to take progress photographs from the same viewpoints as used at the start of the planning process. These will help document the implementation of the plan and judge the results. Also, accurate records should be kept of amendments and updating for when monitoring under the UKFS takes place, as these provide evidence of the need for changes to the original plan and their rationale (see the section on page 88 of the UKFS on Monitoring). Figure 4 Forests infected with tree diseases such as Phytophthora ramorum may have to be felled prematurely and restocked with alternative species. It is therefore important that forest management plans can cope with such alterations. This is an aerial view of infected larch at Glentrool in Dumfries and Galloway. 8 The process of forest management planning While the process of forest management planning is generic, and can be successfully applied in all circumstances, there are some variations in detail depending on the individual forest or woodland and the management activities involved. This section sets out the framework for the forest management planning process and the variations in techniques used at different stages of the process designed to suit specific requirements and circumstances (e.g. whether the forest management plan is being prepared for a new planting project or whether it is focused on management – such as felling or thinning operations and restocking in an existing forest). The forest management planning process presented in this Guide aligns with that outlined in the UKFS (see Table 6.1, page 52 of the UKFS). However, while the stages are the same, some are divided into sub-sections which provide more detail on aspects such as new planting and felling and restocking. The document produced by following this process will form the basis of the forest management plan. The forest management planning process is cyclical and many plans will be revisions of earlier versions rather than new ones. The seven stages of planning The process of producing a forest management plan can be organised into seven distinct stages: 1. Scoping The scoping stage involves drawing up a set of objectives that describe the key factors that are to be covered by a forest management plan. These may be predefined or developed as a result of consultations with different interest groups. 2. Survey The survey stage involves collecting comprehensive site information that covers all possible factors affecting the outcomes of forest management plan objectives. 3. Analysis  The analysis stage involves analysing survey information to identify key factors which have the greatest influence on meeting plan objectives. These are extracted from the collected survey information and their interrelationships are considered together. 4. Synthesis The synthesis stage involves developing one or more potential forest design solutions that have the potential to meet the objectives from the outcome of the analysis. These are then evaluated and the most appropriate design is worked up in more detail to provide the basis for the forest management plan. 5. Implementation  This stage involves implementing the approved forest management plan, over an agreed time period, through a series of operational plans. 6. Monitoring  This stage involves monitoring operational progress and, if necessary, adjusting the plan. 7. Revision This is the final stage, and involves the revision of the plan after an appropriate interval. 9 1. Scoping Scoping is the stage at which management objectives are developed. It also involves a preliminary search for stakeholders relevant to the development of the proposed plan, information on any concerns or issues they have, and the subsequent incorporation of these concerns and issues into a refined set of objectives (see example in Table 1). Setting objectives One of the aims of strategic planning is to help determine the objectives that are appropriate to individual forest management plans. Sustainable forest management is concerned with multipurpose objectives but this does not mean that every objective can or should be given equal weight in every forest or woodland. In many cases the appropriate balance of objectives will be determined, rather than selected, by the location, character and ownership of the forest as well as prevailing forestry policy and the expectations of a range of stakeholders. The precise objectives for any particular forest management plan will depend on: • Meeting the legal and good practice requirements set out in the UKFS and its supporting Guidelines (e.g. the protection of watercourses or archaeological sites as well as objectives for wood production, improvement of landscape, provision of recreational opportunities, enhancement of nature conservation and climate change mitigation). Even where public funding is not involved, legislative and regulatory requirements constrain the way in which objectives can be pursued. • Site or other physical limitations affecting the capacity of a forest or woodland to supply certain products or services, for example the supply of a particular type of timber, provision of some forms of recreation, or ability to support the habitat of a particular animal or bird, due to soil, location or climate. • The owner’s objectives for managing the forest. For the public forest estate, these are the same as national policy objectives, while in the case of a private owner they might, for