Key

The following abbreviations have been used throughout the text to highlight sources of additional information. More info.

Managment
Planning

Biodiversity
Action Plan

Forest
Reproductive
Material
Regulations

References

Operations

4.1General
4.1.1

Requirement

The planning of woodland operations shall include:

  1. Obtaining any relevant permission and giving any formal notification required.
  2. Assessing and taking into account on and off-site impacts.
  3. Taking measures to protect special features, including adapting standard prescriptions where required.
  4. Measures to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance the value of identified services and resources such as watersheds and fisheries.

Means of verification

All woodlands:

  • Documented permissions
  • Contracts
  • Discussions with owner/manager, staff and contractors.

SLIM woodlands:

  • Demonstration of awareness of impacts and measures taken.

Non-SLIM woodlands:

  • Site-specific, documented assessment of impacts.

Guidance

Particular attention should be given to ensuring that the forestry workforce has been well briefed.

Contracts can be in writing or the forestry workforce may be given oral instructions where this is appropriate to the scale and sensitivity of the operation.

Checks should be made against relevant UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs).
4.1.2

Requirement

Implementation of operational plans shall be monitored by the manager or owner.

Means of verification

All woodlands:

  • Discussions with owner/manager
  • Records of site visits.

SLIM woodlands:

  • As a minimum, records of when operations were visited and observations, e.g. a field diary.

Non-SLIM woodlands:

  • Monitoring and internal audit records including completed checklists.

Guidance

Appropriate monitoring may range from regular supervision of active operations to internal audits of active and completed operational sites.