Forest Management Manual

Harvesting machine

Forest certification standards set principles and criteria that are universally applicable and not negotiable. The standard documents consist of core 'Principles', under which a number of compliance Criteria are listed. Each national initiative develops Indicators and Verifiers for each Criterion, which detail the necessary measures to deliver the Principles and Criteria. Guidance is provided to clarify the requirements of Indicators where necessary.

The following hierarchy describes the function of each level in the certification standards:

  • Principle - What is wanted
  • Criterion - What needs to happen
  • Indicator - What can be measured

The documents and templates developed as part of the group certification project aim to assist owners in complying with certification principles.

Disclaimer: All templates and documents developed for this project were designed for use with the Irish certification standards valid at the time of the project. The templates featured in this Forest Management Manual may require updating to ensure compliance with changes that came into effect after this project was completed. No liability will be accepted by DAFM or the project partners for the supply or use of these templates and documents. Forest owners are advised to get independent advice in relation to forest management and forest certification.
A review and revision of templates and documents featured on this website is currently being undertaken with funding support from DAFM under the Woodland Support Projects 2021/2022. Any new or revised documentation will be uploaded as soon as this becomes available and will contain a revision date in the document-footer. The above disclaimer includes any new or revised templates or documents developed as part of the Woodland Support Projects 2021/2022.

arrowOriginal Full Forest Management Manual drafted for the original DAFM Pilot Project can be downloaded Here pdf s

For ease of reference, the most recent individual templates are listed below under general Principles employed in forest certification standards:

Table of Contents Forest Management Manual pdf s
Glossary of Terms pdf s

1: Compliance with Laws and Certification Principles

Tem.1.5a Illegal/Unauthorised Activity Policy [Only applicable to large forests over 200Ha] pdf s
Tem.1.5a Illegal/Unauthorised Activity Policy [Only applicable to large forests over 200Ha] word s
Tem.1.5b Record of Illegal/Unauthorised Activity pdf s
Tem.1.5b Record of Illegal/Unauthorised Activity word s

2: Tenure and Use Rights and Responsibilities

Tem.2.1 Legal Ownership/Third Party Rights pdf s
Tem.2.1 Legal Ownership/Third Party Rights word s

3: Indigenous Peoples' Rights

4: Community Relations and Workers' Rights

Tem.4.1 Third Party Rights Granted Notification Letter pdf s
Tem.4.1 Third Party Rights Granted Notification Letter word s
Tem.4.1a Third Party Rights Granted Notification Letter (hunting) pdf s
Tem.4.1a Third Party Rights Granted Notification Letter (hunting) word s
Tem.4.2a Operational Monitoring Checklist pdf s
Tem.4.2a Operational Monitoring Checklist word s
Tem.4.2b Emergency/Contingency Planning pdf s
Tem.4.2b Emergency/Contingency Planning word s
Tem.4.2c Training (Competency) and Insurance Record (Forestry Worker | Shooting & Game)pdf s
Tem.4.2c Training (Competency) and Insurance Record excel2 s
Tem.4.2d Accident and Incident Reporting Record pdf s
Tem.4.2d Accident and Incident Reporting Record word s
Tem.4.3e Lone Working Emergency Plan pdf s
Tem.4.3e Lone Working Emergency Plan word s

5: Benefits from the Forest

Tem.5.1 Annual FMU Budget pdf s
Tem.5.1 Annual FMU Budget excel2 s
Tem.5.3 Tree Sales Agreement (ITGA) pdf s

6: Environmental Impact

Tem.6.1 Environmental Impact Assessment pdf s 
Tem.6.1 Environmental Impact Assessment word s
Tem.6.2 Third Party Rights Held Notification Letter pdf s
Tem.6.2 Third Party Rights Held Notification Letter word s
Tem.6.6a Integrated Pest Management Strategy pdf s
Tem.6.6b Pesticide Use Record pdf s
Tem.6.6b Pesticide Use Record excel2 s
Tem.6.7 Waste Disposal Policy pdf s

7: Management Plan

The Forest Management Plan consists of two parts: the Forest Management Plan (Tem.7.1a) and the Forest Inventory and Work Plan (Tem.7.1b)

Tem.7.1a Forest Management Plan (FMP) pdf s
Tem.7.1a Forest Management Plan (FMP) word s
Tem.7.1b Forest Inventory and Work Plan pdf s
Tem.7.1b Forest Inventory and Work Plan excel2 s
Tem.7.1c Forest Management Plan (FMP) - Notes pdf s
Tem.7.1d Forest Management Plan (FMP) - Summary Plan pdf s
Tem.7.1d Forest Management Plan (FMP) - Summary Plan word s
Tem.7.3 Work Planning Checklist pdf s
Tem.7.3 Work Planning Checklist word s
Tem.7.3a Harvesting Site Commencement Checklist pdf s
Tem.7.3a Harvesting Site Commencement Checklist word s

8: Monitoring and Assessment

        Tem.8.1c Forestry Operations Contract  pdf s
        Tem.8.1c Forestry Operations Contract Tem.8.1c Forestry Operations Contract  word s

See also Part 4: Monitoring Plan Summary of the Forest Management Plan (Tem.7.1.a pdf s)

9: Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests

See Forest Management Plan (Tem.7.1.a pdf s) and FMP Notes (Tem.7.1c pdf s) containing a decision tree for identifying High Conservation Value Forests.

10: Plantations

Plantations should adhere to Principles 1-9 above. See Forest Management Plan (Tem.7.1.a pdf s)

 

For more information on forest certification standards, see www.fsc.org , www.pefc.org and www.pefc.ie 

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