example, include sporting use, revenue requirements or capital appreciation. For a nongovernment organisation these will be the strategic aims of the organisation, such as to provide for wildlife habitats or recreational access. Environmental Impact Assessment At this stage it is also worth establishing whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is likely to be required by the regulatory authority for a particular project (including afforestation, deforestation, forest roads or forest quarries). This may become clearer by the end of the scoping exercise by which time specific issues of significance will have been raised. If an Environmental Statement does need to be prepared the process closely follows that of forest management planning. The presentation of the analysis stages and the final plan can be closely related to the assessment of the various impacts that have been identified for inclusion in the Statement. In sensitive areas, the regulatory authority may specifically request that a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) is carried out as part of the EIA process. This requires an assessment of two related sets of effects: those on landscape character and other landscape resources (such as designations), and those on visual amenity. Visual impacts are normally evaluated using a set of visualisations taken from an agreed set of viewpoints of varying sensitivity (see Guidelines for landscape and visual impact assessment for more details). 10 Table 1 Example presentation of forest management plan objectives for a site. Resource Objective Indicator of objective being met Timber maintain an even flow of timber over • To time volumes leaving the forest are within a range of ±10% of • Timber 10 000 m per year subject to price fluctuations 3 Financial exceeds expenditure each year • To maintain a positive cash flow over time • Revenue • Timber is felled close to maximum net present value ±5 years Sporting • To maintain and enhance sporting values Water protect and enhance watercourses and • To • All watercourses are open with scattered trees and clumps the riparian zone Landscape • To improve the quality of the landscape shape and scale problems are corrected over time • Existing and age class diversity increases • Species • The special qualities of the landscape are protected and enhanced Biodiversity enhance nature conservation values • To • To protect peregrine nesting and structural diversity increases • Species space increases to 20% • Open increase to 5% sited on good soils and riparian areas • Broadleaves nesting site is protected • Cliff • 1% of oldest, windfirm stands are maintained to old growth Access and recreation increase public access in south of forest • New forest access point and marked trails constructed • To maintain Rights of Way of Ways can be followed without obstruction • To • Rights maintain good access for effective Public are kept away from shooting areas during the season • To • management and for emergency services • Road network extended to forest adjacent to high fire risk heath Archaeology • To enhance the protection of features of pheasants increase year on year • Bags • Revenues from stalking increase by 5% per year • The two tumuli are cleared and access to them created • Demands made on the forest apart from those expressed by the owner. These might include the issues or demands expressed through the scoping process or by other stakeholders. Such limitations may, however, not be confirmed until after the analysis stage when the original set of objectives may need to be modified. Once the objectives have been determined they should be recorded clearly and agreed with the client. A useful way of expressing objectives is in the form of a table, see for example Table 1. Stakeholder analysis Stakeholder analyses are used to identify the key communities of interest in the forest or woodland. They are useful for identifying the main issues which may guide the development of objectives or otherwise form constraints or opportunities that should feed into the process at the analysis stage. Usually, scoping includes a face-to-face meeting or series of meetings with interested parties from whom information and knowledge about issues can be obtained (although if impractical it can also be done by an exchange of letters or emails). If the stakeholder analysis is part of a formal process, the scoping meeting is usually chaired by the relevant regulatory authority. Notes from the meeting should be incorporated into the plan text (entire notes can be placed in an appendix) and used to inform the plan objectives. 11 2. Survey Once the objectives are agreed the collection of relevant survey information can begin. The general checklist provided in Table 2 will be useful although the relevance of particular categories of information and the degree of detail required will vary from place to place. Some aspects will be common to all plans, while others will be more specific to particular forest and woodland types, their locations and context, or the type of management proposal – for example new planting or felling and restocking (see Appendix 1 for further details). Thorough familiarity with the area of the forest or woodland subject to the plan is essential. Site visits should not only focus on the planning area itself but also explore the surrounding landscape. This is important in order to understand the wider setting and context for the forest or woodland and establish any key external viewpoints from where the forest is visible (Figure 5). Photographs should be taken both to establish a comprehensive record of such visits and to obtain panoramic images of the views from important viewpoints. Record survey information on good quality maps at the planning scale – usually 1:10 000. For very large areas, 1:25 000 scale may be more appropriate and for smaller sites, 1:5000. Baseline information can be obtained from a range of sources: Ordnance Survey maps, aerial photographs, inventories carried out for management purposes, data from other agencies and the local authority or from expert knowledge. Specially commissioned surveys may also be needed and local experts and enthusiasts such as bird watchers or botanists may also be able to contribute information of value. When recording the survey material, use clear keys and colour codes. Make sure that maps overlay accurately. If possible, use a geographic information system (GIS) to store, analyse and present the information; different layers can be created according to the categories presented in Table 2, which can then be interpreted separately or in combination (see Design techniques on page 41). Figure 5 The wider landscape setting for this conifer forest on the south side of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands includes important (and much photographed) views from Castle Urquhart on the north side of the loch. 12 Table 2 Checklist of information needed for the survey stage. Category Information class Information type All forests and woodlands Legal All forests and woodlands Physical All forests and woodlands Biodiversity All forests and woodlands Historic environment All forests and woodlands Recreation All forests and woodlands Landscape All forests and woodlands Forest protection Felling and replanting/ low-impact silvicultural systems Timber production and legal boundaries • Ownership • Legal access points geology • Surface (contours) • Topography and watercourses • Drainage site classification • Soils/ecological disturbed by mineral workings and landfill • Areas of geomorphological interest (Geological SSSI) • Sites (powerlines, pipelines, masts, wind turbines, public roads) • Infrastructure • Water supply catchments extensive habitats • Important of specific wildlife conservation value • Sites Vegetation Classification (NVC) maps • National of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) • Sites • Territories of specific wildlife species and Unscheduled Ancient Monuments • Scheduled archaeological sites • Other features • Historic and designed landscapes • Gardens • Associations with historical persons or events and transport to and from the area • Accessibility and potential recreational use, routes and facility locations • Actual • Rights of way context of the area, i.e. how it is seen within the wider landscape and • Visual on approach from public roads designations (national or local) • Landscape of the planning area from external viewpoints and their sensitivity • Visibility from within the planning area and key features of those views • Viewpoints of visual diversity within the area • Elements • Visual detractors of pests and diseases or risk of them • Presence to protect trees against grazing or browsing damage • Need • Fire risk and prevention measures stock inventory • Growing risk/hazard • Windthrow felling ages or terminal heights at the onset of windthrow • Economic for applying low-impact silvicultural systems • Potential • Access roads and potential harvesting systems numbers • Deer of summer and winter use • Patterns • Deer fence lines – current and potential • Deer control glades Red deer Upland forests including management new plantation forests; felling and restocking of existing conifer forests; new native woodlands; PAWS conversions of non-native trees to native woodland Community woodlands; woodlands in and around towns People Lowland new native woodlands Biodiversity/historic environment Upland new native woodlands Natural regeneration potential Upland new conifer forest Species selection • • • • • • • • • • • • Local user groups and other stakeholders and their views about the area Users and their status such as demographic or ethnic group Linkages with other recreation areas nearby Anti-social activities and sense of safety Special local places Valuable hedges and ancient field patterns Single trees, copses and hedgerow trees Sources of seed for natural regeneration Existing areas of regeneration Potential native woodland types (using NVC) Areas to be kept open or low-density woodland Ecosystem site classification 13 3. Analysis The next stage is the analysis of the survey information. This is an important stage and it needs to be done well. The key thing to remember is that not all the information collected has immediate relevance to what is being planned. The information should be sifted layer by layer to identify what is important. Analysis is about asking the question, ‘What does this survey information mean to the site and the management objectives?’. The analysis stage should be divided into several parts depending on the relative importance of the issues identified. The main type of analysis for all plans is the constraints and opportunities analysis. Depending on the type of project and its location, analyses of local landscape character, potential native woodland types and the historic environment may also be needed. Constraints and opportunities analysis As noted above, it is important to be selective about what information is considered important and what is not relevant at the scale of planning being undertaken. One powerful technique is to determine those factors which reduce freedom of action (constraints) and those which allow greater flexibility (opportunities). For example: • Constraints might include poor soil, low yield class, high windthrow risk, physical obstructions, presence of infrastructure and protected sites. • Opportunities might include soils with high nutrient content, warm wet conditions, high yield class, low windthrow risk and existing advanced regeneration. Constraints and opportunities can be ‘sieved out’ on annotated maps (Figure 6a) and, where the visual appearance of the landscape is important, also illustrated on perspective sketches (Figure 6b). Transferring map-based information onto photographs and perspective views can be difficult but there are techniques available to help with this (see Design techniques on page 41). If the survey information is held in a GIS as a series of layers it is relatively easy to identify and map the various factors clearly and accurately on a combined map. The spatial pattern of constraints and opportunities expressed in the maps can also provide an initial structure for the Synthesis stage. The constraints and opportunities for a site should also be tabulated for ease of understanding, and assessing and comparing their potential influence. Matrices such as the example in Table 3 are useful for evaluating a forest design, as this should take account of, and work around, the constraints while maximising the opportunities. Landscape character analysis Where the forest or woodland is visible or important in the landscape it should be designed so that it relates to the character of the surrounding landscape (see the landscape design principles in the UKFS Guidelines on Forests and landscape). The appropriate Landscape Character Assessment for the area within which the forest lies should always be consulted, and a local, more detailed landscape character analysis for the entire plan area set in its wider context should be prepared. There are two parts to this: the landform analysis, and the landscape character description. 14 Table 3 Example matrix for setting out constraints and opportunities in tabular form (see also Figure 6). Factor Constraint Opportunity Ownership boundary of boundary/fence line conflicts with • Shape landform design woodland to reflect landform with managed • To open ground integrating with adjacent land use Rights of way tracks through site and up onto high hill integrate tracks into forest design with appropriate • Access • To ground detail so that they enhance the experience for walkers Watercourses provide crossing points for access and operations • Watercourses and riparian woodland divide site • To expand and integrate riparian woodland into the • To forest design as a semi-permanent framework Soils soils and rocky high ground limit the • Poor extent of planting develop a naturalistic ecotone at the upper margin • To that integrates with the commercial forest on the better soils lower down the slope Biodiversity limited to isolated patches of riparian use the variety of soils and ground conditions to • Currently • To woodland develop diversity and encourage habitat networks Archaeological sites • Old shieling site to lower level site access point • Windthrow hazard class IV on high ground • To provide appropriate access and landscape setting design a sustainable pattern of future felling coupes • To to ensure the development of windfirm edges wildfire risk on high ground due to • Potential fuel loading and wind direction develop wildfire resilience measures and reduce • To fuel loading in susceptible areas Windthrow risk Wildfire risk Figure 6 An example constraints and opportunities analysis in plan (a) and in perspective (b). Hillwalking and mountaineering trails need to be integrated a WHC IV poses some limits on expected rotation length 800 m Upper rocky areas should remain unplanted, but 775 m 750 m opportunities to develop a naturalistic ecotone edge zone 725 m 700 m IV 675 m 650 m m 625 m 600 Mid slopes are suitable for commercial conifer 575 m m Streams must be kept open or in dappled shade 550 525 m 500 m Opportunity to expand and regenerate ancient semi-natural woodland Deer fence alignment will need careful positioning Good soils an opportunity to plant a range of conifers plus broadleaves Archaeological site must be kept open 400m Ford may need to be replaced by bridges 425 m 450 m 425 m 400 m 425 450 m m Opportunity to plant native pine woodland 400 m Legal access should be upgraded 375 m 475 m Mountain access tracks must be incorporated into design Opportunity to use for expansion of wet woodlands 450 m b Upper rocky areas should remain unplanted, but there Fence alignment will need careful positioning are opportunities to develop a natural ecotone edge zone Hillwalking and mountaineering trails need to be integrated Mid slopes offer good potential for productive commercial forest Brown earth soil provides opportunity for species diversity Opportunities to manage and expand Streams must be kept open or in dappled shade Legal access Old shieling site must be kept open Opportunity to plant native Scots pine 15 The technique of landform analysis is based on the concept of ‘visual forces in the landscape’ (as described in the UKFS Guidelines on Forests and landscape). It uses red and green arrows to express convexities and concavities in the landform (red arrows representing visual forces that ‘draw the eye’ down ridges and green arrows representing those that draw the eye up valleys and gullies) as shown in Figure 7. The technique is very useful for forest design in landscapes that have some topography (see page 24) but unnecessary in flatter areas with less landform. Figure 7 Landform analyses are recorded in both plan (a) and perspective (b). (a) Landform convexities and concavities are picked out from contours on the map. Stronger landform features will have thicker arrows than weaker ones. The northern section is very steep and rugged due to ice movement and erosion. Visible as a dramatic landscape from Invercauld House and estate. 7 5 Visual forces running up gullies and valleys Visual forces running down ridges and spurs Visual tension where the forest will be close to the roadside 6 4 Line of deer fence is potentially visible Viewpoint (VP1 is off map) Boundary 3 The forest will come close to the road on one or both sides along this stretch, so small-scale design needs to be considered and some open views retained. 2 Upper sections are rugged and rocky. All areas lie below the elevation of the climatic tree line so sparse and scrubby forest can extend over the summits while maintaining the visibility of the rocks. The line of the deer fence is a potential visual problem if the forest comes close to it. (b) Landform convexities and concavities are then plotted on selected panoramic photographs taken from key viewpoints: the top photograph has been taken from Viewpoint 1 (just off map to the south), the bottom photograph from Viewpoint 5 (top centre of plan looking south). 16 Courtesy of Scottish Woodlands 8 Smooth, heathercovered slopes with some diversity provided by quartzite scree. The landscape character description records the key aspects which form the landscape character in addition to the landform. It should include the following aspects: • The shape and relative scale of the landscape, landform and other patterns (such as field • • enclosure or woodlands) evident in the landscape. The actual and potential elements of visual and ecological diversity, such as open ground, water, native woodland, rock outcrops, species diversity, archaeology, stands of old trees. Any problems with the current layout of an existing forest or woodland, such as shapes of species layout, felled areas, the external margins or ride and compartment boundaries. Where appropriate, and particularly for larger projects, different landscape character zones should be defined. This will help inform the forest planning process, contributing essential information about where the forest design should differ, perhaps as a result of contrasting landforms, land cover patterns, forest types or distinct visual compositions. The purpose of recording this information in perspective as well as plan is to help with the design of the forest where working in perspective is a vital part of the approach, as will become clear in later sections. Figures 8a and b shows an example of the full combined landscape character analysis for a typical area. Figure 9 shows a large project area divided up into separate landscape character zones. Figure 8 An example of a landscape character analysis at the forest management plan level in plan (a) and perspective (b). Note that annotations, landform arrows and other symbology should be clear and consistent. Keys should be provided where needed. a 800 0m 775 m 750 m 725 m Rocky upper areas give strong character, contrasting with the lower slopes 700 m Landscape character description 675 m 650 m m 625 600 m 575 m 550 m 525 m 500 m 475 m Bracken gives colour diversity 450 m 425 m 400 m 425 450 m m 400 m 375 m 400m The lake provides strong contrast, reflection, movement and a 'spirit of place' 425 m This medium to large-scale landscape is part of the ‘rugged mountains and valleys’ character type. Key aspects include dramatic rocky peaks, moraines and moraine-dammed lakes in glaciated valleys and the diversity of vegetation, colour and texture. Mountains are generally rounded in shape, but due to hard rock there are stony outcrops which give a distinct texture and colour that adds to landscape diversity. The lower slopes are smoother with different vegetation and some agricultural fields. Rounded, smoother moraines also feature. The lake offsets the rugged slopes with its plain surface, offering reflection, movement and space. Two waterfalls present dynamic elements when in spate. 450 m b Generally rounded form Distinctive rock outcrops Waterfall Existing woodland with remnants of diversity Bracken areas Visual focus of waterfalls Field boundaries: potentially geometric shapes Bracken gives colour Visual forces running down ridges and spurs Geometric fields Lake Visual forces running up valleys and gullies 17 Figure 9 An example of a plan level landscape character analysis for Strathconnan in the Scottish Highlands: (a) shows the location of the site and key viewpoints; (b) shows the analysis and different character zones. a b Zone 4 – Torr a’Bhealaidh rocky forest Zone 5 – Northern moorland mosaic This zone occupies the steep and rugged hill that divides